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Committee approves do-pass for juror counseling bill after split debate (11-3)
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee voted 11-3 to recommend a do-pass on House Bill 1047, which would make juror counseling available after exposure to traumatic evidence; supporters cited jurors' public service burden, opponents called it government overreach.
House Bill 1047 would require courts to offer counseling to jurors who are exposed to traumatic evidence or testimony. The committee heard brief testimony about program parameters and a fiscal note: an initial fiscal estimate listed $10,000 in the first biennium and $12,000 in the second biennium.
Members debated the principle and scope. Supporters framed the measure as support for jurors compelled to view graphic or traumatic evidence: Representative Johnston said he'd seen first responders and officers benefit from counseling after traumatic incidents and argued jurors could be similarly affected. Representative Van Winkle noted jurors are compelled to serve and may be involuntarily exposed to disturbing materials.
Opponents described the bill as an unnecessary expansion of government: Representative Vetter and Representative Wolf said counseling decisions should not be a state responsibility and worried about expanding entitlements. Committee members also questioned who would provide counseling and whether clergy or contract providers would qualify; witnesses said the court would arrange services and that requests would be handled in the court's discretion.
The committee took a roll-call vote and approved a do-pass recommendation, 11 yes and 3 no. The bill will proceed with the committee's recommendation and the fiscal note recorded.
