MEETING DATE: 4/16/2019
DEPARTMENT: COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: Ray Espinosa
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: Dulce Alonso
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 605
SUBJECT:
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE - R. ESPINOSA
Discuss the Grand Jury Ordinance and provide direction to staff regarding Grand Juror compensation.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 605
AGENDA SECTION:
REGULAR AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
On April 2, 2019, the Board requested that the Grand Jury Ordinance be brought before the Board for discussion regarding Grand Juror compensation.
The Grand Jury Ordinance was adopted at the March 3, 2015 Board of Supervisors meeting and codified as section 3.01.012 of the San Benito County Code. A copy of the March 3, 2015 agenda item is attached for background information. County Code section 3.01.012 states the following:
§ 3.01.012 FEES FOR GRAND JURORS; MILEAGE.
(A) The fee/compensation for grand jurors shall be $15 a day for each day’s attendance at a called meeting of the entire Grand Jury, and the mileage reimbursement applicable to county employees for each mile actually traveled in attending a called meeting of the entire Grand Jury, or at such increased rate as state law may hereinafter establish.
(B) Members of the Grand Jury shall be reimbursed for actual travel expenses incurred for out-of-county travel to attend grand juror training, upon advance authorization of the foreperson and the County Administrative Officer, and not to exceed the amount budgeted for training in the Grand Jury’s annual budget.
(C) Any reimbursement allowed pursuant to this section shall be made upon those conditions and at those rates applicable to the county employees under the county’s travel and reimbursement policies, and shall be charged against the current operating budget for the Grand Jury. Grand Jury members are encouraged to carpool when possible.
(Ord. 889, § 1; Ord. 934, § 1, 2015)
Section 3.01.012 is consistent with California Penal Code section 890, which requires the County to compensate Grand Jurors for attendance at meetings. However, the Board may determine to grant compensation more than the minimum required by state law should it choose to do so. To do so, the Board would need to amend section 3.01.012 of the County Code.
BUDGETED: