1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to judiciary; establishing the trauma-informed jury selection pilot project; 
1.3 	requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. TRAUMA-INFORMED JURY SELECTION PILOT PROJECT.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definition. As used in this section, "trauma-informed" means recognizing 
1.7 	a person's history of severe mental or physical harms and stresses and responding to that 
1.8 	history by promoting a safe and empowering environment.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Establishment. The supreme court shall establish a trauma-informed jury 
1.10 	selection project in ..... County, ..... County, and ..... County to identify and implement 
1.11 	trauma-informed procedures and practices to prepare jurors for potentially difficult 
1.12 	experiences, reduce the likelihood of retraumatization, ameliorate stress and trauma triggered 
1.13 	in the jury selection process, and ensure a fair and impartial jury.
1.14 		Subd. 3.Program components. (a) The supreme court, in consultation with the senior 
1.15 	judge in each participating county, shall appoint a steering committee to guide the 
1.16 	trauma-informed jury selection pilot project. The steering committee shall consist of the 
1.17 	following individuals who work primarily or largely in the county in which the pilot project 
1.18 	is being implemented:
1.19 	(1) a judge;
1.20 	(2) a representative from the office of the county attorney;
1.21 	(3) a representative from a city attorney's office;
2.1 	(4) a public defender;
2.2 	(5) a private defense attorney;
2.3 	(6) an attorney who primarily represents plaintiffs in civil suits;
2.4 	(7) an attorney who primarily represents defendants in civil suits;
2.5 	(8) a representative from an organization that provides support services to victims; and
2.6 	(9) a person who has served on a jury.
2.7 	(b) The steering committee shall develop and implement procedures to:
2.8 	(1) expand the information given in the jury summons to prepare jurors for potentially 
2.9 	difficult experiences;
2.10 	(2) examine and change jury orientation, jury questionnaires, and voir dire to reduce the 
2.11 	likelihood of retraumatization; and
2.12 	(3) provide support to ameliorate stress and trauma triggered in the jury selection process.
2.13 	(c) Policies and procedures implemented by the steering committee shall prioritize 
2.14 	providing a fair and impartial jury for every trial.
2.15 	(d) The steering committee shall use surveys, interviews, or other conversations to solicit 
2.16 	feedback from individuals who received a summons, jurors who served, judges, prosecutors, 
2.17 	defense attorneys, and civil attorneys on the impact of the policies and procedures that were 
2.18 	implemented.
2.19 		Subd. 4.Report. By January 15, 2024, the counties participating in the pilot project 
2.20 	authorized under this section shall report to the senate and house of representatives 
2.21 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction over judiciary finance and policy on:
2.22 	(1) the policies and procedures implemented by the pilot project steering committees;
2.23 	(2) the impact, if any, on individuals responding to a jury summons;
2.24 	(3) the impact, if any, on the jury selection process; and
2.25 	(4) input from individuals who received a jury summons, jurors who served, judges, 
2.26 	prosecutors, defense attorneys, and civil attorneys on the impact of the policies and 
2.27 	procedures that were implemented.
2.28 		Subd. 5.Sunset. The pilot project under this section expires June 30, 2024.

2.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023.

3.1 	Sec. 2. TRAUMA-INFORMED JURY SELECTION; APPROPRIATION.
 3.2 	$....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the supreme court to 
3.3 	enact and support the trauma-informed jury selection pilot project. The base for this 
3.4 	appropriation is $0 in fiscal year 2025 and beyond.