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"The Illinois House on Tuesday approved a measure that would reduce the number of jurors hearing civil cases from 12 to six.<br /><br />It passed along party lines 67-46-2 in a Democratically-controlled chamber.<br /><br />The Senate concurred on Wednesday. If the governor signs the bill into law, it will go into effect June 1, 2015.<br /><br />The proposal came as an amendment to <a href=\"http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3075&amp;GAID=12&amp;GA=98&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegID=79471&amp;SessionID=85\">SB3075</a> and further provides that if alternate jurors are requested, an additional fee established by a county can be charged for each alternate juror requested.<br /><br />&ldquo;It is a bad bill,&rdquo; Rep. Ron Sandack, R-Downers Grove, said during floor debate. &ldquo;If it were a good bill, this sponsor or any sponsor would be bringing it next month under a new administration where we would learn whether it's a good idea to reduce civil juries, whether there really are any cost savings and whether there are any unintended consequences.&rdquo;<br /><br />Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, defended the measure during debate by pointing to a provision that would bump juror pay to $25 per day for the first day of service and $50 per day thereafter for necessary service. Depending on the county, jurors are currently paid either $4, $5 or $10 or higher amounts per day.<br /><br />&ldquo;This bill doesn&rsquo;t go far enough,&rdquo; Martwick said. &ldquo;This bill doesn&rsquo;t compensate [jurors] far enough but what it does do is it makes a very reasonable step by cutting administrative costs because you have deal with half the jury pool.&rdquo;<br /><br />For cases filed prior to the effective date, if a party paid for a jury of 12, that party may demand a jury of 12 upon proof of payment.State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Oak Lawn) introduced Amendment 1 to SB3075 on Nov. 25. Amendment 2, filed on Tuesday, clarified language and restored a provision allowing a county board to set a higher amount of compensation for jurors.<br /><br />Burke said the idea behind the bill is not a new one and acknowledged that the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association asked her to support the measure, which is now before the Senate Executive Committee on motions to concur the amendments.<br /><br />Burke, Sandack and Martwick are all licensed attorneys.<br /><br />The Illinois General Assembly is in its fifth day of veto session. The legislature sets aside six days to wrap up old business, and sometimes fast track controversial measures, before a new session begins in January.<br /><br />Here's a rundown of votes cast by area House members:<br /><br />Dan Beiser (D-Alton): Yes<br /><br />Congressman-elect Mike Bost (R-Carbondale): No<br /><br />Jerry Costello (D-Red Bud): Yes<br /><br />Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. (D-East St. Louis): Yes<br /><br />Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville): Yes<br /><br />Dwight Kay (R-Edwardsville): No<br /><br />Illinois News Network contributed to this report with&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ilnews.org/3432/wednesday-inn-radio-december-3/\">audio&nbsp;</a>of Sandack and Martwick."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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