Shares state tax filer lists with federal courts

(1)Existing state law requires that all persons be selected for state jury service at random and from sources inclusive of a representative cross section of the population of the area served by the court, and specifies that the list of registered voters and the list of licensed drivers and identification cardholders who are resident within the area served by the court, and the list of resident state tax filers, are appropriate source lists for the selection of jurors. Existing law requires the Franchise Tax Board to annually furnish the jury commissioner of each county with a list of resident state tax filers for their county.

This bill would additionally require the Franchise Tax Board to furnish that information to each federal district court in California, if requested.

(2)Existing law generally makes it a misdemeanor for specified persons, including, among others, jury commissioners, to disclose information set forth or disclosed in returns, reports, or documents required to be filed under the franchise and income tax laws.

This bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to enter into a data protection agreement, as defined, with each federal district court seeking a list of resident state tax filers. The bill would make the misdemeanor applicable to employees of a federal district court in California who disclose that information for any purpose other than expanding jury pools. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.