Pennsylvania doesn’t pay jurors enough to cover the cost of even one proper meal while they’re performing civic service, state Rep. Jason Dawkins says. 

The Philadelphia Democrat argues that it's time to increase the commonwealth’s $9-per-day juror compensation rate — and not by a little. In a recent legislative proposal, Dawkins is calling for more-than quadrupling the rate to $40 per day. 

“Jury service is one of the most important duties in our democratic system,” he wrote in a memo to colleagues. “Jurors deserve to be well compensated for their service.”

The commonwealth's pay for jury service lags behind what nearby states provide, Dawkins said, noting that New York provides $40 each day. Maryland pays jurors $30 to $40 per day, while Washington, D.C., offers $57 to jurors who are unemployed or retired or whose job won't pay their full salary during service.

Though Pennsylvania's rate starts out at $9 for the first three days, it jumps to $25 per day after that.

Dawkins' proposal would also permit officials to use different payment methods to compensate jurors rather than having to issue a paper check, as required under current law. Dawkins said writing paper checks costs money, and some people find it inconvenient to cash them. 

He would update this requirement so officials could also pay jurors via bank transfer, debit card or other methods approved by the county commissioners.

Dawkins introduced the same bill during the last legislative session, but it died in committee.

Bethany Rodgers is a USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania investigative journalist.