Louisiana 2013 2013 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB691 Engrossed / Bill

                    HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
Page 1 of  15
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 691
BY REPRESENTATIVES FANNIN AND KLECKLEY AND SENATORS ALARIO AND
DONAHUE
APPROPRIATIONS:  Appropriates funds for the expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary for
Fiscal Year 2013-2014
AN ACT1
To appropriate funds to defray the expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary, including the2
Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, Criminal District Court of Orleans3
Parish, and other courts; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1.A. The sum of One Hundred Sixty-Seven Million Two Hundred Sixty-Six6
Thousand Seventy-Five and No/100 ($167,266,075.00) Dollars, or so much thereof as may7
be necessary, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of the judiciary, including the8
Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, the District Courts, the Criminal District Court of Orleans9
Parish, and of the other courts.10
B. The total amount herein appropriated is hereby allocated to provide as follows:11
03-8170   SUPREME COURT12
Program Description: The Supreme Court has general supervisory jurisdiction over13
all lower courts. It may establish procedural and administrative rules not in conflict14
with law and may assign a sitting or retired judge to any court. The Supreme Court has15
sole authority to provide by rule for appointments of attorneys as temporary or ad hoc16
judges. It considers applications for writs to review individual cases, and has criminal17
and other appellate jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction18
of disciplinary proceedings against lawyers, recommendations of the Judiciary19
Commission of Louisiana for the discipline of judges, and fact questions affecting its20
appellate jurisdiction. It has inherent authority to regulate the legal profession and to21
promulgate and update the Code of Judicial Conduct. The court also provides judicial22
training through the Judicial College and works to improve the administration of23
justice. 24
Mission Statement:  The mission of the Supreme Court of Louisiana is to protect and25
promote the rule of law, to ensure public trust, to use public resources efficiently, to26
ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of both the bench27
and the bar, and to ensure the proper administration and performance of all courts28
under its authority. 29 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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Goal: To protect the rule of law.1
Objective: To provide a reasonable opportunity for litigants to seek review in the2
Supreme Court of decisions made by lower tribunals. 3
General Performance Information:4
2010 2011 20125
Total Filings	2,875 2,852 2,7696
Total Appeals Filed	9 10 107
Total Writs Filed	2,674 2,613 2,6398
Total Dispositions Rendered 2,736 2,916 3,1819
Goal: To promote the rule of law. 10
Objective: To resolve cases in a timely manner.  11
General Performance Information:12
2010 2011 201213
Percentage of noncriminal case          14
applications acted on within Supreme  15
Court standard of 120 days of filing  90.9% 96.6% 93.3% 16
Percentage of criminal case applications         17
acted on within Supreme Court         18
standard of 120 days of filing        39.9% 40.4% 45.9%19
Percentage of pro se post conviction          20
applications acted on within Supreme  21
Court standard of 120 days of filing  7.7% 5.2% 8.5%22
Percentage of bar disciplinary filings         23
acted upon within Supreme Court   24
standard of 120 days of filing  76.5% 98.7% 88.9%25
Percentage of opinions rendered within          26
Supreme Court standard of 84 days27
from argument  	83.7% 64.4% 80.6%28
Goal: To ensure the public trust.29
Objective: To facilitate public access to Supreme Court decisions.30
General Performance Information:31
2010 2011 201232
Percentage of written opinions available         33
to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%34
Objective: To inform the public of operations and activities.35
General Performance Information:36
2010 2011 201237
Number of outreach programs 51 63 5838
Number of media releases on court decisions87 83 7739
Number of media releases on other matters22 21 1540
Number of recipients of releases on           41
court decisions 	1,219 1,498 1,66342
Number of recipients of releases on other          43
matters	5,806 2,876 3,67244
 Objective: To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the45
bench.46
General Performance Information:47
2010 2011 201248
Average number of hours acquired           49
through continuing legal education   50
per judge   	27.19 30.20 29.3551
Number of complaints filed against           52
judges and justices of the peace 586 561 53753
Number of complaints against judges           54
and justices of the peace resolved or    55
disposed of in the calendar year   526 562 61956 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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Objective: To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the1
bar.2
General Performance Information:3
2010 2011 20124
Average number of hours acquired through           5
continuing legal education per lawyer15.04 15.36 15.246
Number of complaints filed against lawyers 3,240 3,000 3,0427
Number of complaints filed against lawyers          8
resolved or disposed of in calendar year3,565 2,997 2,9669
Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):10
01 Salaries of one (1) Chief Justice and six (6)11
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, 12
as provided by R.S. 13:102	$ 970,48013
02 Salaries and other expenses of the 14
Supreme Court Proper and salary of  15
the Crier of the Supreme Court	$9,432,81716
03 Expenses of Judicial Administrator's 17
Office and of the Judiciary Commission  18
provided for in Article V, Section19
25 of the Constitution of Louisiana and 20
under the provisions of R.S. 13:32 et seq. 21
A.  Expenses of Judicial Administrator's Office $4,777,02222
Program Description:  The Judicial Administrator's Office assists the Supreme Court in the23
administration of the state court system. It staffs the Judicial Council and the Judiciary Commission24
of Louisiana. Through the Judicial Council, it performs studies and makes recommendations for the25
creation of new judgeships and for improving the administration of justice.  The Judicial26
Administrator's Office provides payroll and other fiscal services to the Judiciary, including the27
administration of a judicial retirement system; support for the Supreme Court and Appellate Court28
human resource system; technological services to courts; and, manages the Trial Court Case29
Management Information System. The Judicial Administrator's Office also manages the ad hoc30
judgeship system, monitors cases under advisement, provides outreach services to state and local31
courts, staffs the Committee on Judicial Ethics, and performs numerous legal services for the Supreme32
Court and the Judiciary. 33
B.  Expenses of Judiciary Commission 	$1,926,51934
Program Description:  The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a constitutional body established35
under Article V, Section 25 of the Constitution of 1974 to accept, screen, investigate, and prosecute36
complaints of judicial misconduct. As part of its authority, it may recommend to the Supreme Court37
the censure, suspension, removal from office, or involuntary retirement of any judge for ethical38
misconduct.  39
C.  Court Reporters; Statistical Reporting Systems	$ 359,35740
D.  Dues to National Center for State Courts $ 148,69041
04 Expenses of Committee on Professional 42
Ethics and Grievances including 43
disbarment proceedings, R.S. 37:211 et seq. $ 3,00044
05 Compensation and expenses of retired 45
judges assigned under Article V,46
Section 5(A) of the Constitution of 47
Louisiana, be it more or less estimated at $1,464,99548
06 Law Library of Louisiana for salaries, 49
services, supplies, maintenance, repairs, 50
and equipment 	$1,913,18851 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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Program Description: The Law Library of Louisiana was created by an Act of the Legislature in 18551
to serve the legal information needs of the public, the state judiciary, and the bar.  2
07 Salaries and expenses of transferred 3
judges assigned under Article V,4
Section 5(A) of the Constitution, 5
be it more or less estimated as 	$ 182,0126
08 Retirement pay for services rendered by 7
justices and judges of all courts, as 8
provided by R.S. 11:1358 and 9
R.S. 13:103	$1,398,39010
09 Pensions for widows of justices and 11
judges of all courts, as provided by 12
R.S. 11:1371 and R.S. 11:1381, be it 13
more or less estimated at	$1,609,48114
10 Judicial College 	$ 234,31015
Program Description: The Judicial College was established by order of the Supreme Court in 1976 to16
provide continuing legal education to Louisiana judges. 17
11 State contribution to judicial  18
retirement provided for in Article V, 19
Section 23 of the Constitution and 20
R.S. 11:551 et seq., be it more or 21
less estimated at	$14,561,37222
12 Civil commitment matters as 23
required by R.S. 28:54	$ 143,42424
13 Paul M. Hebert Law Center for the expenses 25
of storage of appellate court records $ 60,00026
14 Funding for statewide operations of the 27
Louisiana Protective Order Registry 28
(R.S. 46:2136.2) under the Case 29
Management Information System 	$1,318,70430
15 Information Technology 	$1,037,64731
16 Payable out of the State General Fund for the 32
expenses associated with the operation of the 33
Families in Need of Services Program (FINS)	$2,037,29934
Program Description:  The mission of the FINS Assistance Program is to assist local FINS processes by35
developing and implementing a needs-based allocation formula; developing, implementing, and mandating36
the use of a uniform data system for tracking, managing, and reporting FINS informal cases; developing37
and mandating the use of programmatic standards; developing, implementing, and reporting performance38
indicators and measures; requiring and monitoring periodic fiscal reports and financial accountability;39
and, generally supervising and assisting local FINS processes in other ways. 40
17 Drug court maintenance and enhancement $11,137,37241
Program Description:  Drug treatment courts, authorized in 1997 by R.S. 13:5301 through R.S. 13:5304,42
provided integrated substance abuse treatment, sanctions, and incentives with case processing to place43
low-level, nonviolent drug-involved defendants in community-based, judicially supervised rehabilitation44
programs. Clients are regularly tested and monitored for compliance with educational, employment, and45
treatment requirements set by the court.  46
18 Court Appointed Special Advocates	$2,519,04847 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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Program Description: The purpose of the CASA Assistance Program is to promote timely placement of1
children in need of care in permanent, safe and stable homes, in accordance with the provisions of2
Children's Code articles 424-426. Services are provided through local CASA programs which recruit,3
screen, train and supervise community advocates.  Upon appointment by the trial judge, qualified4
advocates serve children by providing independent factual information to the judge, advocating for the best5
interest of the children, monitoring cases to which they have been assigned, and advising and assisting the6
judge in the determination of the best interest of the children involved. 7
TOTAL - GENERAL FUND	$ 57,235,1278
19 Payable out of the State General Fund 9
from Statutory Dedications, Judges' 10
Supplemental Compensation Fund, 11
R. S. 13:10.3, be it more or less 12
estimated at 	$6,000,00013
Program Description:  The Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund was established by the Legislature14
in 1985 to fund salary supplements and salary-related expenses to judges and commissioners. The funding15
source is a non-refundable filing fee assessed on civil filings as provided in R.S. 13:10.3. 16
20 Payable out of the State General Fund 17
from Statutory Dedications, Trial Court 18
Case Management Information Fund, for 19
the Case Management Information System, 20
Article 887 (F) of the Code of Criminal 21
Procedure, be it more or less estimated at $3,797,46922
Program Description:  The Case Management Information System (CMIS) was created by the Supreme23
Court in 1993 to provide a statewide information system for tracking and managing criminal, civil,24
juvenile, traffic, and appellate cases as well as protective orders. Data is received from courts statewide,25
transferred to the CMIS repository, and made available to courts and executive branch agencies.26
Additional information will also be available from the Department of Public Safety & Corrections. CMIS27
is funded from a court cost assessed on all criminal and traffic convictions as provided under28
C.Cr.P.887(F). 29
TOTAL - STATE GENERAL FUND30
BY STATUTORY DEDICATIONS 	$9,797,46931
21 Drug court maintenance and enhancement, payable 32
out of the State General Fund through Interagency33
Transfers from the Department of Children and34
Family Services	$ 6,000,00035
22 Court Appointed Special Advocates, payable out of36
the State General Fund through Interagency Transfers37
from the Department of Children and Family38
Services	$ 4,436,50039
TOTAL - STATE GENERAL FUND 40
THROUGH INTERAGENCY TRANSFERS	$10,436,50041
TOTAL SUPREME COURT 	$77,469,09642
03-8171  COURTS OF APPEAL43
Program Description:  The five courts of appeal, domiciled in Baton Rouge,44
Shreveport, Lake Charles, New Orleans, and Gretna, have supervisory jurisdiction over45
all cases arising within their respective circuits, subject to the general supervisory46
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Each court of appeal also has appellate jurisdiction47
over all civil matters, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and all48
criminal cases triable by a jury which arise within its circuit, except for those cases49
appealable directly to the Supreme Court or to the district courts.50
Mission Statement:  The mission of the appellate courts of Louisiana is to provide51
meaningful access to all who seek review under the Courts' appellate and supervisory52
jurisdiction granted by the Louisiana Constitution while protecting and promoting the53
rule of law, preserving the public trust, and using public resources efficiently. 54 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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Goal:  To protect the rule of law.1
Objective:  To provide a reasonable opportunity for multi-judge review of decisions2
made by lower tribunals. 3
General Performance Information:4
2010 2011 20125
Total appeals filed	2,587 2,838 2,6896
Total writs filed	5,102 4,987 4,4997
Total dispositions rendered 6,530 5,277 6,2408
Goal:  To promote the rule of law. 9
Objective:  To resolve cases expeditiously. 10
General Performance Information:11
2010 2011 201212
Average number of days from lodging of the 13
appeal to argument:14
Time Standard = no more than 175 days. 15
Criminal cases 	145 145 18916
Civil Cases 	159 175 16117
Median number of days for all cases 152 155 17218
Average number of days from argument to 19
rendering of the opinion:20
Time Standard = no more than 70 days. 21
Criminal cases 	39 41 3722
Civil cases	37 37 4123
Median number of days for all cases 38 38 3824
Goal:  To preserve public trust. 25
Objective:  To facilitate public access to the decisions of the courts of appeal. 26
General Performance Information:27
2010 2011 201228
Percentage of written opinions available 29
to the public within 5 days of decision100% 100% 100%30
Payable out of the State General Fund:31
01 Salaries of five (5) Chief Judges32
and forty-eight (48) Judges of 33
the Courts of Appeal, R.S. 13:311	$6,949,32834
02 Salaries and expenses of operation and 35
maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 36
First Circuit	$9,681,99337
03 Salaries and expenses of operation and 38
maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 39
Second Circuit	$5,561,15640
04 Salaries and expenses of operation and 41
maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 42
Third Circuit	$8,457,12643
05 Salaries and expenses of operation and 44
maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 45
Fourth Circuit	$7,701,03746
06 Salaries and expenses of operation and 47
maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 48
Fifth Circuit	$5,719,93749
TOTAL COURTS OF APPEAL	$44,070,57750 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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03-8172DISTRICT COURTS 1
Program Description:  There are forty-one district courts in Louisiana that have general2
jurisdiction over all matters within their territorial limits, except in those judicial districts3
(the 1st, the 19th, and the 24th Judicial Districts) where family and juvenile courts have4
exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases and except in Orleans Parish where5
there are separate courts exercising civil, criminal, and juvenile jurisdictions,6
respectively. In certain cases, the forty-one general jurisdiction courts have concurrent7
jurisdiction with justices of the peace and parish courts.  The district courts generally8
have appellate jurisdiction of criminal cases tried by city, parish, municipal, traffic, and9
mayors' courts, except in certain cases. The district courts also have appellate10
jurisdiction over justices of the peace in parishes where no parish courts exist. The Civil11
District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction of all civil cases in that parish.  The12
Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction over all criminal cases in the13
parish. It also has general supervisory jurisdiction over the municipal and traffic courts14
in Orleans Parish. The Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish has exclusive15
jurisdiction of many domestic cases in the parish. The four juvenile courts located in16
Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes have exclusive jurisdiction17
of juvenile cases in their respective parishes. 18
Mission Statement:  The mission of the trial courts of Louisiana is to provide access19
to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to provide20
equality, fairness, and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial independence21
and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the procedural22
and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.  23
Goal:  To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.  24
Objective:  To encourage responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible,25
and convenient. 26
General Performance Information:27
2010 2011 201228
Percentage of surveyed district court chief 29
judges indicating actions taken in FY 2011-201230
to improve compliance withthe Americans with 31
Disabilities Act (ADA)	89.6% 91.7% 89.6%32
Objective:  To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the33
costs of access to the trial court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms34
of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and35
affordable.  36
General Performance Information:37
2010 2011 201238
Percentage of surveyed district court chief 39
judges indicating actions taken in FY 2011-2012 40
to assist self-represented litigants100% 93.8% 95.8%41
Goal:  To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities42
in a timely and expeditious manner.  43
Objective:  To encourage timely case management and processing. 44
General Performance Information:45
2010 2011 201246
Number of parishes reporting criminal 47
disposition data to CMIS	62 62 6348
Percentage of parishes reporting criminal 49
disposition data to CMIS 96.9% 97.0% 98.4%50
Percentage of surveyed district court chief 51
judges indicating that their courts had 52
taken steps within FY 2011-2012 to reduce 53
delays and improve the timeliness of case 54
processing 	97.9% 91.7% 91.7%55
Objective:  To enhance jury service. 56
General Performance Information:57
2010 2011 201258
Percentage of surveyed district court chief 59
judges indicating that their court had 60
taken steps within FY 2011-2012 to make 61
jury service more convenient or effective 97.7% 95.3% 93.0%62 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
Page 8 of  15
Goal: To provide due process and equal protection of the law to all who have business1
before the court; and to demonstrate integrity in all procedures and decisions. 2
Objective:  To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court operations3
as necessary.4
General Performance Information:5
2010 2011 20126
Percentage of surveyed district court chief 7
judges indicating actions taken in 8
FY 2011-2012 to improve employee9
training and development 87.5% 93.8% 89.6%10
Percentage of surveyed district court chief 11
judges indicating actions taken in 12
FY 2011-2012 to install or implement 13
technologies	95.8% 93.8% 91.7%14
Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in15
its governmental relations and accountability to the public. 16
Objective:  To inform the community of the court's structure and function. 17
General Performance Information: 18
2010 2011 201219
Percentage of surveyed district court chief 20
judges indicating that their courts 21
regularly provided public education 22
and public outreach services in 23
FY 2011-2012	97.9% 91.7% 89.6%24
Payable out of the State General Fund: 25
01 Salaries of one hundred ninety-one26
(191) District Judges as provided 27
by R.S. 13:691	$23,787,82728
02 Office and travel expenses of District 29
Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698 and 30
R.S. 13:694, respectively	$1,285,85031
03 Salaries of fourteen (14) Judges of 32
Civil District Court, Orleans Parish,33
as provided by R.S. 13:691	$1,743,61134
04 Expenses of Judges of Civil District 35
Court, Parish of Orleans, for salaries36
of stenographers, clerks, law books, 37
stationery, telephone, and like expenses38
as provided by R.S. 13:698	$ 80,50039
05 Salaries of two (2) Court Reporters40
of the Twentieth Judicial District Court, 41
including retirement contributions, as 42
provided by R.S. 13:966.1	$ 109,36443
06 Clerk of Civil District Court, Orleans 44
Parish, as provided by R.S. 13:1212(A)	$ 10,00045
07 State share of Group, Workers' 46
Compensation, General Liability, 47
and Property Insurance Premiums 48
as provided by R.S.42:851	$5,652,87349
08 Salaries of two (2) commissioners of 50
the Nineteenth Judicial District and 51
one (1) commissioner of the Fifteenth 52
Judicial District as provided by 53
R.S. 13:712 and R.S. 13:715, 54
respectively	$ 474,99755 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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09 Office expenses for the Judicial 1
Expense Fund of the Nineteenth Judicial 2
District Court as provided by 3
R.S. 13:711-713	$ 452,3884
10 Office expenses for the Judicial 5
Expense Fund of the Fifteenth6
Judicial District Court as provided 7
by R.S. 13:714-716	$ 282,3068
11 Law Clerk, Twentieth Judicial District 9
Court as provided by Act 747 of 1977	$ 47,96810
12 For the expenses of the Judicial Expense11
Fund, Tenth Judicial District Court as 12
provided by Act 57 of 2006 	$ 35,00013
SUBTOTAL	$33,962,68414
13 Criminal Court - Parish of Orleans 15
Program Description: The Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans has exclusive jurisdiction16
of the trial and punishment of all crimes, misdemeanors, and offenses committed within the parish of17
Orleans, if the jurisdiction is not vested by law in some other court. The court, through its magistrate and18
with assistance from its commissioners, has the power of committing magistrates in all felony charges and19
the power to hold preliminary examinations, with authority to bail or discharge, or to hold for trial, in all20
cases before the court. The court has appellate jurisdiction of all cases tried before the Municipal Court21
of New Orleans and the Traffic Court of New Orleans and has general supervisory jurisdiction over these22
courts.23
A. Salaries of thirteen (13) District Judges of 24
Criminal Court, Orleans Parish as provided 25
by R.S. 13:691	$1,619,06726
B. Office expenses of Judges of Criminal Court, 27
Orleans Parish as provided by R.S. 13:698	$ 74,75028
C. State's share of group insurance for the personnel 29
of Criminal Court as provided by R.S. 42:851	$ 604,80030
D. Salaries of thirteen (13) minute clerks as provided 31
by R.S. 13:1373.1	$ 272,61132
E. Salaries of twenty-six (26) court reporters as 33
provided by R.S. 13:1373.1	$ 432,37934
F. Salaries of four (4) commissioners of Criminal 35
Court, Orleans Parish, including related benefits36
as provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 422,70637
G. Office and travel expenses of commissioners as 38
provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 10,00039
H. Salaries of four (4) minute clerks, one for each 40
commissioner as provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 69,92141
I. Salaries of four (4) court reporters, one for each 42
commissioner as provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 52,71043
J. Salaries of Judicial Administrator, and assistants, 44
including related benefits	$ 901,28445
K. Salaries of thirteen (13) law clerks 	$ 699,32746 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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L. Salaries of four (4) secretaries 	$ 202,6591
M. Sanity Commissions 	$ 165,2212
N. Board of Jury Commissioners	$ 406,8413
SUBTOTAL	$5,934,2764
14 Juvenile and Family Court Judges 5
A. Salaries of fourteen (14) Juvenile Court6
Judges as provided by R.S. 13:691	$1,743,6117
B. Salaries of four (4) Family Court Judges 8
as provided by R.S. 13:691	$ 498,1759
C. Office and travel expenses of Juvenile and Family 10
Court Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698 11
and R.S. 13:694, respectively	$ 103,50012
SUBTOTAL	$2,345,28613
TOTAL DISTRICT COURTS 	$42,242,24614
03-8173 OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES AS REQUIRED15
BY STATUTE 16
Program Description:  The category includes forty-seven city courts, one municipal17
court (New Orleans), one traffic court (New Orleans), and one parish court (Ascension18
Parish). 19
Mission Statement:  The mission of the city and parish courts of Louisiana is to provide20
access to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to21
provide equality, fairness and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial22
independence and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the23
procedural and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public. 24
Goal:  To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.  25
Objective:  To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the26
costs of access to the court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of27
money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and affordable.28
General Performance Information:29
2010 2011 201230
Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief 31
judges indicating actions taken in 32
FY 2011-2012 to assist pro se litigants 100% 98.1% 96.2%33
Goal:  To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its34
activities in a timely and expeditious manner. 35
Objective:  To encourage timely case management and processing. 36
General Performance Information:37
2010 2011 201238
Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief 39
judges indicating that their courts had 40
taken steps within FY 2011-2012 to reduce 41
delays and improve the timeliness of case 42
processing	88.5% 90.4% 86.5%43
Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in44
its governmental relations and accountability to the public. 45 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
Page 11 of  15
Objective:  To inform the community of the court's structure and function. 1
General Performance Information:2
2010 2011 20123
Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief 4
judges indicating that their courts regularly 5
provided public education and public 6
outreach services in FY 2011-201294.2% 90.4% 88.5%7
Objective:  To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court8
operations as necessary. 9
General Performance Information:10
2010 2011 201211
Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief 12
judges indicating actions taken in 13
FY 2011-2012 to improve  employee 14
training and development 94.2% 90.4% 92.3%15
Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief 16
judges indicating actions taken in 17
FY 2011-2012 to install or implement 18
technologies 	88.5% 90.4% 86.5%19
Payable out of the State General Fund: 20
01 Salaries of sixty (60) City Court21
Judges as provided by R.S. 13:1875	$2,412,714 22
02 Salaries of four (4) Municipal, four (4)23
Traffic and one (1) Parish Court24
Judges as provided by R.S. 13:2492,25
13:2501.1, and 13:2563.5, respectively $ 389,15626
TOTAL OTHER COURTS REQUI RED BY STATUTE 	$2,801,87027
03-8174OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES NOT28
REQUIRED BY STATUTE 29
Payable out of the State General Fund:30
01 Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective 31
Care Monitoring Program 	$ 563,93732
Program Description:  The program tracks and maintains child abuse and neglect cases in the Orleans33
Parish Juvenile Court. It also provides assistance in support of the Families in Need of Services Program.34
02 Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Reporters $ 87,78535
03 For the expenses of the Judges' 36
Assistance Program 	$ 30,56437
Program Description:  The Judges' Assistance Program provides counseling and other assistance to judges38
with substance abuse problems. 39
TOTAL OTHER COURTS NOT REQUI RED BY STATUTE 	$ 682,28640
03-8175NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXPENSES41
Payable out of the State General Fund:42
01 Legal representation of children in child43
protection cases	$1,976,47444
Program Description:  As recommended by the Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection45
Cases and at the request of the Division of Administration, in order to advance the administration of justice,46
the Supreme Court administers funding to provide qualified legal representation for children in child47
protection cases as required to fulfill the state's statutory responsibility. 48
49
TOTAL NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXPENSES	$1,976,47450 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
Page 12 of  15
Section 2. The appropriations, and the allocations of such appropriations, from the State1
General Fund (Direct) contained in Section 1 of this Act shall be reduced by a total amount2
of Four Million One Hundred Sixty-Nine Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Two and No/1003
($4,169,672.00) Dollars, pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial Budgetary Control Board4
or as approved by the Louisiana Supreme Court.5
Section 3.A. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or her duly authorized and6
appointed agent, shall warrant the state treasurer for the allocations herein provided, or for7
so much thereof as may be necessary.  The aforesaid warrant shall be paid out of the state8
general fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrant by preference over all other9
warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state and warrants10
for expenses of the legislature, which shall be concurrent with the warrant provided by this11
Act.12
B. The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the judiciary in13
an approved bank that has been selected by the Supreme Court and is located in the state. 14
C. Any funds herein allocated to the judiciary, any portion of the funds previously15
appropriated to the judiciary, other revenue of the judiciary or its agencies, and interest16
earnings are hereby appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the judiciary;17
however, all funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered shall be returnable to the state18
general fund on or before September 1, 2014.19
D. For Fiscal Year 2013-2014, any surpluses occurring in the appropriations made in this20
Act may be transferred from one agency or line-item to another during the fiscal year in21
accordance with the rules of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the22
Supreme Court. 23
E. The adjustment to be made in the salaries of judicial employees and the number of24
authorized positions of the judiciary shall be as decided by the judicial agency affected,25
subject to the approval of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the26
Supreme Court.27
F.  The program descriptions, general performance information and indicators, objectives,28
goals, and mission statements contained in this Act are not part of the law and are not enacted29
into law by virtue of their inclusion in this Act. The missions, goals, and objectives contained30 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
Page 13 of  15
in the Act are derived from performance standards established by Section 10 of Part G1
General Administrative Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. 2
G. The inclusion in this Act of staff salaries and benefits for lower court or other judicial3
branch agency employees shall not be deemed to create or impose any obligation upon the4
State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary5
Control Board, or the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office relative to the6
administration of pay, retirement or other benefits to any such employees.  Accordingly, the7
State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary8
Control Board, and the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office are not to be9
considered the "employer" or "employing agency" of lower court or other judicial agency10
employees whose staff salaries and other benefits are included in this Act. 11
Section 4. Contingent on the passage of separate legislation, a sum to be determined shall12
be appropriated out of the State General Fund for the purpose of funding an increase in the13
salaries of the Justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Courts of Appeal, judges of the14
District Courts, judges of the City and Parish Courts, and certain commissioners as provided15
for by law. Any such appropriation shall be allocated to the various judges and16
commissioners in a manner contemplated by the Judicial Compensation Commission's report17
dated January 9, 2013.18
Section 5. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2013;  if vetoed by the governor and19
subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1, 2013, or20
on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.  21
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT
In accordance with R.S. 39:51(D), the following represents a comparative statement for each
Court and program.  The operating budget for FY 2012-2013 is compared to the
appropriations for FY 2013-2014 as contained in the original bill.
Operating Budget Appropriation Request
Courts and Programs FY 2012-2013	FY 2013-2014
Supreme Court
Total Supreme Court $65,463,068	$    67,671,627
Courts of Appeal
Total Courts of Appeal$42,428,117	$    44,070,577 HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
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District Courts
Total District Courts$41,953,795	$    42,242,246
Other Courts
Total Other Courts $2,801,870	$      2,801,870
Other Programs
Total Other Programs $652,084	$         682,286
Total State General Fund 
and Interagency Transfer
All Line Items $153,298,934$   157,468,606
Total Statutory Dedications	$9,650,831 $ 9,797,469
Total Funding $162,949,765	$   167,266,075
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument.  The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.  [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Fannin	HB No. 691
Abstract: Appropriates funds for FY 2013-2014 for expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary,
including the supreme court, courts of appeal, district courts, Criminal Court of Orleans
Parish, juvenile and family courts, and other courts. 
Appropriates funds for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 for the ordinary operating expenses of the
judicial branch of government with total funding of $165,072,877 from the following sources:
$144,838,908 out of the State General Fund (Direct); $10,436,500 through interagency
transfers from the Dept. of Children and Family Services; and, $9,797,469 from statutory
dedications out of the Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund and the Trial Court Case
Management Fund.  
Provides for an additional $1,976,474 for the legal representation of children in child
protection cases.
Funding for the ordinary operating expenses of the judicial branch of government is provided
as follows: 
(1)Louisiana Supreme Court	$  77,469,096
(2)Courts of Appeal  44,070,577
(3)District Courts 	33,962,684
(4)Criminal Court, Parish of Orleans 5,934,276
(5)Juvenile and Family Courts	2,345,286
(6) Other Courts (Required by Statute)	2,801,870
(7)Other Courts (Not Required by Statute)        682,286
TOTAL	$167,266,075
Provides that the appropriations out of the State General Fund (Direct) contained in this Act
shall be reduced by a total amount of $4,169,672 pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial
Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the La. Supreme Court. HLS 13RS-526	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 691
Page 15 of  15
Contingent on the passage of separate legislation, a sum to be determined shall be
appropriated out of the State General Fund for the purpose of funding an increase in the
salaries of the Justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Courts of Appeal, judges of the
District Courts, judges of the City and Parish Courts, and certain commissioners as provided
for by law.  Any such appropriation shall be allocated to the various judges and
commissioners in a manner contemplated by the Judicial Compensation Commission's report
dated January 9, 2013.
Effective July 1, 2013.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by 	House Committee on Appropriations to the
original bill.
1. Provided for a change in means of financing to decrease State General Fund
(Direct) and increase Interagency Transfers from the Dept. of Children and
Family Services by $10,436,500 for drug court maintenance and enhancement and
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
2. Provided for an additional $1,976,474 for the legal representation of children in
child protection cases.
3. Added requirement that appropriations contained in this Act be reduced by a total
amount of $4,169,672 pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial Budgetary
Control Board or as approved by the La. Supreme Court.