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)]
Ponti HB No. 1151
Abstract: Provides that elections to fill judgeships for the City Court of Baton Rouge shall be
held from the entire territorial area of the city rather than from election sections.
Present law provides for the City Court of Baton Rouge, domiciled in Baton Rouge and having
five city judges and a city constable. Provides that the court is divided into five divisions, "A",
"B", "C", "D", and "E" and its territorial jurisdiction shall extend throughout the territorial area of
the city of Baton Rouge as extended from time to time. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for the purpose of electing judges, the court is divided into two election
sections and that two judges (divisions "B" and "D") are elected in election section one and three
judges (divisions "A", "C", and "E") are elected in election section two. Present law further
allows the metropolitan council for the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge, to
assign annexations which are approved subsequent to June 15, 1993, to the appropriate election
section. Requires the metropolitan council to submit such assignment by certified mail or by
hand delivery with receipt to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the
House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs for approval. Provides that the
committees have 45 days to determine, either jointly or separately, whether the assignment shall
be approved or disapproved. Specifies that if the time period for action by the committees lapses
without action by such committees, the assignment is deemed approved, and if one or both
committees disapprove the assignment, such assignment is not effective for any purpose.
Proposed law removes the provisions of present law dividing the court into election sections and
providing for the assignment of annexations and provides instead that elections to fill judgeships
for the City Court of Baton Rouge shall be held from the entire territorial area of the city of
Baton Rouge as extended from time to time.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:1952(4))