HLS 14RS-1012 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 709
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
JUDGES/JUSTICE OF PEACE: Provides relative to the duties and authority of justices of
the peace
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 9:203(A)(5) and R.S. 13:2592(A), relative to justices of the2
peace; to authorize a justice of the peace to perform marriage ceremonies within3
certain territorial limits; to provide for certain notification requirements when4
appointing an ad hoc justice of the peace; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 9:203(A)(5) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 7
§203. Officiant; judges and justices of the peace8
A. Judges and justices of the peace may perform marriage ceremonies within9
the following territorial limits:10
* * *11
(5) A justice of the peace within the parish in which the court of that justice12
of the peace is situated, and in any parish within the same supreme court district, or13
in a parish, which has no justice of the peace court.14
* * *15
Section 2. R.S. 13:2592(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 16
§2592. Justice of the peace ad hoc; appointment; qualifications 17
A. A justice of the peace may appoint a person residing within the territorial18
boundaries of the court as a justice of the peace ad hoc to serve for a maximum of19
thirty days in each year. The justice of the peace must notify the office of the20 HLS 14RS-1012 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 709
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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attorney general within seventy-two hours of the appointment and provide the name,1
address, and telephone number of the ad hoc justice of the peace. The justice of the2
peace ad hoc shall meet the qualifications required by law for the office of justice of3
the peace. He shall be paid the same compensation from the same sources as is paid4
to the justice of the peace while he serves, and he shall during that time have the5
powers and duties of a regular justice of the peace.6
* * *7
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)]
Garofalo HB No. 709
Abstract: Authorizes a justice of the peace to perform marriage ceremonies within certain
territorial limits and provides for certain notification requirements.
Present law authorizes a justice of the peace to perform marriage ceremonies within the
parish where the court of that justice of the peace is situated, and in any parish within the
same supreme court district, which has no justice of the peace court.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that a justice of the peace may perform a marriage
ceremony in any parish which has no justice of the peace court.
Present law authorizes a justice of the peace to appoint a person residing within the territorial
boundaries of the court to serve as a justice of the peace ad hoc for a maximum of 30 days
in each year.
Proposed law requires the justice of the peace to notify the office of the attorney general
within 72 hours of the appointment and to provide the name, address, and telephone number
of the ad hoc justice of the peace.
Present law provides that the justice of the peace ad hoc shall meet the qualifications
required by law for the office of justice of the peace and be paid the same compensation
from the same sources and have the powers and duties of a regular justice of the peace.
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 9:203(A)(5) and R.S. 13:2592(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original bill.
1. Made technical amendments.