The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Julie J. Baxter.
DIGEST
Cortez (SB 40)
Present law provides relative to city courts in general that, in all criminal matters, in addition to
the fine or other penalty which may be legally imposed against every defendant who is convicted
after trial or after a plea of guilty or who forfeits his bond, the judge may assess costs of court in
an amount not to exceed $30. Present law provides that the proceeds derived from those $30
assessments shall be placed in a special account to be used for the operational expenses of the
court, or for payment of clerical fees or for other similar expenses as may be approved by the
judge.
Present law further provides that, when the office of the marshal has derived $100,000 or more in
revenues for the year 2004 from the proceeds of those $30 assessments, then in addition to those
assessments, in all criminal matters the city judge shall assess $15 as additional court costs.
When the office of the marshal has derived less than $100,000 in revenues for the year 2004 from
the proceeds of those $30 assessments, then in addition to those $30 assessments, the city judge
shall assess $30 as additional court costs. Present law provides that the proceeds from these
additional assessments shall be deposited in a special account, separate and distinct from the $30
assessments placed into an account for the operational expenses of the court or clerical fees, and
these additional assessments shall be used to defray operational expenses of the office of marshal
or constable of the court, or for purchase of law enforcement equipment, and all as may be
proved by the marshal or constable.
Present law further provides that the city judges of any and all parishes and the mayor's court in
the town of Many in Sabine Parish shall be authorized to assess such assessments.
Present law further provides that assessments in particular courts are governed by certain
limitations, including that the additional costs provided for in present law (i.e. the extra $15 or
$30 assessment allowed to be assessed by the city court judge to provide for the expenses of the
marshal or constable's office) shall not exceed $30 in the City Court of Houma, the City Court of
Ruston, the City Court of Minden, the City Court of Springhill, the City Court of Hammond, the
City Court of Bastrop, the City Court of West Monroe, the City Court of Monroe, the City Court
of Denham Springs and the City Court of Alexandria.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that the additional costs provided for in present law
shall not exceed $30 in the City Court of Lafayette.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 13:1899(C)(11))