Louisiana 2014 2014 Regular Session

Louisiana Senate Bill SB478 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement, Jr.
DIGEST
Claitor (SB 478)
Proposed law provides that, subject to the approval of the Judicial Council of the Louisiana
Supreme Court, all courts within the parish of East Baton Rouge may levy a warrant recall fee of
$50 on all persons who fail to appear as ordered on all misdemeanor offenses and traffic offenses
where a warrant for arrest has been issued, the proceeds of which are to pay the expenses of
operating a misdemeanor detention facility in the parish.
Proposed law provides that the clerks of court are to place all sums collected under proposed law
with the finance director for the city of Baton Rouge and parish of East Baton Rouge, who is to
place the funds in a separate account designated as the Misdemeanor Detention Fund.  Proposed
law further provides that all monies in this account are to be used solely for paying expenses
associated with the operation of a misdemeanor detention facility in the parish.  	Proposed law
further provides that the finance director is to have an annual audit of the fund conducted, and the
audit is to be filed with the office of the legislative auditor and made available for public
inspection.
Proposed law provides that all law enforcement agencies within the parish are to confer to create
and implement additional pilot programs for the periodic targeted enforcement of outstanding
warrants until sufficient revenues are generated to sustain the permanent operation of the
misdemeanor detention facility.
Proposed law provides that the mayor-president of Baton Rouge is authorized to expend funds
and enter into cooperative endeavor agreements with the sheriff and all courts within East Baton
Rouge Parish in order to carry out the provisions of 	proposed law, subject to the approval of the
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council.
Proposed law provides that the mayor-president, through the city-parish finance department, is to
report quarterly to the Metropolitan Council and the courts within the parish on the matters set
forth in proposed law, including recommendations regarding necessary adjustments and the
financial feasibility of the misdemeanor warrant enforcement programs.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 13:996.69)