RDCSB478 2313 3907
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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)]
Claitor SB No. 478
Proposed law requires all courts within the parish of East Baton Rouge to 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 requires the clerks of court 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.
Further requires 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. Further
requires 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 requires that all law enforcement agencies within the parish, 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. 13:1000.10, 1415, 2002.1, 2488.40, and 2489.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the engrossed
bill.
1. Changed the collection of the warrant recall fee by the courts from permissive
to mandatory.
2. Made technical changes to provide for the collection of the warrant recall fee in
each Chapter within Title 13 for each respective court.