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)]
HB 114 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Burford
Abstract: Authorizes the court to award reasonable attorney fees when granting a motion for
contempt of court.
Present law provides that the supreme court, the courts of appeal, the district courts, family courts,
juvenile courts, and the city courts may punish a person adjudged guilty of a contempt of court.
Present law provides specified monetary and imprisonment penalties for certain forms of contempt
of court, including penalties for direct contempt of court committed by an attorney, for disobeying
restraining orders and injunctions, for deliberate refusal to perform an act, and for disobeying an
order for the payment of child or spousal support.
Present law provides that justices of the peace may punish a person adjudged guilty of a direct
contempt of court by a fine of not more than $50, imprisonment in the parish jail for not more than
24 hours, or both.
Present law authorizes the court or justice of the peace, when applicable, to suspend the imposition
or the execution of the whole or any part of the sentence imposed and place the defendant on
unsupervised probation or probation supervised by a probation office, agency, or officer designated
by the court or justice of the peace, other than the division of probation and parole of the Dept. of
Public Safety and Corrections.
Present law authorizes the court to award reasonable attorney fees only when a parent has violated
a visitation order.
Proposed law authorizes the court in all cases of contempt of court to award reasonable attorney fees
to the party bringing a motion for contempt of court.
(Amends R.S. 13:4611(1)(e)(intro. para.) and (iv); Adds R.S. 13:4611(4))