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 122 Original 2015 Regular Session Ponti
Abstract: Provides that elections to fill judgeships for the City Court of Baton Rouge shall be held
from the entire territorial area of the city rather than from election sections.
Present law provides for the City Court of Baton Rouge, domiciled in Baton Rouge and having five
city judges and a city constable. Provides that the court is divided into five divisions, "A", "B", "C",
"D", and "E" and its territorial jurisdiction shall extend throughout the territorial area of the city of
Baton Rouge as extended from time to time. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for the purpose of electing judges, the court is divided into two election
sections and that two judges (divisions "B" and "D") are elected in election section one and three
judges (divisions "A", "C", and "E") are elected in election section two. Present law further allows
the metropolitan council for the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge, to assign
annexations which are approved subsequent to June 15, 1993, to the appropriate election section.
Requires the metropolitan council to submit such assignment by certified mail or by hand delivery
with receipt to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee
on House and Governmental Affairs for approval. Provides that the committees have 45 days to
determine, either jointly or separately, whether the assignment shall be approved or disapproved.
Specifies that if the time period for action by the committees lapses without action by such
committees, the assignment is deemed approved, and if one or both committees disapprove the
assignment, such assignment is not effective for any purpose.
Proposed law removes the provisions of present law dividing the court into election sections and
providing for the assignment of annexations and provides instead that elections to fill judgeships for
the City Court of Baton Rouge shall be held from the entire territorial area of the city of Baton Rouge
as extended from time to time.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:1952(4))