ENROLLED
ACT No. 346
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 623
BY REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Part V of Chapter 36 of Title 13 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be
3 comprised of R.S. 13:5761 through 5764, relative to the Webster Parish coroner's
4 office; to provide for the creation of a taxing district to fund the Webster Parish
5 coroner's office; to provide for the boundaries of the district; to authorize the levy
6 and collection of ad valorem taxes, subject to voter approval; to provide for the use
7 of such proceeds; to provide for the powers and duties of the coroner's office; and to
8 provide for related matters.
9 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
10 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
11 Louisiana.
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. Part V of Chapter 36 of Title 13 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
14 1950, comprised of R.S. 13:5761 through 5764, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
15 PART V. WEBSTER PARISH
16 §5761. Assessment district; creation; boundaries; and governance
17 A. There is hereby created within the parish of Webster, as more specifically
18 provided in Subsection B of this Section, a body politic and corporate which shall
19 be known as the "Coroner's Office Funding District", hereinafter in this Section
20 referred to as the "district". The district shall be a political subdivision of the state
21 as defined in the Constitution of Louisiana and created for the purpose of funding the
22 office of coroner for Webster Parish.
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1 B. The boundaries of the district shall be coterminous with the boundaries
2 of the parish, and the duly elected coroner of the parish or a person acting in that
3 capacity, shall be the governing authority of the district.
4 §5762. Authority to tax
5 A. The district, through its governing authority, may levy and collect an ad
6 valorem tax not to exceed eight mills on the dollar of assessed valuation on all
7 taxable property situated within the boundaries of the district. The district may levy
8 the tax only if the amount, term, and purpose of such tax, as set out in a proposition
9 submitted to a vote in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code, has been
10 approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the district voting on the
11 proposition at an election held for that purpose.
12 B. The taxes shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as
13 all other ad valorem taxes on property subject to taxation by the parish of Webster.
14 C. The revenue generated by the tax levied pursuant to this Section is not
15 subject to deductions for retirement systems.
16 §5763. Tax proceeds; compensation of coroner and employees
17 The proceeds of the tax shall be used solely and exclusively for the purposes
18 and benefit of the district and in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
19 (1) An annual salary shall be paid to the coroner for his services as Webster
20 Parish coroner or ex officio parish physician or health officer. The coroner's salary
21 shall be payable on his own warrant.
22 (2) All salaries or fees of deputy or assistant coroners, secretaries,
23 stenographers, clerks, technicians, investigators, official photographers, or other
24 assistants shall be paid from the proceeds of the tax.
25 (3) All necessary expenses incidental to and associated with the operation
26 and functions of the coroner's office including maintenance, utilities, equipment,
27 supplies, goods, and services shall be paid in accordance with the budget of the
28 office of the coroner.
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1 (4) The parish governing authority or any local municipality shall not be
2 obligated to pay any fee or cost associated with the operation and administration of
3 the coroner's office.
4 §5764. Powers and duties
5 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the coroner or his
6 designee, may purchase or rent immovable property as necessary for the performance
7 of the coroner's official duties. The ownership of such property shall be vested in the
8 name of the office of the coroner for the parish of Webster, provided that all
9 purchases and rentals are funded through the budget for the office of the coroner.
10 B. The coroner shall establish and set the salaries and benefits for the deputy
11 coroners, secretaries, stenographers, clerks, technicians, investigators, official
12 photographers, or any other office assistants subject to the approval of the parish
13 governing authority.
14 C. Except as provided for in Subsection E of this Section, the coroner shall
15 be responsible for contracting and funding all services and obligations including but
16 not limited to autopsies, morgue operations, investigations, court appearances and
17 testimonies, interdictions and commitments of mental or incompetent cases, and
18 attending or assisting physicians in interdiction or commitment cases.
19 D. The coroner shall receive a reasonable fee or compensation for any
20 physical or mental examination or investigation that is requested by the district
21 attorney, or any judge, sheriff, or chief of police of Webster Parish, or by any
22 responsible citizen or resident when acting in good faith in an emergency and in the
23 furtherance of the public good and safety.
24 E. The parish governing authority shall pay a reasonable fee or remuneration
25 for mental or physical examinations, investigations, commitments, interdictions,
26 court attendance, or testimony associated with any parish inmate.
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1 F. Nothing contained in this Section shall be interpreted as diminishing any
2 of the authority of the coroner as delegated to him in the constitution and laws of this
3 state.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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