HLS 15RS-111 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 69
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
COURTS/CITY: Provides for the collection of additional court costs in Baton Rouge City
Court to fund technology enhancements
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 13:2002.2, relative to city courts; to authorize the clerk of the Baton Rouge
3 City Court to collect additional costs in civil matters; to authorize the judges of the
4 Baton Rouge City Court to assess an additional fee in all criminal matters; to
5 authorize the creation of a court technology fund for Baton Rouge City Court; to
6 provide for the disposition and use of such funds; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 13:2002.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง2002.2. Additional court costs or fees; court technology fund; Baton Rouge City
10 Court
11 A. In addition to any other fees or costs imposed or authorized to be imposed
12 and collected, in all cases in which the Baton Rouge City Court has jurisdiction, the
13 clerk may impose a fee not to exceed ten dollars per filing. The fee shall be paid to
14 the clerk of court at the time of filing. The collection of the additional fee shall be
15 subject to the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181.
16 B. In all criminal cases, including traffic offenses, the judge may assess a fee
17 not to exceed ten dollars against every defendant who is convicted after trial or who
18 pleads guilty or forfeits bond, to be collected by the appropriate entity for further
19 disposition in accordance with the provisions of this Section. These costs shall be
20 in addition to all other fines, costs, or forfeitures provided for by law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-111 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 69
1 C. The clerk of court shall place all sums collected pursuant to the provisions
2 of this Section into a separate account to be known as the "court technology fund".
3 All funds in the account are to be expended solely by the clerk of court for the
4 acquisition and maintenance of new and existing electronic case management
5 systems, including costs associated with professional services, licensing, support,
6 and equipment required to operate and maintain such systems, and for the acquisition
7 and maintenance of equipment necessary for technology enhancements of court
8 operations. The clerk shall have control over the account and all disbursements
9 made from the account.
10 D. The Baton Rouge City Court shall obtain approval of the local governing
11 authority within the territorial jurisdiction of the court, through the adoption of a
12 resolution or ordinance prior to the creation of the account and the collection of fees
13 authorized by this Section.
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 69 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session James
Abstract: Authorizes the Baton Rouge City Clerk of Court to collect a fee not to exceed ten
dollars in civil and criminal matters to be used for the acquisition and maintenance
of new and existing electronic case management systems.
Proposed law authorizes the clerk of the Baton Rouge City Court to collect an additional fee
not to exceed $10 in all civil filings, subject to the provisions of present law (C.C.P. Art.
5181), which provides an exception for those individuals who are unable to pay court costs
due to poverty or lack of means.
Proposed law authorizes Baton Rouge City Court judges to assess an additional fee not to
exceed $10 against every defendant in criminal cases, including traffic offenses, who is
convicted after trial or who pleads guilty or forfeits bond.
Proposed law requires the clerk to deposit all funds collected into a separate account (court
technology fund) to be expended solely by the clerk for the acquisition and maintenance of
new and existing electronic case management systems, including costs associated with
professional services, licensing, support, and equipment for such systems, and for
technology enhancements of court operations.
Proposed law requires the adoption of a resolution or ordinance by the local governing
authority prior to the creation of the account and the collection of fees.
(Adds R.S. 13:2002.2)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.