Louisiana 2015 2015 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB801 Introduced / Bill

                    HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 801
BY REPRESENTATIVES FANNIN, ARNOLD, EDWARDS, ROBERT JOHNSON,
KLECKLEY, AND LEGER AND SENATORS GALLOT, LAFLEUR, MURRAY,
AND PETERSON
APPROPRIATIONS:  Appropriates funds for the expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary for
Fiscal Year 2015-2016
1	AN ACT
2To appropriate funds to defray the expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary, including the
3 Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, Criminal District Court of Orleans
4 Parish, and other courts; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1.A.  The sum of One Hundred Eighty-Two Million Six Hundred Sixty-Four
7Thousand Six and No/100 ($182,664,006.00) Dollars, or so much thereof as may be
8necessary, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of the judiciary, including the
9Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, the District Courts, the Criminal District Court of Orleans
10Parish, and of the other courts.
11 B.  The total amount herein appropriated is hereby allocated to provide as follows:
1203-8170   SUPREME COURT
13 Program Description:  The Supreme Court has general supervisory jurisdiction over
14 all lower courts. It may establish procedural and administrative rules not in conflict
15 with law and may assign a sitting or retired judge to any court.  The Supreme Court has
16 sole authority to provide by rule for appointments of attorneys as temporary or ad hoc
17 judges.  It considers applications for writs to review individual cases, and has criminal
18 and other appellate jurisdiction.  The Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction
19 of disciplinary proceedings against lawyers, recommendations of the Judiciary
20 Commission of Louisiana for the discipline of judges, and fact questions affecting its
21 appellate jurisdiction.  It has inherent authority to regulate the legal profession and to
22 promulgate and update the Code of Judicial Conduct.  The court also provides judicial
23 training through the Judicial College and works to improve the administration of
24 justice. 
25 Mission Statement:  The mission of the Supreme Court of Louisiana is to protect and
26 promote the rule of law, to ensure public trust, to use public resources efficiently, to
27 ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of both the bench
28 and the bar, and to ensure the proper administration and performance of all courts
29 under its authority. 
30 Goal: To protect the rule of law.
Page 1 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 Objective:  To provide a reasonable opportunity for litigants to seek review in the
2 Supreme Court of decisions made by lower tribunals. 
3 General Performance Information:
4	2012 2013 2014
5 Total Filings	2,769 3,017  2,716
6 Total Appeals Filed	10 18 12
7 Total Writs Filed	2,639 2,790 2,496
8 Total Dispositions Rendered	3,181 2,500 2,592
9 Goal: To promote the rule of law. 
10 Objective: To resolve cases in a timely manner.  
11 General Performance Information:
12	2012 2013 2014
13 Percentage of noncriminal case          
14 applications acted on within Supreme  
15 Court standard of 120 days of filing 93.3% 94.3% 91.8%
16 Percentage of criminal case applications         
17 acted on within Supreme Court         
18 standard of 120 days of filing       45.9% 37% 30.7%
19 Percentage of pro se post conviction          
20 applications acted on within Supreme  
21 Court standard of 120 days of filing 8.5% 4.8% 2.1%
22 Percentage of bar disciplinary filings          
23 acted upon within Supreme Court   
24 standard of 120 days of filing 88.9% 95.2% 95.2%
25 Percentage of opinions rendered within          
26 Supreme Court standard of 84 days
27 from argument  	80.6% 83.2% 81.5%
28 Goal: To ensure the public trust.
29 Objective: To facilitate public access to Supreme Court decisions.
30 General Performance Information:
31	2012 2013 2014
32 Percentage of written opinions available          
33 to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%
34 Objective: To inform the public of operations and activities.
35 General Performance Information:
36	2012 2013 2014
37 Number of outreach programs 	58 78 58
38 Number of media releases on court decisions 77 73 64
39 Number of media releases on other matters 15 24 25
40 Number of recipients of releases on          
41 court decisions 	1,663 1,760 1,485
42 Number of recipients of releases on other           
43 matters	3,672 4,694 3,633
44 Objective:  To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the
45 bench.
46 General Performance Information:
47	2012 2013 2014
48 Average number of hours acquired          
49 through continuing legal education  
50 per judge   	29.35 36.36 33.59
51 Number of complaints filed against           
52 judges and justices of the peace 537 496 495
53 Number of complaints against judges           
54 and justices of the peace resolved or    
55 disposed of in the calendar year   619 526 477
56 Objective:  To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the
57 bar.
58 General Performance Information:
59	2012 2013 2014
60 Average number of hours acquired through          
61 continuing legal education per lawyer 15.24 15.46 14.92
62 Number of complaints filed against lawyers 3,042 3,038 3,040
63
64 Number of complaints filed against lawyers           
65 resolved or disposed of in calendar year2,966 3,319 3,140
Page 2 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
2 01 Salaries of one (1) Chief Justice and six (6)
3 Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, 
4 as provided by R.S. 13:102	$1,076,359
5 02 Salaries and other expenses of the 
6 Supreme Court Proper and salary of  
7 the Crier of the Supreme Court	$9,831,884
8 03 Expenses of Judicial Administrator's 
9 Office and of the Judiciary Commission  
10 provided for in Article V, Section
11 25 of the Constitution of Louisiana and 
12 under the provisions of R.S. 13:32 et seq. 
13 A.  Expenses of Judicial Administrator's Office	$5,005,973
14 Program Description:  The Judicial Administrator's Office assists the Supreme Court in the
15 administration of the state court system.  It staffs the Judicial Council and the Judiciary Commission of
16 Louisiana.  Through the Judicial Council, it performs studies and makes recommendations for the creation
17 of new judgeships and for improving the administration of justice.  The Judicial Administrator's Office
18 provides payroll and other fiscal services to the Judiciary, including the administration of a judicial
19 retirement system; support for the Supreme Court and Appellate Court human resource system; 
20 technological services to courts; and, manages the Trial Court Case Management Information System. 
21 The Judicial Administrator's Office also manages the ad hoc judgeship system, monitors cases under
22 advisement, provides outreach services to state and local courts, staffs the Committee on Judicial Ethics,
23 and performs numerous legal services for the Supreme Court and the Judiciary. 
24 B.  Expenses of Judiciary Commission 	$2,043,285
25 Program Description:  The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a constitutional body established under
26 Article V, Section 25 of the Constitution of 1974 to accept, screen, investigate, and prosecute complaints
27 of judicial misconduct.  As part of its authority, it may recommend to the Supreme Court the censure,
28 suspension, removal from office, or involuntary retirement of any judge for ethical misconduct.  
29 C.  Court Reporters; Statistical Reporting Systems $ 408,761
30 D.  Dues to National Center for State Courts $ 153,691
31
32 04 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board,
33 as per Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX  	$ 3,000
34 05 Compensation and expenses of retired 
35 judges assigned under Article V,
36 Section 5(A) of the Constitution of 
37 Louisiana, be it more or less estimated at $1,563,079
38 06 Law Library of Louisiana for salaries, 
39 services, supplies, maintenance, repairs, 
40 and equipment 	$2,014,594
41 Program Description:  The Law Library of Louisiana serves the legal information needs of the state
42 judiciary, and is open to members of the bar and public.   
43 07 Salaries and expenses of transferred 
44 judges assigned under Article V,
45 Section 5(A) of the Constitution, 
46 be it more or less estimated as 	$ 180,323
47 08 Retirement pay for services rendered by 
48 justices and judges of all courts, as 
49 provided by R.S. 11:1358 and 
50 R.S. 13:103	$1,365,669
Page 3 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 09 Pensions for widows of justices and 
2 judges of all courts, as provided by 
3 R.S. 11:1371 and R.S. 11:1381, be it 
4 more or less estimated at	$1,469,984
5 10 Judicial College 	$ 276,606
6 Program Description:  The Judicial College was established by order of the Supreme Court in 1976 to
7 provide continuing legal education to Louisiana judges. 
8 11 State contribution to judicial  
9 retirement provided for in Article V, 
10 Section 23 of the Constitution and 
11 R.S. 11:551 et seq., be it more or 
12 less estimated at	$18,155,129
13 12 Civil commitment matters as 
14 required by R.S. 28:54	$ 143,424
15 13 Paul M. Hebert Law Center for the expenses 
16 of storage of appellate court records 	$ 60,000
17 14 Funding for statewide operations of the 
18 Louisiana Protective Order Registry 
19 (R.S. 46:2136.2) under the Case 
20 Management Information System 	$1,411,326
21
22 15 Information Technology 	$1,109,897
23 16 Payable out of the State General Fund for the 
24 expenses associated with the operation of the 
25 Families in Need of Services Program (FINS)	$2,748,287
26 Program Description:  The mission of the FINS Assistance Program is to assist local FINS processes by
27 developing and implementing a needs-based allocation formula; developing, implementing, and mandating
28 the use of a uniform data system for tracking, managing, and reporting FINS informal cases; developing
29 and mandating the use of programmatic standards; developing, implementing, and reporting performance
30 indicators and measures; requiring and monitoring periodic fiscal reports and financial accountability;
31 and, generally supervising and assisting local FINS processes in other ways. 
32 17 Drug court maintenance and enhancement $17,450,465
33 Program Description:  Drug treatment courts, authorized in 1997 by R.S. 13:5301 through R.S. 13:5304,
34 provided integrated substance abuse treatment, sanctions, and incentives with case processing to place
35 low-level, nonviolent drug-involved defendants in community-based, judicially supervised rehabilitation
36 programs.  Clients are regularly tested and monitored for compliance with educational, employment, and
37 treatment requirements set by the court.  
38 18 Court Appointed Special Advocates	$7,028,666
39 Program Description:  The purpose of the CASA Assistance Program is to promote timely placement of
40 children in need of care in permanent, safe and stable homes, in accordance with the provisions of
41 Children's Code articles 424-426.  Services are provided through local CASA programs which recruit,
42 screen, train and supervise community advocates.  Upon appointment by the trial judge, qualified
43 advocates serve children by providing independent factual information to the judge, advocating for the best
44 interest of the children, monitoring cases to which they have been assigned, and advising and assisting the
45 judge in the determination of the best interest of the children involved. 
46TOTAL - GENERAL FUND	$ 73,500,402
47 19 Payable out of the State General Fund 
48 from Statutory Dedications, Judges' 
49 Supplemental Compensation Fund, 
50 R. S. 13:10.3, be it more or less 
51 estimated at 	$6,223,724
Page 4 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 Program Description:  The Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund was established by the Legislature
2 in 1985 to fund salary supplements and salary-related expenses to judges and commissioners.  The funding
3 source is a non-refundable filing fee assessed on civil filings as provided in R.S. 13:10.3. 
4 20 Payable out of the State General Fund 
5 from Statutory Dedications, Trial Court 
6 Case Management Information Fund, for 
7 the Case Management Information System, 
8 Article 887 (F) of the Code of Criminal 
9 Procedure, be it more or less estimated at $4,147,710
10 Program Description:  The Case Management Information System (CMIS) was created by the Supreme
11 Court in 1993 to provide a statewide information system for tracking and managing criminal, civil,
12 juvenile, traffic, and appellate cases as well as protective orders.  Data is received from courts statewide,
13 transferred to the CMIS repository, and made available to courts and executive branch agencies. 
14 Additional information will also be available from the Department of Public Safety & Corrections.  CMIS
15 is funded from a court cost assessed on all criminal and traffic convictions as provided under
16 C.Cr.P.887(F). 
17TOTAL - STATE GENERAL FUND
18 BY STATUTORY DEDICATIONS 	$10,371,434
19TOTAL SUPREME COURT 	$83,871,836
2003-8171  COURTS OF APPEAL
21 Program Description:  The five courts of appeal, domiciled in Baton Rouge,
22 Shreveport, Lake Charles, New Orleans, and Gretna, have supervisory jurisdiction over
23 all cases arising within their respective circuits, subject to the general supervisory
24 jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.  Each court of appeal also has appellate jurisdiction
25 over all civil matters, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and all
26 criminal cases triable by a jury which arise within its circuit, except for those cases
27 appealable directly to the Supreme Court or to the district courts.
28 Mission Statement:  The mission of the appellate courts of Louisiana is to provide
29 meaningful access to all who seek review under the Courts' appellate and supervisory
30 jurisdiction granted by the Louisiana Constitution while protecting and promoting the
31 rule of law, preserving the public trust, and using public resources efficiently. 
32 Goal:  To protect the rule of law.
33 Objective:  To provide a reasonable opportunity for multi-judge review of decisions
34 made by lower tribunals. 
35 General Performance Information:
36	2012 2013 2014
37 Total appeals filed	2,689 2,382 2,050
38 Total writs filed	4,499 4,973 4,325
39 Total dispositions rendered 	6,240 6,432 5,741
40 Goal:  To promote the rule of law. 
41 Objective:  To resolve cases expeditiously. 
42 General Performance Information:
43	2012 2013 2014
44 Average number of days from lodging of the 
45 appeal to argument:
46 Time Standard = no more than 175 days. 
47 Criminal cases 	189 179 151
48 Civil Cases 	161 160 149
49 Median number of days for all cases 172 165 149
50 Average number of days from argument to 
51 rendering of the opinion:
52 Time Standard = no more than 70 days. 
53 Criminal cases 	37 38 38
54 Civil cases	41 44 44
55 Median number of days for all cases 38 42 43
56 Goal:  To preserve public trust. 
Page 5 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 Objective:  To facilitate public access to the decisions of the courts of appeal. 
2 General Performance Information:
3	2012 2013 2014
4 Percentage of written opinions available 
5 to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%
6Payable out of the State General Fund:
7 01 Salaries of five (5) Chief Judges
8 and forty-eight (48) Judges of 
9 the Courts of Appeal, R.S. 13:311	$7,567,661
10 02 Salaries and expenses of operation and 
11 maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 
12 First Circuit	$10,255,060
13 03 Salaries and expenses of operation and 
14 maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 
15 Second Circuit	$5,761,986
16 04 Salaries and expenses of operation and 
17 maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 
18 Third Circuit	$8,796,311
19 05 Salaries and expenses of operation and 
20 maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 
21 Fourth Circuit	$8,153,650
22 06 Salaries and expenses of operation and 
23 maintenance of the Court of Appeal, 
24 Fifth Circuit	$6,042,968
25TOTAL COURTS OF APPEAL	$46,577,636
2603-8172DISTRICT COURTS 
27 Program Description:  There are forty-one district courts in Louisiana that have general
28 jurisdiction over all matters within their territorial limits, except in those judicial districts
29 (the 1st, the 19th, and the 24th  Judicial Districts) where family and juvenile courts have
30 exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases and except in Orleans Parish where
31 there are separate courts exercising civil, criminal, and juvenile jurisdictions,
32 respectively.  In certain cases, the forty-one general jurisdiction courts have concurrent
33 jurisdiction with justices of the peace and parish courts.  The district courts generally
34 have appellate jurisdiction of criminal cases tried by city, parish, municipal, traffic, and
35 mayors' courts, except in certain cases.  The district courts also have appellate
36 jurisdiction over justices of the peace in parishes where no parish courts exist.  The Civil
37 District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction of all civil cases in that parish.  The
38 Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction over all criminal cases in the
39 parish.  It also has general supervisory jurisdiction over the municipal and traffic courts
40 in Orleans Parish.  The Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish has exclusive
41 jurisdiction of many domestic cases in the parish.  The four juvenile courts located in
42 Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes have exclusive jurisdiction
43 of juvenile cases in their respective parishes. 
44 Mission Statement:  The mission of the trial courts of Louisiana is to provide access
45 to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to provide
46 equality, fairness, and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial independence
47 and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the procedural
48 and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.  
49 Goal:  To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.  
50 Objective:  To encourage responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible,
51 and convenient. 
52 General Performance Information:
53	201220132014
54 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating 
55 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to improve compliance with
56 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)	89.6%   89.6% 97.9%
Page 6 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 Objective:  To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the
2 costs of access to the trial court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms
3 of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and
4 affordable.  
5 General Performance Information:
6	201220132014
7 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating 
8 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to assist self-represented
9 litigants	95.8%95.8% 97.9%
10 Goal:  To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities
11 in a timely and expeditious manner.  
12 Objective:  To encourage timely case management and processing. 
13 General Performance Information:
14	201220132014
15 Number of parishes reporting criminal disposition
16 data to CMIS	63 6364
17 Percentage of parishes reporting criminal disposition
18 data to CMIS	98% 99% 100%
19 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges 
20 indicating that their courts had taken steps within
21 FY 2013-2014 to reduce delays and improve the 
22 timeliness of case processing 	91.7%91.7% 91.7%
23 Objective:  To enhance jury service. 
24 General Performance Information:
25	201220132014
26 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
27 that their court had taken steps within FY 2013-2014
28 to make jury service more convenient or effective 93%97.7% 93%
29 Goal:  To provide due process and equal protection of the law to all who have business
30 before the court; and to demonstrate integrity in all procedures and decisions. 
31 Objective:  To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court operations
32 as necessary.
33 General Performance Information:
34	2012 20132014
35 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating 
36 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to improve employee
37 training and development 	89.6%89.6% 95.8%
38 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating 
39 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to install or implement 
40 technologies	91.7%91.7% 95.8%
41 Goal:  To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
42 its governmental relations and accountability to the public. 
43 Objective:  To inform the community of the court's structure and function. 
44 General Performance Information: 
45	201220132014
46 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating 
47 that their courts regularly provided public education 
48 and public outreach services in FY 2013-2014 89.6%93.8% 89.6%
49Payable out of the State General Fund: 
50 01 Salaries of one hundred ninety-one
51 (191) District Judges as provided 
52 by R.S. 13:691	$25,996,619
53 02 Office and travel expenses of District 
54 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698 and 
55 R.S. 13:694, respectively	$1,285,250
56 03 Salaries of fourteen (14) Judges of 
57 Civil District Court, Orleans Parish,
58 as provided by R.S. 13:691	$1,905,512
Page 7 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 04 Expenses of Judges of Civil District 
2 Court, Parish of Orleans, for salaries
3 of stenographers, clerks, law books, 
4 stationery, telephone, and like expenses
5 as provided by R.S. 13:698	$ 80,500
6 05 Salaries of two (2) Court Reporters
7 of the Twentieth Judicial District Court, 
8 including retirement contributions, as 
9 provided by R.S. 13:966.1	$ 114,514
10 06 Clerk of Civil District Court, Orleans 
11 Parish, as provided by R.S. 13:1212(A)	$ 10,000
12 07 State share of Group, Workers' 
13 Compensation, General Liability, 
14 and Property Insurance Premiums 
15 as provided by R.S.42:851	$6,662,537
16 08 Salaries of two (2) commissioners of 
17 the Nineteenth Judicial District and 
18 one (1) commissioner of the Fifteenth 
19 Judicial District as provided by 
20 R.S. 13:712 and R.S. 13:715, 
21 respectively	$ 538,826
22 09 Office expenses for the Judicial 
23 Expense Fund of the Nineteenth Judicial 
24 District Court as provided by 
25 R.S. 13:711-713	$ 476,445
26 10 Office expenses for the Judicial 
27 Expense Fund of the Fifteenth
28 Judicial District Court as provided 
29 by R.S. 13:714-716	$ 296,626
30 11 Law Clerk, Twentieth Judicial District 
31 Court as provided by Act 747 of 1977	$ 49,311
32 12 For the expenses of the Judicial Expense
33 Fund, Tenth Judicial District Court as 
34 provided by Act 57 of 2006 	$ 35,000
35 SUBTOTAL	$37,451,140
36 13 Criminal Court - Parish of Orleans 
37 Program Description:  The Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans has exclusive jurisdiction
38 of the trial and punishment of all crimes, misdemeanors, and offenses committed within the parish of
39 Orleans, if the jurisdiction is not vested by law in some other court.  The court, through its magistrate and
40 with assistance from its commissioners, has the power of committing magistrates in all felony charges and
41 the power to hold preliminary examinations, with authority to bail or discharge, or to hold for trial, in all
42 cases before the court.  The court has appellate jurisdiction of all cases tried before the Municipal Court
43 of New Orleans and the Traffic Court of New Orleans and has general supervisory jurisdiction over these
44 courts.
45 A. Salaries of thirteen (13) District Judges of 
46 Criminal Court, Orleans Parish as provided 
47 by R.S. 13:691	$1,769,404
48 B. Office expenses of Judges of Criminal Court, 
49 Orleans Parish as provided by R.S. 13:698	$ 74,750
Page 8 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 C. State's share of group insurance for the personnel 
2 of Criminal Court as provided by R.S. 42:851 $ 710,698
3 D. Salaries of thirteen (13) minute clerks as provided 
4 by R.S. 13:1373.1	$ 284,627
5 E. Salaries of twenty-six (26) court reporters as 
6 provided by R.S. 13:1373.1	$ 449,821
7 F. Salaries of four (4) commissioners of Criminal 
8 Court, Orleans Parish, including related benefits
9 as provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 480,382
10 G. Office and travel expenses of commissioners as 
11 provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 10,600
12 H. Salaries of four (4) minute clerks, one for each 
13 commissioner as provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 73,003
14 I. Salaries of four (4) court reporters, one for each 
15 commissioner as provided by R.S. 13:1347	$ 55,034
16 J. Salaries of Judicial Administrator, and assistants, 
17 including related benefits	$ 995,519
18 K. Salaries of thirteen (13) law clerks 	$ 730,138
19 L. Salaries of four (4) secretaries 	$ 211,593
20 M. Sanity Commissions 	$ 102,700
21 N. Board of Jury Commissioners	$ 426,303
22 SUBTOTAL	$6,374,572
23 14 Juvenile and Family Court Judges 
24 A. Salaries of fourteen (14) Juvenile Court
25 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:691	$1,905,512
26 B. Salaries of four (4) Family Court Judges 
27 as provided by R.S. 13:691	$ 544,432
28 C. Office and travel expenses of Juvenile and Family 
29 Court Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698 
30 and R.S. 13:694, respectively	$ 103,500
31 SUBTOTAL	$2,553,444
32TOTAL DISTRICT COURTS 	$46,379,156
3303-8173 OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES AS REQUIRED
34 BY STATUTE 
35 Program Description:  The category includes forty-seven city courts, one municipal
36 court (New Orleans), one traffic court (New Orleans), and one parish court (Ascension
37 Parish). 
38 Mission Statement:  The mission of the city and parish courts of Louisiana is to provide
39 access to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to
40 provide equality, fairness and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial
41 independence and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the
42 procedural and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public. 
Page 9 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 Goal:  To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.  
2 Objective:  To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the
3 costs of access to the court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of
4 money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and affordable. 
5 General Performance Information:
6	201220132014
7 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating 
8 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to assist pro 
9 se litigants 	96.2%100% 100%
10 Goal:  To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its
11 activities in a timely and expeditious manner. 
12 Objective:  To encourage timely case management and processing. 
13 General Performance Information:
14	201220132014
15 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges 
16 indicating that their courts had taken steps within 
17 FY 2013-2014 to reduce delays and improve the
18 timeliness of case processing	86.5%84.3% 84.6%
19 Goal:  To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
20 its governmental relations and accountability to the public. 
21 Objective:  To inform the community of the court's structure and function. 
22 General Performance Information:
23	201220132014
24 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating 
25 that their courts regularly provided public education and
26 public outreach services in FY 2013-2014	88.5%92.2% 92.3%
27 Objective:  To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court
28 operations as necessary. 
29 General Performance Information:
30	2012 20132014
31 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating
32 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to improve 
33 employee training and development	92.3%96.1% 94.2%
34 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating
35 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to install or 
36 implement technologies 	86.5%86.3% 92.3%
37Payable out of the State General Fund: 
38 01 Salaries of sixty (60) City Court
39 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:1875	$2,636,759 
40 02 Salaries of four (4) Municipal, four (4)
41 Traffic and one (1) Parish Court
42 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:2492,
43 13:2501.1, and 13:2563.5, respectively $ 425,293
44TOTAL OTHER COURTS REQUIRED BY STATUTE 	$3,062,052
4503-8174OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES NOT
46 REQUIRED BY STATUTE 
47Payable out of the State General Fund:
48 01 Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective 
49 Care Monitoring Program 	$ 591,627
50 Program Description:  The program tracks and maintains child abuse and neglect cases in the Orleans
51 Parish Juvenile Court.  It also provides assistance in support of the Families in Need of Services Program. 
52 02 Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Reporters	$ 88,312
Page 10 of 14 HLS 15RS-451	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 801
1 03 For the expenses of the Judges' 
2 Assistance Program 	$ 63,548
3 Program Description:  The Judges' Assistance Program provides counseling and other assistance to judges
4 with substance abuse problems. 
5TOTAL OTHER COURTS NOT REQUIRED BY STATUTE $ 743,487
603-8175NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXP ENSES
7Payable out of the State General Fund:
8 01 Legal representation of children in child protection cases$      2,029,839
9 Program Description: As recommended by the Task Force on Legal representation
10 in Child Protection Cases and at the request of  the  Division of  Administration, in
11 order  to advance  the  administration of  justice,  the  Supreme  Court  administers
12 funding to provide qualified legal  representation for children in child protection 
13 cases as required to fulfill the state’s statutory responsibility.
14TOTAL NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXPENSES 	$      2,029,839
15 Section 2.A.  The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or her duly authorized and
16appointed agent, shall warrant the state treasurer for the allocations herein provided, or for
17so much thereof as may be necessary.  The aforesaid warrant shall be paid out of the state
18general fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrant by preference over all other
19warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state and warrants
20for expenses of the legislature, which shall be concurrent with the warrant provided by this
21Act.
22 B.  The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the judiciary in
23an approved bank that has been selected by the Supreme Court and is located in the state. 
24 C.  Any funds herein allocated to the judiciary, any portion of the funds previously
25appropriated to the judiciary, other revenue of the judiciary or its agencies, and interest
26earnings are hereby appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the judiciary;
27however, all funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered shall be returnable to the state
28general fund on or before September 1, 2016.
29 D.  For Fiscal Year 2015-2016, any surpluses occurring in the appropriations made in this
30Act may be transferred from one agency or line-item to another during the fiscal year in
31accordance with the rules of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the
32Supreme Court. 
33 E.  The adjustment to be made in the salaries of judicial employees and the number of
34authorized positions of the judiciary shall be as decided by the judicial agency affected,
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HB NO. 801
1subject to the approval of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the
2Supreme Court.
3 F.  The program descriptions, general performance information and indicators, objectives,
4goals, and mission statements contained in this Act are not part of the law and are not enacted
5into law by virtue of their inclusion in this Act.  The missions, goals, and objectives contained
6in the Act are derived from performance standards established by Section 10 of Part G
7General Administrative Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. 
8 G.  The inclusion in this Act of staff salaries and benefits for lower court or other judicial
9branch agency employees shall not be deemed to create or impose any obligation upon the
10State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
11Control Board, or the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office relative to the
12administration of pay, retirement or other benefits to any such employees.  Accordingly, the
13State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
14Control Board, and the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office are not to be
15considered the "employer" or "employing agency" of lower court or other judicial agency
16employees whose staff salaries and other benefits are included in this Act. 
17 Section 3.  This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2015;  if vetoed by the governor
18and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1, 2015,
19or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.  
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HB NO. 801
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT
In accordance with R.S. 39:51(D), the following represents a comparative statement for
each Court and program.  The operating budget for FY 2014-2015 is compared to the
appropriations for FY 2015-2016 as contained in the original bill.
Operating Budget Appropriation Request
Courts and Programs FY 2014-2015	FY 2015-2016
Supreme Court
Total Supreme Court $70,916,964	$73,500,402
Courts of Appeal
Total Courts of Appeal$44,238,406	$46,577,636
District Courts
Total District Courts$44,936,501	$46,379,156
Other Courts
Total Other Courts $2,993,515	$3,062,052 
Other Programs
Total Other Programs $713,548	$743,487
Non-Judicial State Expenses
Total State Expenses $1,976,474	$2,029,839
Total State General Fund 
and Interagency Transfer
All Line Items $165,775,408	$172,292,572
Total Statutory Dedications$10,222,822	$10,371,434
Total Funding $175,998,230	$182,664,006
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HB NO. 801
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 801 Original 2015 Regular Session	Fannin
Abstract:  Appropriates funds for FY 2015-2016 for expenses of the La. Judiciary, including
the supreme court, courts of appeal, district courts, Criminal Court of Orleans Parish,
juvenile and family courts, and other courts. 
Appropriates funds for FY 2015-2016 for the ordinary operating expenses of the judicial
branch of government with total funding of $182,664,006 from the following sources: 
$172,292,572 out of the State General Fund (Direct); and, $10,371,434 from statutory
dedications out of the Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund and the Trial Court Case
Management Fund.  
Funding for the ordinary operating expenses of the judicial branch of government is provided
as follows: 
(1) Louisiana Supreme Court	$  83,871,836
(2) Courts of Appeal    46,577,636
(3) District Courts     37,451,140
(4)Criminal Court, Parish of Orleans      6,374,572
(5)Juvenile and Family Courts      2,553,444
(6) Other Courts (Required by Statute)      3,062,052
(7)Other Courts (Not Required by Statute)         743,487
(8)Non-Judicial State Expenses      2,029,839
TOTAL	$182,664,006
Effective July 1, 2015.
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