HLS 15RS-451 ENGROSSED
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 ENGROSSED
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 ENGROSSED
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
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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 $12,050,465
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 $3,035,816
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 $ 64,107,552
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
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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
19 21Drug court maintenance and enhancement, payable
20 out of the State General Fund through Interagency
21 Transfers from the Department of Children and
22 Family Services $5,400,000
23 22 Court Appointed Special Advocates, payable out of
24 the State General Fund through Interagency Transfers
25 from the Department of Children and Family
26 Services $ 3,992,850
27TOTAL - STATE GENERAL FUND
28 THROUGH INTERAGENCY TRANSF ERS $9,392,850
29TOTAL SUPREME COURT $83,871,836
3003-8171 COURTS OF APPEAL
31 Program Description: The five courts of appeal, domiciled in Baton Rouge,
32 Shreveport, Lake Charles, New Orleans, and Gretna, have supervisory jurisdiction over
33 all cases arising within their respective circuits, subject to the general supervisory
34 jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Each court of appeal also has appellate jurisdiction
35 over all civil matters, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and all
36 criminal cases triable by a jury which arise within its circuit, except for those cases
37 appealable directly to the Supreme Court or to the district courts.
38 Mission Statement: The mission of the appellate courts of Louisiana is to provide
39 meaningful access to all who seek review under the Courts' appellate and supervisory
40 jurisdiction granted by the Louisiana Constitution while protecting and promoting the
41 rule of law, preserving the public trust, and using public resources efficiently.
42 Goal: To protect the rule of law.
43 Objective: To provide a reasonable opportunity for multi-judge review of decisions
44 made by lower tribunals.
45 General Performance Information: 2012 2013 2014
46
47 Total appeals filed 2,689 2,382 2,050
48 Total writs filed 4,499 4,973 4,325
49 Total dispositions rendered 6,240 6,432 5,741
50 Goal: To promote the rule of law.
Page 5 of 14 HLS 15RS-451 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 801
1 Objective: To resolve cases expeditiously.
2 General Performance Information:
3 2012 2013 2014
4 Average number of days from lodging of the
5 appeal to argument:
6 Time Standard = no more than 175 days.
7 Criminal cases 189 179 151
8 Civil Cases 161 160 149
9 Median number of days for all cases 172 165 149
10 Average number of days from argument to
11 rendering of the opinion:
12 Time Standard = no more than 70 days.
13 Criminal cases 37 38 38
14 Civil cases 41 44 44
15 Median number of days for all cases 38 42 43
16 Goal: To preserve public trust.
17 Objective: To facilitate public access to the decisions of the courts of appeal.
18 General Performance Information:
19 2012 2013 2014
20 Percentage of written opinions available
21 to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%
22Payable out of the State General Fund:
23 01 Salaries of five (5) Chief Judges
24 and forty-eight (48) Judges of
25 the Courts of Appeal, R.S. 13:311 $7,567,661
26 02 Salaries and expenses of operation and
27 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
28 First Circuit $10,255,060
29 03 Salaries and expenses of operation and
30 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
31 Second Circuit $5,761,986
32 04 Salaries and expenses of operation and
33 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
34 Third Circuit $8,796,311
35 05 Salaries and expenses of operation and
36 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
37 Fourth Circuit $8,153,650
38 06 Salaries and expenses of operation and
39 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
40 Fifth Circuit $6,042,968
41TOTAL COURTS OF APPEAL $46,577,636
4203-8172DISTRICT COURTS
43 Program Description: There are forty-one district courts in Louisiana that have general
44 jurisdiction over all matters within their territorial limits, except in those judicial districts
45 (the 1st, the 19th, and the 24th Judicial Districts) where family and juvenile courts have
46 exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases and except in Orleans Parish where
47 there are separate courts exercising civil, criminal, and juvenile jurisdictions,
48 respectively. In certain cases, the forty-one general jurisdiction courts have concurrent
49 jurisdiction with justices of the peace and parish courts. The district courts generally
50 have appellate jurisdiction of criminal cases tried by city, parish, municipal, traffic, and
51 mayors' courts, except in certain cases. The district courts also have appellate
52 jurisdiction over justices of the peace in parishes where no parish courts exist. The Civil
53 District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction of all civil cases in that parish. The
54 Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction over all criminal cases in the
55 parish. It also has general supervisory jurisdiction over the municipal and traffic courts
56 in Orleans Parish. The Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish has exclusive
Page 6 of 14 HLS 15RS-451 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 801
1 jurisdiction of many domestic cases in the parish. The four juvenile courts located in
2 Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes have exclusive jurisdiction
3 of juvenile cases in their respective parishes.
4 Mission Statement: The mission of the trial courts of Louisiana is to provide access
5 to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to provide
6 equality, fairness, and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial independence
7 and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the procedural
8 and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.
9 Goal: To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.
10 Objective: To encourage responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible,
11 and convenient.
12 General Performance Information:
13 201220132014
14 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
15 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to improve compliance with
16 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 89.6% 89.6% 97.9%
17 Objective: To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the
18 costs of access to the trial court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms
19 of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and
20 affordable.
21 General Performance Information:
22 201220132014
23 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
24 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to assist self-represented
25 litigants 95.8%95.8% 97.9%
26 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities
27 in a timely and expeditious manner.
28 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
29 General Performance Information:
30 201220132014
31 Number of parishes reporting criminal disposition
32 data to CMIS 63 6364
33 Percentage of parishes reporting criminal disposition
34 data to CMIS 98% 99% 100%
35 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges
36 indicating that their courts had taken steps within
37 FY 2013-2014 to reduce delays and improve the
38 timeliness of case processing 91.7%91.7% 91.7%
39 Objective: To enhance jury service.
40 General Performance Information:
41 201220132014
42 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
43 that their court had taken steps within FY 2013-2014
44 to make jury service more convenient or effective 93%97.7% 93%
45 Goal: To provide due process and equal protection of the law to all who have business
46 before the court; and to demonstrate integrity in all procedures and decisions.
47 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court operations
48 as necessary.
49 General Performance Information:
50 2012 20132014
51 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
52 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to improve employee
53 training and development 89.6%89.6% 95.8%
54 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
55 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to install or implement
56 technologies 91.7%91.7% 95.8%
57 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
58 its governmental relations and accountability to the public.
59 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
60 General Performance Information:
61 201220132014
62 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
63 that their courts regularly provided public education
64 and public outreach services in FY 2013-2014 89.6%93.8% 89.6%
Page 7 of 14 HLS 15RS-451 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 801
1Payable out of the State General Fund:
2 01 Salaries of one hundred ninety-one
3 (191) District Judges as provided
4 by R.S. 13:691 $25,996,619
5 02 Office and travel expenses of District
6 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698 and
7 R.S. 13:694, respectively $1,285,250
8 03 Salaries of fourteen (14) Judges of
9 Civil District Court, Orleans Parish,
10 as provided by R.S. 13:691 $1,905,512
11 04 Expenses of Judges of Civil District
12 Court, Parish of Orleans, for salaries
13 of stenographers, clerks, law books,
14 stationery, telephone, and like expenses
15 as provided by R.S. 13:698 $ 80,500
16 05 Salaries of two (2) Court Reporters
17 of the Twentieth Judicial District Court,
18 including retirement contributions, as
19 provided by R.S. 13:966.1 $ 114,514
20 06 Clerk of Civil District Court, Orleans
21 Parish, as provided by R.S. 13:1212(A) $ 10,000
22 07 State share of Group, Workers'
23 Compensation, General Liability,
24 and Property Insurance Premiums
25 as provided by R.S.42:851 $6,662,537
26 08 Salaries of two (2) commissioners of
27 the Nineteenth Judicial District and
28 one (1) commissioner of the Fifteenth
29 Judicial District as provided by
30 R.S. 13:712 and R.S. 13:715,
31 respectively $ 538,826
32 09 Office expenses for the Judicial
33 Expense Fund of the Nineteenth Judicial
34 District Court as provided by
35 R.S. 13:711-713 $ 476,445
36 10 Office expenses for the Judicial
37 Expense Fund of the Fifteenth
38 Judicial District Court as provided
39 by R.S. 13:714-716 $ 296,626
40 11 Law Clerk, Twentieth Judicial District
41 Court as provided by Act 747 of 1977 $ 49,311
42 12 For the expenses of the Judicial Expense
43 Fund, Tenth Judicial District Court as
44 provided by Act 57 of 2006 $ 35,000
45 SUBTOTAL $37,451,140
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HB NO. 801
1 13 Criminal Court - Parish of Orleans
2 Program Description: The Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans has exclusive jurisdiction
3 of the trial and punishment of all crimes, misdemeanors, and offenses committed within the parish of
4 Orleans, if the jurisdiction is not vested by law in some other court. The court, through its magistrate and
5 with assistance from its commissioners, has the power of committing magistrates in all felony charges and
6 the power to hold preliminary examinations, with authority to bail or discharge, or to hold for trial, in all
7 cases before the court. The court has appellate jurisdiction of all cases tried before the Municipal Court
8 of New Orleans and the Traffic Court of New Orleans and has general supervisory jurisdiction over these
9 courts.
10 A. Salaries of thirteen (13) District Judges of
11 Criminal Court, Orleans Parish as provided
12 by R.S. 13:691 $1,769,404
13 B. Office expenses of Judges of Criminal Court,
14 Orleans Parish as provided by R.S. 13:698 $ 74,750
15 C. State's share of group insurance for the personnel
16 of Criminal Court as provided by R.S. 42:851 $ 710,698
17 D. Salaries of thirteen (13) minute clerks as provided
18 by R.S. 13:1373.1 $ 284,627
19 E. Salaries of twenty-six (26) court reporters as
20 provided by R.S. 13:1373.1 $ 449,821
21 F. Salaries of four (4) commissioners of Criminal
22 Court, Orleans Parish, including related benefits
23 as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 480,382
24 G. Office and travel expenses of commissioners as
25 provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 10,600
26 H. Salaries of four (4) minute clerks, one for each
27 commissioner as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 73,003
28 I. Salaries of four (4) court reporters, one for each
29 commissioner as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 55,034
30 J. Salaries of Judicial Administrator, and assistants,
31 including related benefits $ 995,519
32 K. Salaries of thirteen (13) law clerks $ 730,138
33 L. Salaries of four (4) secretaries $ 211,593
34 M. Sanity Commissions $ 102,700
35 N. Board of Jury Commissioners $ 426,303
36 SUBTOTAL $6,374,572
37 14 Juvenile and Family Court Judges
38 A. Salaries of fourteen (14) Juvenile Court
39 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:691 $1,905,512
40 B. Salaries of four (4) Family Court Judges
41 as provided by R.S. 13:691 $ 544,432
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HB NO. 801
1 C. Office and travel expenses of Juvenile and Family
2 Court Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698
3 and R.S. 13:694, respectively $ 103,500
4 SUBTOTAL $2,553,444
5TOTAL DISTRICT COURTS $46,379,156
603-8173 OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES AS REQUIRED
7 BY STATUTE
8 Program Description: The category includes forty-seven city courts, one municipal
9 court (New Orleans), one traffic court (New Orleans), and one parish court (Ascension
10 Parish).
11 Mission Statement: The mission of the city and parish courts of Louisiana is to provide
12 access to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to
13 provide equality, fairness and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial
14 independence and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the
15 procedural and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.
16 Goal: To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.
17 Objective: To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the
18 costs of access to the court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of
19 money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and affordable.
20 General Performance Information:
21 201220132014
22 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating
23 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to assist pro
24 se litigants 96.2%100% 100%
25 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its
26 activities in a timely and expeditious manner.
27 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
28 General Performance Information:
29 201220132014
30 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
31 indicating that their courts had taken steps within
32 FY 2013-2014 to reduce delays and improve the
33 timeliness of case processing 86.5%84.3% 84.6%
34 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
35 its governmental relations and accountability to the public.
36 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
37 General Performance Information:
38 201220132014
39 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating
40 that their courts regularly provided public education and
41 public outreach services in FY 2013-2014 88.5%92.2% 92.3%
42 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court
43 operations as necessary.
44 General Performance Information:
45 2012 20132014
46 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating
47 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to improve
48 employee training and development 92.3%96.1% 94.2%
49 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges indicating
50 actions taken in FY 2013-2014 to install or
51 implement technologies 86.5%86.3% 92.3%
52Payable out of the State General Fund:
53 01 Salaries of sixty (60) City Court
54 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:1875 $2,636,759
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HB NO. 801
1 02 Salaries of four (4) Municipal, four (4)
2 Traffic and one (1) Parish Court
3 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:2492,
4 13:2501.1, and 13:2563.5, respectively $ 425,293
5TOTAL OTHER COURTS REQUIRED BY STATUTE $3,062,052
603-8174OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES NOT
7 REQUIRED BY STATUTE
8Payable out of the State General Fund:
9 01 Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective
10 Care Monitoring Program $ 591,627
11 Program Description: The program tracks and maintains child abuse and neglect cases in the Orleans
12 Parish Juvenile Court. It also provides assistance in support of the Families in Need of Services Program.
13 02 Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Reporters $ 88,312
14 03 For the expenses of the Judges'
15 Assistance Program $ 63,548
16 Program Description: The Judges' Assistance Program provides counseling and other assistance to judges
17 with substance abuse problems.
18TOTAL OTHER COURTS NOT REQUIRED BY STATUTE $ 743,487
1903-8175NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXP ENSES
20Payable out of the State General Fund:
21 01 Legal representation of children in child protection cases$ 2,029,839
22 Program Description: As recommended by the Task Force on Legal representation
23 in Child Protection Cases and at the request of the Division of Administration, in
24 order to advance the administration of justice, the Supreme Court administers
25 funding to provide qualified legal representation for children in child protection
26 cases as required to fulfill the state’s statutory responsibility.
27TOTAL NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXPENSES $ 2,029,839
28 Section 2. The appropriations, and the allocations of such appropriations, from the State
29General Fund (Direct) contained in Section 1 of this Act shall be reduced by a total amount
30of Six Million Five Hundred Sixty Thousand Eight Hundred Fourteen and No/100
31($6,560,814.00) Dollars, pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial Budgetary Control Board
32or as approved by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
33 Section 3.A. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or her duly authorized and
34appointed agent, shall warrant the state treasurer for the allocations herein provided, or for
35so much thereof as may be necessary. The aforesaid warrant shall be paid out of the state
36general fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrant by preference over all other
37warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state and warrants
Page 11 of 14 HLS 15RS-451 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 801
1for expenses of the legislature, which shall be concurrent with the warrant provided by this
2Act.
3 B. The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the judiciary in
4an approved bank that has been selected by the Supreme Court and is located in the state.
5 C. Any funds herein allocated to the judiciary, any portion of the funds previously
6appropriated to the judiciary, other revenue of the judiciary or its agencies, and interest
7earnings are hereby appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the judiciary;
8however, all funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered shall be returnable to the state
9general fund on or before September 1, 2016.
10 D. For Fiscal Year 2015-2016, any surpluses occurring in the appropriations made in this
11Act may be transferred from one agency or line-item to another during the fiscal year in
12accordance with the rules of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the
13Supreme Court.
14 E. The adjustment to be made in the salaries of judicial employees and the number of
15authorized positions of the judiciary shall be as decided by the judicial agency affected,
16subject to the approval of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the
17Supreme Court.
18 F. The program descriptions, general performance information and indicators, objectives,
19goals, and mission statements contained in this Act are not part of the law and are not enacted
20into law by virtue of their inclusion in this Act. The missions, goals, and objectives contained
21in the Act are derived from performance standards established by Section 10 of Part G
22General Administrative Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
23 G. The inclusion in this Act of staff salaries and benefits for lower court or other judicial
24branch agency employees shall not be deemed to create or impose any obligation upon the
25State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
26Control Board, or the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office relative to the
27administration of pay, retirement or other benefits to any such employees. Accordingly, the
28State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
29Control Board, and the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office are not to be
30considered the "employer" or "employing agency" of lower court or other judicial agency
31employees whose staff salaries and other benefits are included in this Act.
Page 12 of 14 HLS 15RS-451 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 801
1 Section 4. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2015; if vetoed by the governor
2and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1, 2015,
3or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
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
Page 13 of 14 HLS 15RS-451 ENGROSSED
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 Engrossed 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 $176,103,192 from the following sources:
$156,338,908 out of the State General Fund (Direct); $9,392,850 through interagency
transfers from the Dept. of Children and Family Services; 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 37,451,14
(4)Criminal Court, Parish of Orleans 6,374,57
(5)Juvenile and Family Courts 2,553,44
(6) Other Courts (Required by Statute) 3,062,05
(7)Other Courts (Not Required by Statute) 743,48
(8)Non-Judicial State Expenses 2,029,839
TOTAL $182,664,006
Provides that the appropriations out of the State General Fund (Direct) contained in this
Act shall be reduced by a total amount of $6,560,814 pursuant to a plan adopted by the
Judicial Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the La. Supreme Court.
Effective July 1, 2015.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the
original bill:
1. Provide for a change in means of financing to decrease State General Fund
(Direct) and increase Interagency Transfers from the Dept. of Children and
Family Services by $9,392,850 for drug court maintenance and enhancement
and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
2. Add requirement that appropriations contained in this Act be reduced by a total
amount of $6,560,814 pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial Budgetary
Control Board or as approved by the La. Supreme Court.
Page 14 of 14