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 1137 Original 2016 Regular Session Mack
Abstract: Amends provisions of law regarding the Louisiana Public Defender Board.
Present law (R.S. 15:146) creates the Louisiana Public Defender Board (LPDB) and provides that
the board shall consist of eleven members.
Proposed law reduces the number of board members from 11 to 9.
Present law (R.S. 15:147) provides that except for the inherent regulatory authority of the Louisiana
Supreme Court provided for in La. Const. Art. V, ยง5 regarding the regulation of the practice of law,
the LPDB shall have all regulatory authority, control, supervision, and jurisdiction, including
auditing and enforcement, and all power incidental or necessary to such regulatory authority, control,
supervision, and jurisdiction over all aspects of the delivery of public defender services throughout
the courts of the state of Louisiana.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 15:167) provides for the creation of the Louisiana Public Defender Fund and the
composition of the fund, administration of the fund, and use of monies from the fund.
Present law (R.S. 15:168) further provides that there is hereby created within each judicial district
an indigent defender fund which shall be administered by the district public defender.
Proposed law retains these provisions of present law and further provides that the board shall
dedicate and disburse at least 65% of the entirety of its annual budget and its funds in the Louisiana
Public Defender Fund each fiscal year to the district defender offices and their indigent defender
funds in the various judicial districts throughout the state.
Proposed law provides that any funds disbursed to any district defender shall be paid in addition to
the minimum mandatory 65% of dedicated and disbursed funds required by proposed law.
(Amends R.S. 15:146; Adds R.S. 15:162(I), 166, and 167(E))