HLS 16RS-4534 ORIGINAL 2016 Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 191 BY REPRESENTATIVE MAGEE CLERKS OF COURT: Creates the Clerk of Court Statewide Filing System Task Force to study and make recommendations for the implementation of a statewide electronic filing system for civil pleadings 1 A RESOLUTION 2To create the Clerk of Court Statewide Filing System Task Force to study and make 3 recommendations regarding the implementation and development of a universal 4 electronic filing system for civil pleadings throughout the state, and to provide for 5 a written report of its recommendation and findings no later than sixty days prior to 6 the 2017 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. 7 WHEREAS, a statewide electronic filing system for civil pleadings promotes 8standardization across Louisiana courts with as much consistency as can be expected in light 9of the variety of civil cases adjudicated in Louisiana courts; and 10 WHEREAS, digital storage of electronic documents provides litigants, courts, and 11the public with the additional benefit of instant access to court documents and greater 12transparency in our judicial system; and 13 WHEREAS, a statewide electronic filing system will greatly reduce the amount of 14paper produced, processed, and physically stored; and 15 WHEREAS, electronic filing improves access to the court system by providing 16litigants with twenty-four hour access and a secure and standard means in which to file civil 17pleadings; and Page 1 of 4 HLS 16RS-4534 ORIGINAL HR NO. 191 1 WHEREAS, electronic filing may reduce data entry costs and improve the quality, 2consistency, and efficiency of the court filing process; and 3 WHEREAS, digital storage of civil court documents may also increase productivity 4and efficiency by allowing multiple users simultaneous access to a particular case file; and 5 WHEREAS, the use of electronic files in lieu of physical documents reduces the risk 6of court documents being lost or destroyed in a catastrophic event; and 7 WHEREAS, it would be of great benefit to the Louisiana court system and the entire 8state to implement an electronic filing system for civil pleadings. 9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 10create the Clerk of Court Statewide Filing System Task Force to study and make 11recommendations regarding the implementation and development of a universal electronic 12filing system for civil pleadings throughout the state of Louisiana. 13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall consist of eleven members 14and be composed of the following: 15 (1) The chair of the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure or his designee. 16 (2) The chair of the House Committee on Judiciary or her designee. 17 (3) The chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary A or his designee. 18 (4) The chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary B or his designee. 19 (5) The chair of the Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Louisiana or her 20designee. 21 (6) The president of the Louisiana Association for Defense Counsel or his designee. 22 (7) The executive director of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association or her 23designee. 24 (8) The president of the Louisiana State Bar Association or his designee. 25 (9) The executive director of the Louisiana Association for Justice or her designee. 26 (10) The president of the Louisiana State Law Institute or his designee. 27 (11) The president of the Louisiana Court Administrators Association or his 28designee. Page 2 of 4 HLS 16RS-4534 ORIGINAL HR NO. 191 1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all appointments to the task force shall be made 2within thirty days after adjournment of this legislature in the 2016 Regular Session. 3Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The members of 4the task force shall serve without compensation. 5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the membership of the task force 6shall constitute a quorum and shall elect the chair of the task force at its first meeting. The 7task force shall meet at the call of the chair or upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the 8task force. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five days before 9the date on which a meeting of the task force is scheduled. 10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair shall call an initial meeting of the task 11force no later than October 1, 2016, and hold meetings at the times and in the places it may 12deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge. 13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet no less than two times. 14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may seek the advice of experts as 15deemed appropriate by the membership of the task force. 16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall prepare and submit a final 17report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and policy recommendations of the 18task force to the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the 19chairman of the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure, the chairman of the House 20Judiciary Committee, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary A, the chairman 21of the Senate Committee on Judiciary B, and the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme 22Court not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2017 Regular Session of the 23Legislature of Louisiana and that such recommendations shall include but not be limited to 24the following: 25 (1) A detailed conceptual model for a statewide electronic filing system for civil 26pleadings in Louisiana courts. 27 (2) General guidelines on how best to proceed in creating and installing a statewide 28system for electronic filing and service that supports all civil case types and levels of courts 29in Louisiana. Page 3 of 4 HLS 16RS-4534 ORIGINAL HR NO. 191 1 (3) Particular implications or obstacles, if any, in implementing a statewide 2electronic filing system for civil pleadings in Louisiana courts. 3 (4) Costs associated and best funding sources for the implementation of a universal 4statewide electronic filing system in Louisiana courts. 5 (5) Legislation needed to implement a universal statewide electronic filing system 6for civil pleadings in Louisiana courts. 7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be abolished upon 8submission of the report. 9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the 10appointing entities named in this Resolution. 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)] HR 191 Original 2016 Regular Session Magee Creates the Clerk of Court Statewide Filing System Task Force to study and make recommendations to the legislature regarding the implementation and development of a universal electronic filing system for civil pleadings throughout the state, and provides for a written report of its recommendations and findings no later than sixty days prior to the 2017 R.S. Page 4 of 4