HLS 16RS-4534 ENGROSSED
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
18 WHEREAS, electronic filing may reduce data entry costs and improve the quality,
19consistency, and efficiency of the court filing process; and
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HR NO. 191
1 WHEREAS, digital storage of civil court documents may also increase productivity
2and efficiency by allowing multiple users simultaneous access to a particular case file; and
3 WHEREAS, the use of electronic files in lieu of physical documents reduces the risk
4of court documents being lost or destroyed in a catastrophic event; and
5 WHEREAS, it would be of great benefit to the Louisiana court system and the entire
6state to implement an electronic filing system for civil pleadings.
7 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
8create the Clerk of Court Statewide Filing System Task Force to study and make
9recommendations regarding the implementation and development of a universal electronic
10filing system for civil pleadings throughout the state of Louisiana.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall consist of ten members and
12be composed of the following:
13 (1) The president of the Louisiana State Bar Association.
14 (2) The president of the Louisiana Association for Defense Counsel.
15 (3) The executive director of the Louisiana Association for Justice.
16 (4) The executive director of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association.
17 (5) A clerk of court in a district with a population of over three hundred
18 thousand.
19 (6) A clerk of court in a district with a population of more than two hundred
20 thousand but less than three hundred thousand.
21 (7) A clerk of court in a district with a population of more than one hundred
22 thousand but less than two hundred thousand.
23 (8) A clerk of court in a district with a population of more than fifty thousand
24 but less than one hundred thousand.
25 (9) A clerk of court in a district with a population of less than fifty thousand.
26 (10) A clerk from a Louisiana Court of Appeal.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all appointments to the task force shall be made
28within thirty days after adjournment of this legislature in the 2016 Regular Session.
29Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The members of
30the task force shall serve without compensation.
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HR NO. 191
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the membership of the task force
2shall constitute a quorum and shall elect the chair of the task force at its first meeting. The
3task force shall meet at the call of the chair or upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the
4task force. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five days before
5the date on which a meeting of the task force is scheduled.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair shall call an initial meeting of the task
7force no later than October 1, 2016, and hold meetings at the times and in the places it may
8deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet no less than two times.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may seek the advice of experts as
11deemed appropriate by the membership of the task force.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall prepare and submit a final
13report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and policy recommendations of the
14task force to the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the
15chairman of the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure, the chairman of the House
16Judiciary Committee, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary A, the chairman
17of the Senate Committee on Judiciary B, and the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme
18Court not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2017 Regular Session of the
19Legislature of Louisiana and that such recommendations shall include but not be limited to
20the following:
21 (1) A detailed conceptual model for a statewide electronic filing system for civil
22pleadings in Louisiana courts.
23 (2) General guidelines on how best to proceed in creating and installing a statewide
24system for electronic filing and service that supports all civil case types and levels of courts
25in Louisiana.
26 (3) Particular implications or obstacles, if any, in implementing a statewide
27electronic filing system for civil pleadings in Louisiana courts.
28 (4) Costs associated and best funding sources for the implementation of a universal
29statewide electronic filing system in Louisiana courts.
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HR NO. 191
1 (5) Legislation needed to implement a universal statewide electronic filing system
2for civil pleadings in Louisiana courts.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be abolished upon
4submission of the report.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
6appointing 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 Engrossed 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.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Change the number of task force members from eleven to ten.
2. Change the composition of task force membership.
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