HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 620
BY REPRESENTATIVES HENRY, BARRAS, BROADWATER, FOIL, JACKSON,
JOHNSON, LEGER, AND MAGEE AND SENATORS ALARIO AND LAFLEUR
APPROPRIATIONS: Appropriates funds for the expenses of the judiciary for Fiscal Year
2017-2018
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-Seven Million Three Hundred Ninety-
7Four Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-Nine No/100 ($187,394,369.00) Dollars, or so much
8thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of the judiciary,
9including the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, the District Courts, the Criminal District
10Court of Orleans Parish, 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.
Page 1 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
1 Goal: To protect the rule of law.
2 Objective: To provide a reasonable opportunity for litigants to seek review in the
3 Supreme Court of decisions made by lower tribunals.
4 General Performance Information:
5 2014 2015 2016
6 Total Filings 2,716 2,365 2,283
7 Total Appeals Filed 12 6 9
8 Total Writs Filed 2,496 2,172 2,092
9 Total Dispositions Rendered 2,592 2,486 2,142
10 Goal: To promote the rule of law.
11 Objective: To resolve cases in a timely manner.
12 General Performance Information:
13 2014 2015 2016
14 Percentage of noncriminal case
15 applications acted on within Supreme
16 Court standard of 120 days of filing 91.8% 97.1% 94.1%
17 Percentage of criminal case applications
18 acted on within Supreme Court
19 standard of 120 days of filing 30.7% 36.1% 48.7%
20 Percentage of pro se post conviction
21 applications acted on within Supreme
22 Court standard of 120 days of filing 2.1% 3% 26%
23 Percentage of bar disciplinary filings
24 acted upon within Supreme Court
25 standard of 120 days of filing 95.2% 97% 93.6%
26 Percentage of opinions rendered within
27 Supreme Court standard of 84 days
28 from argument 81.5% 75.8% 66.7%
29 Goal: To ensure the public trust.
30 Objective: To facilitate public access to Supreme Court decisions.
31 General Performance Information:
32 2014 2015 2016
33 Percentage of written opinions available
34 to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%
35 Objective: To inform the public of operations and activities.
36 General Performance Information:
37 2014 2015 2016
38 Number of outreach programs 58 100 60
39 Number of media releases on court decisions 64 66 78
40 Number of media releases on other matters 25 17 24
41 Number of recipients of releases on
42 court decisions 1,485 1,632 1,775
43 Number of recipients of releases on other
44 matters 3,633 4,700 6,010
45 Objective: To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the
46 bench.
47 General Performance Information:
48 2014 2015 2016
49 Average number of hours acquired
50 through continuing legal education
51 per judge 33.59 34.25 30.08
52 Number of complaints filed against
53 judges and justices of the peace 495 529 545
54 Number of complaints against judges
55 and justices of the peace resolved or
56 disposed of in the calendar year 477 601 582
57 Objective: To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the
58 bar.
59 General Performance Information:
60 2014 2015 2016
61 Average number of hours acquired through
62 continuing legal education per lawyer 14.92 15.12 15.08
63 Number of complaints filed against lawyers 3,040 2,950 2,922
64 Number of complaints filed against lawyers
65 resolved or disposed of in calendar year3,140 3,046 2,673
Page 2 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
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 $1,125,128
5 02 Salaries and other expenses of the
6 Supreme Court Proper and salary of
7 the Crier of the Supreme Court $10,654,654
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 $5,278,486
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 $2,068,854
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 $ 420,020
30 D. Dues to National Center for State Courts $ 158,650
31 04 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board,
32 as per Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX $ 3,000
33 05 Compensation and expenses of retired
34 judges assigned under Article V,
35 Section 5(A) of the Constitution of
36 Louisiana, be it more or less estimated at $1,416,000
37 06 Law Library of Louisiana for salaries,
38 services, supplies, maintenance, repairs,
39 and equipment $2,060,337
40 Program Description: The Law Library of Louisiana serves the legal information needs of the state
41 judiciary, and is open to members of the bar and public.
42 07 Salaries and expenses of transferred
43 judges assigned under Article V,
44 Section 5(A) of the Constitution,
45 be it more or less estimated as $ 146,663
46 08 Retirement pay for services rendered by
47 justices and judges of all courts, as
48 provided by R.S. 11:1358 and
49 R.S. 13:103 $1,365,669
Page 3 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
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 $ 303,725
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 $19,013,380
13 12 Civil commitment matters as
14 required by R.S. 28:54 $ 204,000
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 $1,368,548
21 15 Information Technology $1,104,532
22 16 Payable out of the State General Fund for the
23 expenses associated with the operation of the
24 Families in Need of Services Program (FINS) $2,354,780
25 Program Description: The mission of the FINS Assistance Program is to assist local FINS processes by
26 developing and implementing a needs-based allocation formula; developing, implementing, and mandating
27 the use of a uniform data system for tracking, managing, and reporting FINS informal cases; developing
28 and mandating the use of programmatic standards; developing, implementing, and reporting performance
29 indicators and measures; requiring and monitoring periodic fiscal reports and financial accountability;
30 and, generally supervising and assisting local FINS processes in other ways.
31 17 Drug court maintenance and enhancement $17,145,514
32 Program Description: Drug treatment courts, authorized in 1997 by R.S. 13:5301 through R.S. 13:5304,
33 provided integrated substance abuse treatment, sanctions, and incentives with case processing to place
34 low-level, nonviolent drug-involved defendants in community-based, judicially supervised rehabilitation
35 programs. Clients are regularly tested and monitored for compliance with educational, employment, and
36 treatment requirements set by the court.
37 18 Court Appointed Special Advocates $6,958,734
38 Program Description: The purpose of the CASA Assistance Program is to promote timely placement of
39 children in need of care in permanent, safe and stable homes, in accordance with the provisions of
40 Children's Code articles 424-426. Services are provided through local CASA programs which recruit,
41 screen, train and supervise community advocates. Upon appointment by the trial judge, qualified
42 advocates serve children by providing independent factual information to the judge, advocating for the best
43 interest of the children, monitoring cases to which they have been assigned, and advising and assisting the
44 judge in the determination of the best interest of the children involved.
45TOTAL - GENERAL FUND $74,680,658
46 19 Payable out of the State General Fund
47 from Statutory Dedications, Judges'
48 Supplemental Compensation Fund,
49 R. S. 13:10.3, be it more or less
50 estimated at $6,223,724
Page 4 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
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 $4,017,201
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 $10,240,925
19TOTAL SUPREME COURT $84,921,583
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 2014 2015 2016
37 Total appeals filed 2,050 2,053 1,783
38 Total writs filed 4,325 4,048 3,670
39 Total dispositions rendered 5,741 5,019 4,761
40 Goal: To promote the rule of law.
41 Objective: To resolve cases expeditiously.
42 General Performance Information:
43 2014 2015 2016
44 Average number of days from lodging of the
45 appeal to argument:
46 Time Standard = no more than 175 days.
47 Criminal cases 151 143 162
48 Civil Cases 149 147 155
49 Median number of days for all cases 149 146 158
50 Average number of days from argument to
51 rendering of the opinion:
52 Time Standard = no more than 70 days.
53 Criminal cases 38 43 43
54 Civil cases 44 43 42
55 Median number of days for all cases 43 43 43
Page 5 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
1 Goal: To preserve public trust.
2 Objective: To facilitate public access to the decisions of the courts of appeal.
3 General Performance Information:
4 2014 2015 2016
5 Percentage of written opinions available
6 to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%
7Payable out of the State General Fund:
8 01 Salaries of five (5) Chief Judges
9 and forty-eight (48) Judges of
10 the Courts of Appeal, R.S. 13:311 $7,912,546
11 02 Salaries and expenses of operation and
12 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
13 First Circuit $10,469,867
14 03 Salaries and expenses of operation and
15 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
16 Second Circuit $5,868,157
17 04 Salaries and expenses of operation and
18 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
19 Third Circuit $8,930,244
20 05 Salaries and expenses of operation and
21 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
22 Fourth Circuit $8,347,759
23 06 Salaries and expenses of operation and
24 maintenance of the Court of Appeal,
25 Fifth Circuit $6,022,679
26TOTAL COURTS OF APPEAL $47,551,252
2703-8172DISTRICT COURTS
28 Program Description: There are forty-one district courts in Louisiana that have
29 general jurisdiction over all matters within their territorial limits, except in those
30 judicial districts (the 1st, the 19th, and the 24th Judicial Districts) where family and
31 juvenile courts have exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases and except in
32 Orleans Parish where there are separate courts exercising civil, criminal, and juvenile
33 jurisdictions, respectively. In certain cases, the forty-one general jurisdiction courts
34 have concurrent jurisdiction with justices of the peace and parish courts. The district
35 courts generally have appellate jurisdiction of criminal cases tried by city, parish,
36 municipal, traffic, and mayors' courts, except in certain cases. The district courts also
37 have appellate jurisdiction over justices of the peace in parishes where no parish courts
38 exist. The Civil District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction of all civil cases in
39 that parish. The Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction over all
40 criminal cases in the parish. It also has general supervisory jurisdiction over the
41 municipal and traffic courts in Orleans Parish. The Family Court of East Baton Rouge
42 Parish has exclusive jurisdiction of many domestic cases in the parish. The four
43 juvenile courts located in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes
44 have exclusive jurisdiction of juvenile cases in their respective parishes.
45 Mission Statement: The mission of the trial courts of Louisiana is to provide access
46 to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to provide
47 equality, fairness, and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial independence
48 and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the procedural
49 and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.
50 Goal: To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.
51 Objective: To encourage responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible,
52 and convenient.
Page 6 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
1 General Performance Information:
2 2014 2015 2016
3 Percentage of surveyed district court chief
4 judges indicating actions taken in
5 FY 2015-2016 to improve compliance
6 with the Americans with Disabilities Act
7 (ADA) 97.9% 93.8% 81.3%
8 Objective: To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the
9 costs of access to the trial court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms
10 of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and
11 affordable.
12 General Performance Information:
13 2014 2015 2016
14 Percentage of surveyed district court chief
15 judges indicating actions taken in
16 FY 2015-2016 to assist self-represented
17 litigants 97.9% 97.9% 85.4%
18 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities in
19 a timely and expeditious manner.
20 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
21 General Performance Information:
22 2014 2015 2016
23 Number of parishes reporting criminal
24 disposition data to CMIS 64 64 64
25 Percentage of parishes reporting criminal
26 disposition data to CMIS 100% 100% 100%
27 Percentage of surveyed district court chief
28 judges indicating that their courts had
29 taken steps within FY 2015-2016 to
30 reduce delays and improve the timeliness
31 of case processing 91.7% 97.9% 87.5%
32 Objective: To enhance jury service.
33 General Performance Information:
34 2014 2015 2016
35 Percentage of surveyed district court chief
36 judges indicating that their court had
37 taken steps within FY 2015-2016 to make
38 jury service more convenient or effective 93% 100% 90.7%
39 Goal: To provide due process and equal protection of the law to all who have business
40 before the court; and to demonstrate integrity in all procedures and decisions.
41 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court
42 operations as necessary.
43 General Performance Information:
44 2014 2015 2016
45 Percentage of surveyed district court chief
46 judges indicating actions taken in
47 FY 2015-2016 to improve employee
48 training and development 95.8% 87.5% 85.4%
49 Percentage of surveyed district court chief
50 judges indicating actions taken in
51 FY 2015-2016 to install or implement
52 technologies 95.8% 100% 91.7%
53 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
54 its governmental relations and accountability to the public.
55 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
56 General Performance Information:
57 2014 2015 2016
58 Percentage of surveyed district court chief
59 judges indicating that their courts regularly
60 provided public education and public
61 outreach services in FY 2015-2016 89.6% 97.9% 87.5%
Page 7 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
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 $27,187,586
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 $1,992,807
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 $ 117,697
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 $7,471,735
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 $ 569,959
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 $ 470,893
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 $ 304,827
40 11 Law Clerk, Twentieth Judicial District
41 Court as provided by Act 747 of 1977 $ 51,118
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 $39,577,372
Page 8 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
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 $1,850,464
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 $ 736,127
17 D. Salaries of thirteen (13) minute clerks as provided
18 by R.S. 13:1373.1 $ 288,063
19 E. Salaries of twenty-six (26) court reporters as
20 provided by R.S. 13:1373.1 $ 454,091
21 F. Salaries of four (4) commissioners of Criminal
22 Court, Orleans Parish, including related benefits
23 as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 503,908
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 $ 75,371
28 I. Salaries of four (4) court reporters, one for each
29 commissioner as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 57,311
30 J. Salaries of Judicial Administrator, and assistants,
31 including related benefits $1,007,453
32 K. Salaries of thirteen (13) law clerks $ 733,824
33 L. Salaries of four (4) secretaries $ 212,661
34 M. Sanity Commissions $ 200,000
35 N. Board of Jury Commissioners $ 434,248
36 SUBTOTAL $6,638,871
37 14 Juvenile and Family Court Judges
38 A. Salaries of fourteen (14) Juvenile Court
39 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:691 $1,992,807
40 B. Salaries of four (4) Family Court Judges
41 as provided by R.S. 13:691 $ 569,374
Page 9 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
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 $2,665,681
5TOTAL DISTRICT COURTS $48,881,924
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 2014 2015 2016
22 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief
23 judges indicating actions taken in
24 FY 2015-2016 to assist pro se litigants 100% 96.2% 96.2%
25 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities in
26 a timely and expeditious manner.
27 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
28 General Performance Information:
29 2014 2015 2016
30 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief
31 judges indicating that their courts had
32 taken steps within FY 2015-2016 to reduce
33 delays and improve the timeliness of case
34 processing 84.6% 88.5% 92.3%
35 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
36 its governmental relations and accountability to the public.
37 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
38 General Performance Information:
39 2014 2015 2016
40 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief
41 judges indicating that their courts
42 regularly provided public education and
43 public outreach services in FY 2015-
44 2016 92.3% 92.3% 88.5%
45 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court
46 operations as necessary.
47 General Performance Information:
48 2014 2015 2016
49 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief
50 judges indicating actions taken in
51 FY 2015-2016 to improve employee
52 training and development 94.2% 98.1% 96.2%
53 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief
54 judges indicating actions taken in
55 FY 2015-2016 to install or implement
56 technologies 92.3% 96.2% 90.4%
Page 10 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
1Payable out of the State General Fund:
2 01 Salaries of sixty (60) City Court
3 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:1875 $2,757,560
4 02 Salaries of four (4) Municipal, four (4)
5 Traffic and one (1) Parish Court
6 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:2492,
7 13:2501.1, and 13:2563.5, respectively $ 444,777
8TOTAL OTHER COURTS REQUIRED BY STATUTE $3,202,337
903-8174OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES NOT
10 REQUIRED BY STATUTE
11Payable out of the State General Fund:
12 01 Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective
13 Care Monitoring Program $ 614,938
14 Program Description: The program tracks and maintains child abuse and neglect cases in the Orleans
15 Parish Juvenile Court. It also provides assistance in support of the Families in Need of Services Program.
16 02 Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Reporters $ 88,244
17 03 For the expenses of the Judges'
18 Assistance Program $ 63,238
19 Program Description: The Judges' Assistance Program provides counseling and other assistance to
20 judges with substance abuse problems.
21TOTAL OTHER COURTS NOT REQUIRED BY STATUTE $ 766,420
2203-8175NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXP ENSES
23Payable out of the State General Fund:
24 01 Legal representation of children in child protection cases$2,070,853
25 Program Description: As recommended by the Task Force on Legal representation
26 in Child Protection Cases and at the request of the Division of Administration, in
27 order to advance the administration of justice, the Supreme Court administers
28 funding to provide qualified legal representation for children in child protection
29 cases as required to fulfill the state’s statutory responsibility.
30TOTAL NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXPENSES $2,070,853
31 Section 2.A. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or her duly authorized and
32appointed agent, shall warrant the state treasurer for the allocations herein provided, or for
33so much thereof as may be necessary. The aforesaid warrant shall be paid out of the state
34general fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrant by preference over all other
35warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state and warrants
36for expenses of the legislature, which shall be concurrent with the warrant provided by this
37Act.
Page 11 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
1 B. The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the judiciary
2in an approved bank that has been selected by the Supreme Court and is located in the state.
3 C. Any funds herein allocated to the judiciary, any portion of the funds previously
4appropriated to the judiciary, other revenue of the judiciary or its agencies, and interest
5earnings are hereby appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the judiciary;
6however, all funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered shall be returnable to the state
7general fund on or before September 1, 2018.
8 D. For Fiscal Year 2017-2018, any surpluses occurring in the appropriations made in
9this Act may be transferred from one agency or line-item to another during the fiscal year
10in accordance with the rules of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the
11Supreme Court.
12 E. The adjustment to be made in the salaries of judicial employees and the number of
13authorized positions of the judiciary shall be as decided by the judicial agency affected,
14subject to the approval of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the
15Supreme Court.
16 F. The program descriptions, general performance information and indicators,
17objectives, goals, and mission statements contained in this Act are not part of the law and
18are not enacted into law by virtue of their inclusion in this Act. The missions, goals, and
19objectives contained in the Act are derived from performance standards established by
20Section 10 of Part G General Administrative Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
21 G. The inclusion in this Act of staff salaries and benefits for lower court or other judicial
22branch agency employees shall not be deemed to create or impose any obligation upon the
23State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
24Control Board, or the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office relative to the
25administration of pay, retirement or other benefits to any such employees. Accordingly, the
26State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
27Control Board, and the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office are not to be
28considered the "employer" or "employing agency" of lower court or other judicial agency
29employees whose staff salaries and other benefits are included in this Act.
Page 12 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
1 Section 3. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2017; if vetoed by the
2governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
July 1, 2017, or 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 2016-2017 is compared to the
appropriations for FY 2017-2018 as contained in the original bill.
Operating Budget Appropriation Request
Courts and Programs FY 2016-2017 FY 2017-2018
Supreme Court
Total Supreme Court$ 63,673,627 $74,680,658
Courts of Appeal
Total Courts of Appeal$ 45,101,587 $47,551,252
District Courts
Total District Courts$ 46,311,638 $48,881,924
Other Courts
Total Other Courts $ 3,132,025 $3,202,337
Other Programs
Total Other Programs $ 634,064 $ 766,420
Non-Judicial State Expenses
Total State Expenses $ 2,070,853 $2,070,853
Total State General Fund
and Interagency Transfer
All Line Items $160,923,794 $177,153,444
Total Statutory Dedications$ 10,407,485 $10,240,925
Total Funding $171,331,279 $187,394,369
Page 13 of 14 HLS 17RS-651 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 620
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 620 Original 2017 Regular Session Henry
Abstract: Appropriates funds for FY 2017-2018 for expenses of the Louisiana 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 Fiscal Year 2017-2018 for the ordinary operating expenses of the
judicial branch of government with total funding of $187,394,369 from the following
sources: $177,153,444 out of the State General Fund (Direct); and, $10,240,925 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 $84,921,583
(2) Courts of Appeal 47,551,252
(3) District Courts 39,577,372
(4)Criminal Court, Parish of Orleans 6,638,871
(5)Juvenile and Family Courts 2,665,681
(6) Other Courts (Required by Statute) 3,202,337
(7)Other Courts (Not Required by Statute) 766,420
(8)Non-Judicial State Expenses 2,070,853
TOTAL $187,394,369
Effective July 1, 2017.
Page 14 of 14