HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 698
BY REPRESENTATIVE HENRY AND SENATORS ALARIO, LAFLEUR, AND
MORRELL
APPROPRIATIONS: Appropriates funds for the expenses of the judiciary for Fiscal Year
2018-2019
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; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6Be it enacted byf the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1.A. The sum of One Hundred Eighty Million One Hundred Seventy-Seven
8Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Five No/100 ($180,177,165.00) Dollars, or so much thereof
9as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of the judiciary,
10including the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, the District Courts, the Criminal District
11Court of Orleans Parish, and of the other courts.
12 B. The total amount herein appropriated is hereby allocated to provide as follows:
1303-8170 SUPREME COURT
14 Program Description: The Supreme Court has general supervisory jurisdiction over
15 all lower courts. It may establish procedural and administrative rules not in conflict
16 with law and may assign a sitting or retired judge to any court. The Supreme Court has
17 sole authority to provide by rule for appointments of attorneys as temporary or ad hoc
18 judges. It considers applications for writs to review individual cases, and has criminal
19 and other appellate jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction
20 of disciplinary proceedings against lawyers, recommendations of the Judiciary
21 Commission of Louisiana for the discipline of judges, and fact questions affecting its
22 appellate jurisdiction. It has inherent authority to regulate the legal profession and to
23 promulgate and update the Code of Judicial Conduct. The court also provides judicial
24 training through the Judicial College and works to improve the administration of
25 justice.
26 Mission Statement: The mission of the Supreme Court of Louisiana is to protect and
27 promote the rule of law, to ensure public trust, to use public resources efficiently, to
28 ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of both the bench
29 and the bar, and to ensure the proper administration and performance of all courts
30 under its authority.
Page 1 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
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 2015 2016 2017
6 Total Filings 2,365 2,283 2,181
7 Total Appeals Filed 6 9 4
8 Total Writs Filed 2,172 2,092 1,997
9 Total Dispositions Rendered 2,486 2,142 2,039
10 Goal: To promote the rule of law.
11 Objective: To resolve cases in a timely manner.
12 General Performance Information:
13 2015 2016 2017
14 Percentage of noncriminal case
15 applications acted on within Supreme
16 Court standard of 120 days of filing 97.1% 94.1% 88%
17 Percentage of criminal case applications
18 acted on within Supreme Court
19 standard of 120 days of filing 36.1% 48.7% 34.9%
20 Percentage of pro se post conviction
21 applications acted on within Supreme
22 Court standard of 120 days of filing 3% 26% 20.8%
23 Percentage of bar disciplinary filings
24 acted upon within Supreme Court
25 standard of 120 days of filing 97% 93.6% 89.3%
26 Percentage of opinions rendered within
27 Supreme Court standard of 84 days
28 from argument 75.8% 66.7% 73.2%
29 Goal: To ensure the public trust.
30 Objective: To facilitate public access to Supreme Court decisions.
31 General Performance Information:
32 2015 2016 2017
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 2015 2016 2017
38 Number of outreach programs 100 60 70
39 Number of media releases on court decisions 66 78 65
40 Number of media releases on other matters 17 24 18
41 Number of recipients of releases on
42 court decisions 1,632 1,775 1,932
43 Number of recipients of releases on other
44 matters 4,700 6,010 3,489
45 Objective: To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the
46 bench.
47 General Performance Information:
48 2015 2016 2017
49 Average number of hours acquired
50 through continuing legal education
51 per judge 34.25 30.08 29.03
52 Number of complaints filed against
53 judges and justices of the peace 529 545 533
54 Number of complaints against judges
55 and justices of the peace resolved or
56 disposed of in the calendar year 601 582 546
57 Objective: To ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the
58 bar.
59 General Performance Information:
60 2015 2016 2017
61 Average number of hours acquired through
62 continuing legal education per lawyer 15.12 15.08 14.76
63 Number of complaints filed against lawyers 2,950 2,922 2,795
Page 2 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
1 Number of complaints filed against lawyers
2 resolved or disposed of in calendar year3,046 2,673 3,096
3Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
4 FY 18 EOB FY 19
5 01 Salaries of one (1) Chief Justice and
6 six (6)Associate Justices of the
7 Supreme Court, as provided by
8 R.S. 13:102 $ 1,125,252$ 1,154,936
9 02 Salaries and other expenses of the
10 Supreme Court Proper and salary of
11 the Crier of the Supreme Court$ 3,804,457$ 7,898,581
12 03 Expenses of Judicial Administrator's
13 Office and of the Judiciary
14 Commission provided for in Article V,
15 Section 25 of the Constitution of
16 Louisiana and under the provisions of
17 R.S. 13:32 et seq.
18 A. Expenses of Judicial
19 Administrator's Office $ 4,519,857$ 4,809,236
20 Program Description: The Judicial Administrator's Office assists the Supreme Court in the
21 administration of the state court system. It staffs the Judicial Council and the Judiciary Commission of
22 Louisiana. Through the Judicial Council, it performs studies and makes recommendations for the creation
23 of new judgeships and for improving the administration of justice. The Judicial Administrator's Office
24 provides payroll and other fiscal services to the Judiciary, including the administration of a judicial
25 retirement system; support for the Supreme Court and Appellate Court human resource system; and
26 support for judicial branch reporting obligations. The Judicial Administrator's Office also manages the
27 ad hoc judgeship system, monitors cases under advisement, provides support for initiatives to ensure
28 access to the courts for limited English proficiency individuals; provides outreach services to state and
29 local courts, applies for and administers grants to improve judicial administration; and staffs the
30 Committee on Judicial Ethics. The Judicial Administrator’s office administers several programs, including
31 the Supreme Court Drug Court / Specialty Court Office, the Louisiana Protective Order Registry, and
32 CASA and FINS through the Division of Children and Families. The Judicial Administrator’s office also
33 provides staff support for the Louisiana Judicial College, and performs numerous legal services for the
34 Supreme Court and the Judiciary.
35 B. Expenses of Judiciary Commission $ 1,821,921$ 1,930,613
36 Program Description: The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a constitutional body established under
37 Article V, Section 25 of the Constitution of 1974 to accept, screen, investigate, and prosecute complaints
38 of judicial misconduct. As part of its authority, it may recommend to the Supreme Court the censure,
39 suspension, removal from office, or involuntary retirement of any judge for ethical misconduct.
40 C. Court Reporters; Statistical
41 Reporting Systems $ 355,504$ 370,225
42 D. Dues to National Center for
43 State Courts $ 158,650$ 158,650
44 04 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary
45 Board, as per Louisiana Supreme
46 Court Rule XIX $ 3,000$ 3,000
47 05 Compensation and expenses of retired
48 judges assigned under Article V,
49 Section 5(A) of the Constitution of
50 Louisiana, be it more or less
51 estimated at $ 1,070,364$ 1,510,646
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HB NO. 698
1 06 Law Library of Louisiana for salaries,
2 services, supplies, maintenance, repairs,
3 and equipment $ 1,671,322$ 1,754,471
4 Program Description: The Law Library of Louisiana serves the legal information needs of the state
5 judiciary, and is open to members of the bar and public.
6 07 Salaries and expenses of transferred
7 judges assigned under Article V,
8 Section 5(A) of the Constitution,
9 be it more or less estimated as $ 86,663$ 86,663
10 08 Retirement pay for services rendered by
11 justices and judges of all courts, as
12 provided by R.S. 11:1358 and
13 R.S. 13:103 $ 1,365,669$ 894,459
14 09 Pensions for widows of justices and
15 judges of all courts, as provided by
16 R.S. 11:1371 and R.S. 11:1381, be it
17 more or less estimated at $ 1,469,984$ 1,469,984
18 10 Judicial College $ 33,072$ 55,502
19 Program Description: The Judicial College was established by order of the Supreme Court in 1976 to
20 provide continuing legal education to Louisiana judges.
21 11 State contribution to judicial
22 retirement provided for in Article V,
23 Section 23 of the Constitution and
24 R.S. 11:551 et seq., be it more or
25 less estimated at $18,155,129$18,595,302
26 12 Civil commitment matters as
27 required by R.S. 28:54 $ 143,424$ 243,075
28 13 Paul M. Hebert Law Center for
29 expenses of storage of appellate
30 court records $ 60,000$ 60,000
31 14 Funding for statewide operations of the
32 Louisiana Protective Order Registry
33 (R.S. 46:2136.2) under the Case
34 Management Information System $ 1,048,254$ 1,048,254
35 15 Information Technology $ 1,054,733$ 1,096,238
36 16 Payable out of State General
37 Funds for Operational expenses of
38 the Families in Need of Services
39 Program (FINS) $ 1,995,709$ 1,995,709
40 Program Description: The mission of the FINS Assistance Program is to assist local FINS processes by
41 developing and implementing a needs-based allocation formula; developing, implementing, and mandating
42 the use of a uniform data system for tracking, managing, and reporting FINS informal cases; developing
43 and mandating the use of programmatic standards; developing, implementing, and reporting performance
44 indicators and measures; requiring and monitoring periodic fiscal reports and financial accountability;
45 and, generally supervising and assisting local FINS processes in other ways.
46
47 17 Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts $ 9,755,000$15,155,000
48 Program Description: Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts, such as Drug/DWI Treatment Courts,
49 authorized in 1977 by R.S. 13:5301 - R.S. 13:5304, Reentry Courts, authorized in 2010 by R.S. 13:5401,
50 Mental Health Courts, authorized in 2013 by R.S. 13:5353 - 5358, and Veterans Treatment Courts,
Page 4 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
1 authorized in 2014 by R.S. 13:5361 - 5368, are proven and effective alternatives to traditional criminal
2 justice interventions. These programs provide integrated treatment for substance use and mental health
3 disorders, including the appropriate use of sanctions and incentives along with case management, to place
4 participants in need of services into appropriate community-based and judicially supervised rehabilitation
5 programs. Clients are regularly tested and monitored for compliance with educational, employment, and
6 treatment requirements pursuant to current best practices and the proven national model.
7 18 Court Appointed Special Advocates$ 1,794,035$ 5,786,886
8 Program Description: The purpose of the CASA Assistance Program is to promote timely placement of
9 children in need of care in permanent, safe and stable homes, in accordance with the provisions of
10 Children's Code articles 424-426. Services are provided through local CASA programs which recruit,
11 screen, train and supervise community advocates. Upon appointment by the trial judge, qualified
12 advocates serve children by providing independent factual information to the judge, advocating for the best
13 interest of the children, monitoring cases to which they have been assigned, and advising and assisting the
14 judge in the determination of the best interest of the children involved.
15TOTAL - GENERAL FUND (DIRECT) $51,491,999$ 66,077,430
16 FY 18 EOB FY 19
17 19 Payable out of the State General Fund
18 from Statutory Dedications, Judges'
19 Supplemental Compensation Fund,
20 R. S. 13:10.3, be it more or less
21 estimated at $ 6,223,724$ 6,223,724
22 Program Description: The Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund was established by the Legislature
23 in 1985 to fund salary supplements and salary-related expenses to judges and commissioners. The funding
24 source is a non-refundable filing fee assessed on civil filings as provided in R.S. 13:10.3.
25 FY 18 EOB FY 19
26 20 Payable out of the State General
27 Fund from Statutory Dedications,
28 Trial Court Case Management
29 Information Fund, for the Case
30 Management Information System,
31 Article 887 (F) of the Code of
32 Criminal Procedure, be it more or less
33 estimated at $ 4,017,201$ 4,017,201
34 Program Description: The Case Management Information System (CMIS) was created by the Supreme
35 Court in 1993 to provide a statewide information system for tracking and managing criminal, civil,
36 juvenile, traffic, and appellate cases as well as protective orders. Data is received from courts statewide,
37 transferred to the CMIS repository, and made available to courts and executive branch agencies.
38 Additional information will also be available from the Department of Public Safety & Corrections. CMIS
39 is funded from a court cost assessed on all criminal and traffic convictions as provided under
40 C.Cr.P.887(F).
41TOTAL - STATE GENERAL FUND
42 BY STATUTORY DEDICATIONS $10,240,925$ 10,240,925
43TOTAL SUPREME COURT $61,732,924$76,318,355
4403-8171 COURTS OF APPEAL
45 Program Description: The five courts of appeal, domiciled in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles,
46 New Orleans, and Gretna, have supervisory jurisdiction over all cases arising within their respective
47 circuits, subject to the general supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Each court of appeal also
48 has appellate jurisdiction over all civil matters, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and
49 all criminal cases triable by a jury which arise within its circuit, except for those cases appealable directly
50 to the Supreme Court or to the district courts.
51 Mission Statement: The mission of the appellate courts of Louisiana is to provide meaningful access to
52 all who seek review under the Courts' appellate and supervisory jurisdiction granted by the Louisiana
53 Constitution while protecting and promoting the rule of law, preserving the public trust, and using public
54 resources efficiently.
Page 5 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
1 Goal: To protect the rule of law.
2 Objective: To provide a reasonable opportunity for multi-judge review of decisions made by lower
3 tribunals.
4 General Performance Information:
5 2015 2016 2017
6 Total appeals filed 2,053 1,783 1,897
7 Total writs filed 4,048 3,670 3,420
8 Total dispositions rendered 5,019 4,761 4,439
9 Goal: To promote the rule of law.
10 Objective: To resolve cases expeditiously.
11 General Performance Information:
12 2015 2016 2017
13 Average number of days from lodging of the
14 appeal to argument:
15 Time Standard = no more than 175 days.
16 Criminal cases 143 162 147
17 Civil Cases 147 155 162
18 Median number of days for all cases 146 158 159
19 Average number of days from argument to
20 rendering of the opinion:
21 Time Standard = no more than 70 days.
22 Criminal cases 43 43 43
23 Civil cases 43 42 44
24 Median number of days for all cases 43 43 44
25 Goal: To preserve public trust.
26 Objective: To facilitate public access to the decisions of the courts of appeal.
27 General Performance Information:
28 2015 2016 2017
29 Percentage of written opinions available
30 to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%
31Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
32 FY 18 EOB FY 19
33 01 Salaries of five (5) Chief Judges
34 and forty-eight (48) Judges of
35 the Courts of Appeal, R.S. 13:311$ 7,913,159$ 8,123,080
36 02 Salaries and expenses of operation
37 and maintenance of the Court of
38 appeal, First Circuit $ 10,186,973$ 10,777,116
39 03 Salaries and expenses of operation
40 and maintenance of the Court of
41 appeal, Second Circuit $ 5,707,610$ 6,013,644
42 04 Salaries and expenses of operation
43 and maintenance of the Court of
44 appeal, Third Circuit $ 8,739,437$ 9,176,428
45 05 Salaries and expenses of operation
46 and maintenance of the Court of
47 appeal, Fourth Circuit $ 8,121,408$ 8,602,396
48 06 Salaries and expenses of operation
49 and maintenance of the Court of
50 appeal, Fifth Circuit $ 5,919,956$ 6,295,517
51TOTAL COURTS OF APPEAL $ 46,588,543$ 48,988,181
Page 6 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
103-8172DISTRICT COURTS
2 Program Description: There are forty-one district courts in Louisiana that have general
3 jurisdiction over all matters within their territorial limits, except in those judicial districts
4 (the 1st, the 19th, and the 24th Judicial Districts) where family and juvenile courts have
5 exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases and except in Orleans Parish where
6 there are separate courts exercising civil, criminal, and juvenile jurisdictions,
7 respectively. In certain cases, the forty-one general jurisdiction courts have concurrent
8 jurisdiction with justices of the peace and parish courts. The district courts generally
9 have appellate jurisdiction of criminal cases tried by city, parish, municipal, traffic, and
10 mayors' courts, except in certain cases. The district courts also have appellate
11 jurisdiction over justices of the peace in parishes where no parish courts exist. The Civil
12 District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction of all civil cases in that parish. The
13 Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction over all criminal cases in the
14 parish. It also has general supervisory jurisdiction over the municipal and traffic court
15 in Orleans Parish. The Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish has exclusive
16 jurisdiction of many domestic cases in the parish. The four juvenile courts located in
17 Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes have exclusive jurisdiction
18 of juvenile cases in their respective parishes.
19 Mission Statement: The mission of the trial courts of Louisiana is to provide access
20 to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to provide
21 equality, fairness, and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial independence
22 and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the procedural
23 and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.
24 Goal: To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.
25 Objective: To encourage responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible,
26 and convenient.
27 General Performance Information:
28 201520162017
29 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
30 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to improve compliance with
31 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 93.8% 81.3% 83.3%
32 Objective: To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the
33 costs of access to the trial court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms
34 of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and
35 affordable.
36 General Performance Information:
37 201520162017
38 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
39 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to assist self-represented
40 litigants 97.9%85.4% 85.4%
41 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities
42 in a timely and expeditious manner.
43 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
44 General Performance Information:
45 201520162017
46 Number of parishes reporting criminal disposition
47 data to CMIS 64 64 64
48 Percentage of parishes reporting criminal disposition
49 data to CMIS 100%100% 100%
50 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges 201520162017
51 indicating that their courts had taken steps within
52 FY 2016-2017 to reduce delays and improve the
53 timeliness of case processing 97.9%87.5% 93.8%
54 Objective: To enhance jury service.
55 General Performance Information:
56 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
57 that their court had taken steps within FY 2016-2017
58 to make jury service more convenient or effective 100%90.7% 92.9%
59 Goal: To provide due process and equal protection of the law to all who have business
60 before the court; and to demonstrate integrity in all procedures and decisions.
Page 7 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
1 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court operations
2 as necessary.
3 General Performance Information:
4 2015 20162017
5 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
6 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to improve employee
7 training and development 87.5%85.4% 87.5%
8 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
9 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to install or implement
10 technologies 100%91.7% 95.8%
11 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
12 its governmental relations and accountability to the public.
13 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
14 General Performance Information:
15 201520162017
16 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
17 that their courts regularly provided public education
18 and public outreach services in FY 2016-2017 97.9%87.5% 91.7%
19Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
20 FY 18 EOB FY 19
21 01 Salaries of one hundred ninety-one
22 (191) District Judges as provided
23 by R.S. 13:691 $ 27,187,585$27,913,116
24 02 Office and travel expenses of District
25 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698
26 and R.S. 13:694, respectively $ 1,285,250$ 1,285,250
27 03 Salaries of fourteen (14) Judges of
28 Civil District Court, Orleans Parish,
29 as provided by R.S. 13:691 $ 1,992,807$ 2,045,988
30 04 Expenses of Judges of Civil District
31 Court, Parish of Orleans, for salaries
32 of stenographers, clerks, law books,
33 stationery, telephone, and like
34 expenses as provided by R.S. 13:698$ 80,500$ 80,500
35 05 Salaries of two (2) Court Reporters
36 of the Twentieth Judicial District Court,
37 including retirement contributions, as
38 provided by R.S. 13:966.1 $ 114,514$ 115,348
39 06 Clerk of Civil District Court, Orleans
40 Parish, as provided by R.S. 13:1212(A)$ 10,000$ 10,000
41 07 State share of Group, Workers'
42 Compensation, General Liability, and
43 Property Insurance Premiums as
44 provided by R.S.42:851 $ 6,834,271$ 7,018,364
45 08 Salaries of two (2) commissioners of
46 the Nineteenth Judicial District and
47 one (1) commissioner of the Fifteenth
48 Judicial District as provided by
49 R.S. 13:712 and R.S. 13:715,
50 respectively $ 569,959$ 584,251
Page 8 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
1 09 Office expenses for the Judicial
2 Expense Fund of the Nineteenth Judicial
3 District Court as provided by
4 R.S. 13:711-713 $ 354,707$ 401,401
5 10 Office expenses for the Judicial
6 Expense Fund of the Fifteenth
7 Judicial District Court as provided
8 by R.S. 13:714-716 $ 221,305$ 313,594
9 11 Law Clerk, Twentieth Judicial District
10 Court as provided by Act 747 of 1977$ 49,311$ 49,311
11 12 For the expenses of the Judicial Expense
12 Fund, Tenth Judicial District Court as
13 provided by Act 57 of 2006 $ 35,000$ 35,000
14 SUBTOTAL $38,735,209$39,852,123
15 13 Criminal Court - Parish of Orleans
16 Program Description: The Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans has exclusive jurisdiction
17 of the trial and punishment of all crimes, misdemeanors, and offenses committed within the parish of
18 Orleans, if the jurisdiction is not vested by law in some other court. The court, through its magistrate and
19 with assistance from its commissioners, has the power of committing magistrates in all felony charges and
20 the power to hold preliminary examinations, with authority to bail or discharge, or to hold for trial, in all
21 cases before the court. The court has appellate jurisdiction of all cases tried before the Municipal and
22 Traffic Court of New Orleans and has general supervisory jurisdiction over these courts.
23 A. Salaries of thirteen (13) District
24 Judges of Criminal Court, Orleans
25 Parish as provided by R.S. 13:691$ 1,850,465$ 1,899,846
26 B. Office expenses of Judges of
27 Criminal Court, Orleans Parish as
28 Provided by R.S. 13:698 $ 74,750$ 74,750
29 C. State's share of group insurance
30 for personnel of Criminal Court
31 as provided by R.S. 42:851 $ 698,422$ 714,162
32 D. Salaries of thirteen (13) minute
33 clerks as provided by R.S.
34 13:1373.1 $ 288,064$ 288,064
35
36 E. Salaries of twenty-six (26) court
37 reporters as provided by R.S.
38 13:1373.1 $ 449,821$ 449,821
39 F. Salaries of four (4) commissioners
40 of Criminal Court, Orleans Parish,
41 including related benefits as
42 provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 503,587$ 512,065
43 G. Office and travel expenses of
44 commissioners as provided by
45 R.S. 13:1347 $ 7,950$ 10,600
46 H. Salaries of four (4) minute clerks,
47 one for each commissioner
48 as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 75,371$ 75,371
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HB NO. 698
1 I. Salaries of four (4) court reporters,
2 one for each commissioner
3 as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 57,312$ 57,312
4 J. Salaries of Judicial Administrator,
5 and assistants, including
6 related benefits $ 858,443$ 912,741
7 K. Salaries of thirteen (13) law clerks $ 626,646$ 733,824
8 L. Salaries of four (4) secretaries $ 181,602$ 212,661
9 M. Sanity Commissions $ 87,744$ 90,236
10 N. Board of Jury Commissioners $ 371,859$ 389,163
11 SUBTOTAL $ 6,132,036$ 6,420,616
12 14 Juvenile and Family Court Judges
13 A. Salaries of thirteen (13) Juvenile
14 Court Judges as provided by
15 R.S. 13:691 $ 1,992,907$ 1,899,846
16 B. Salaries of four (4) Family Court
17 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:691$ 569,374$ 584,568
18 C. Office and travel expenses of Juvenile
19 and Family Court Judges as
20 provided by R.S. 13:698 and
21 R.S. 13:694, respectively $ 103,500$ 103,500
22 SUBTOTAL $ 2,665,781$ 2,587,914
23TOTAL DISTRICT COURTS $47,533,026$48,860,653
2403-8173 OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES AS REQUIRED
25 BY STATUTE
26 Program Description: The category includes forty-seven city courts, one municipal and
27 traffic court (New Orleans), and one parish court (Ascension Parish).
28 Mission Statement: The mission of the city and parish courts of Louisiana is to provide
29 access to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to
30 provide equality, fairness and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial
31 independence and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the
32 procedural and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.
33 Goal: To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.
34 Objective: To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the costs
35 of access to the court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of money, time,
36 or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and affordable.
37 General Performance Information:
38 2015 20162017
39 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
40 indicating actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to assist
41 pro se litigants 96.2% 96.2% 98.1%
42 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities in a
43 timely and expeditious manner.
Page 10 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 698
1 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
2 General Performance Information:
3 2015 20162017
4 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
5 indicating that their courts had taken steps within
6 FY 2016-2017 to reduce delays and improve the
7 timeliness of case processing 88.5% 92.3% 90.4%
8 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in its
9 governmental relations and accountability to the public.
10 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
11 General Performance Information:
12 2015 20162017
13 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
14 indicating that their courts regularly provided
15 public education and public outreach services
16 in FY 2016-2017 92.3% 88.5% 88.5%
17 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court operations
18 as necessary.
19 General Performance Information:
20 2015 20162017
21 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
22 indicating actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to
23 improve employee training and development 98.1% 96.2% 92.3%
24 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
25 indicatingactions taken in FY 2016-2017 to install
26 or implement technologies 96.2% 90.4% 90.4%
27Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
28 FY 18 EOB FY 19
29 01 Salaries of sixty (60) City Court
30 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:1875$ 2,757,559$ 2,831,152
31 02 Salaries of seven (7) Municipal and
32 Traffic and one (1) Parish Court
33 Judge as provided by R.S. 13:2492,
34 13:2501.1, and 13:2563.5,
35 respectively $ 444,777$ 410,347
36TOTAL OTHER COURTS REQUIRED
37BY STATUTE $ 3,202,336$ 3,241,499
38
3903-8174OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES NOT
40 REQUIRED BY STATUTE
41Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
42 FY 18 EOB FY 19
43 01 Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective
44 Care Monitoring Program $ 511,132$ 560,014
45 Program Description: The program tracks and maintains child abuse and neglect cases in the Orleans
46 Parish Juvenile Court. It also provides assistance in support of the Families in Need of Services Program.
47 02 Orleans Parish Juvenile Court
48 Reporters $ 71,178$ 73,976
49 03 For the expenses of the Judges'
50 Assistance Program $ 61,877$ 63,634
51 Program Description: The Judges' Assistance Program provides counseling and other assistance to
52 judges with substance abuse problems.
53TOTAL OTHER COURTS NOT REQUIRED
54BY STATUTE $ 644,187$ 697,624
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HB NO. 698
103-8175NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXP ENSES
2Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
3 FY 18 EOB FY 19
4 01 Legal representation of children in
5 child protection cases $ 2,070,853$ 2,070,853
6 Program Description: As recommended by the Task Force on Legal representation
7 in Child Protection Cases and at the request of the Division of Administration, in
8 order to advance the administration of justice, the Supreme Court administers
9 funding to provide qualified legal representation for children in child protection
10 cases as required to fulfill the state’s statutory responsibility.
11TOTAL NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXPENSES $ 2,070,853$ 2,070,853
12 Section 2.A. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or her duly authorized and
13appointed agent, shall warrant the state treasurer for the allocations herein provided, or for
14so much thereof as may be necessary. The aforesaid warrant shall be paid out of the state
15general fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrant by preference over all other
16warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state and warrants
17for expenses of the legislature, which shall be concurrent with the warrant provided by this
18Act.
19 B. The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the judiciary
20in an approved bank that has been selected by the Supreme Court and is located in the state.
21 C. Any funds herein allocated to the judiciary, any portion of the funds previously
22appropriated to the judiciary, other revenue of the judiciary or its agencies, and interest
23earnings are hereby appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the judiciary;
24however, all funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered shall be returnable to the State
25General Fund on or before September 1, 2019.
26 D. For Fiscal Year 2018-2019, any surpluses occurring in the appropriations made in
27this Act may be transferred from one agency or line-item to another during the fiscal year
28in accordance with the rules of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the
29Supreme Court.
30 E. The adjustment to be made in the salaries of judicial employees and the number of
31authorized positions of the judiciary shall be as decided by the judicial agency affected,
32subject to the approval of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the
33Supreme Court.
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HB NO. 698
1 F. The program descriptions, general performance information and indicators,
2objectives, goals, and mission statements contained in this Act are not part of the law and
3are not enacted into law by virtue of their inclusion in this Act. The missions, goals, and
4objectives contained in the Act are derived from performance standards established by
5Section 10 of Part G General Administrative Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
6 G. The inclusion in this Act of staff salaries and benefits for lower court or other judicial
7branch agency employees shall not be deemed to create or impose any obligation upon the
8State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
9Control Board, or the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office relative to the
10administration of pay, retirement or other benefits to any such employees. Accordingly, the
11State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
12Control Board, and the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office are not to be
13considered the "employer" or "employing agency" of lower court or other judicial agency
14employees whose staff salaries and other benefits are included in this Act.
15 Section 3. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2018; if vetoed by the
16governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
July 1, 2018, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
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 698 Original 2018 Regular Session Henry
Abstract: Appropriates funds for FY 2018-2019 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 2018-2019 for the ordinary operating expenses of the
judicial branch of government with total funding of $180,177,165 from the following
sources: $169,936,240 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.
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HB NO. 698
Funding for the ordinary operating expenses of the judicial branch of government is
provided as follows:
(1) Louisiana Supreme Court $76,318,355
(2) Courts of Appeal 48,988,181
(3) District Courts 39,852,123
(4)Criminal Court, Parish of Orleans 6,420,616
(5)Juvenile and Family Courts 2,587,914
(6) Other Courts (Required by Statute) 3,241,499
(7)Other Courts (Not Required by Statute) 697,624
(8)Non-Judicial State Expenses 2,070,853
TOTAL $180,177,165
Effective July 1, 2018.
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