HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 698
BY REPRESENTATIVES HENRY, BARRAS, GARY CARTER, JACKSON, LEGER,
AND MAGEE AND SENATORS ALARIO, LAFLEUR, MARTINY, 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 by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1.A. The sum of One Hundred Seventy Six Million Four Hundred Forty Five
8Thousand Three Hundred Seven No/100 ($176,445,307) Dollars, or so much thereof as may
9be necessary, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of the judiciary, including the
10Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, the District Courts, the Criminal District Court of Orleans
11Parish, 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 ENGROSSED
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
64 Number of complaints filed against lawyers
65 resolved or disposed of in calendar year3,046 2,673 3,096
Page 2 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
1Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
2 FY 18 EOB FY 19
3 01 Salaries of one (1) Chief Justice and
4 six (6)Associate Justices of the
5 Supreme Court, as provided by
6 R.S. 13:102 $ 1,125,252$ 1,154,936
7 02 Salaries and other expenses of the
8 Supreme Court Proper and salary of
9 the Crier of the Supreme Court$ 3,804,457$ 7,898,581
10 03 Expenses of Judicial Administrator's
11 Office and of the Judiciary
12 Commission provided for in Article V,
13 Section 25 of the Constitution of
14 Louisiana and under the provisions of
15 R.S. 13:32 et seq.
16 A. Expenses of Judicial
17 Administrator's Office $ 4,519,857$ 4,809,236
18 Program Description: The Judicial Administrator's Office assists the Supreme Court in the
19 administration of the state court system. It staffs the Judicial Council and the Judiciary Commission of
20 Louisiana. Through the Judicial Council, it performs studies and makes recommendations for the creation
21 of new judgeships and for improving the administration of justice. The Judicial Administrator's Office
22 provides payroll and other fiscal services to the Judiciary, including the administration of a judicial
23 retirement system; support for the Supreme Court and Appellate Court human resource system; and
24 support for judicial branch reporting obligations. The Judicial Administrator's Office also manages the
25 ad hoc judgeship system, monitors cases under advisement, provides support for initiatives to ensure
26 access to the courts for limited English proficiency individuals; provides outreach services to state and
27 local courts, applies for and administers grants to improve judicial administration; and staffs the
28 Committee on Judicial Ethics. The Judicial Administrator’s office administers several programs, including
29 the Supreme Court Drug Court / Specialty Court Office, the Louisiana Protective Order Registry, and
30 CASA and FINS through the Division of Children and Families. The Judicial Administrator’s office also
31 provides staff support for the Louisiana Judicial College, and performs numerous legal services for the
32 Supreme Court and the Judiciary.
33 B. Expenses of Judiciary Commission $ 1,821,921$ 1,930,613
34 Program Description: The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a constitutional body established under
35 Article V, Section 25 of the Constitution of 1974 to accept, screen, investigate, and prosecute complaints
36 of judicial misconduct. As part of its authority, it may recommend to the Supreme Court the censure,
37 suspension, removal from office, or involuntary retirement of any judge for ethical misconduct.
38 C. Court Reporters; Statistical
39 Reporting Systems $ 355,504$ 370,225
40 D. Dues to National Center for
41 State Courts $ 158,650$ 158,650
42 04 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary
43 Board, as per Louisiana Supreme
44 Court Rule XIX $ 3,000$ 3,000
45 05 Compensation and expenses of retired
46 judges assigned under Article V,
47 Section 5(A) of the Constitution of
48 Louisiana, be it more or less
49 estimated at $ 1,070,364$ 1,510,646
50 06 Law Library of Louisiana for salaries,
51 services, supplies, maintenance, repairs,
52 and equipment $ 1,671,322$ 1,754,471
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HB NO. 698
1 Program Description: The Law Library of Louisiana serves the legal information needs of the state
2 judiciary, and is open to members of the bar and public.
3 07 Salaries and expenses of transferred
4 judges assigned under Article V,
5 Section 5(A) of the Constitution,
6 be it more or less estimated as $ 86,663$ 86,663
7 08 Retirement pay for services rendered by
8 justices and judges of all courts, as
9 provided by R.S. 11:1358 and
10 R.S. 13:103 $ 1,365,669$ 894,459
11 09 Pensions for widows of justices and
12 judges of all courts, as provided by
13 R.S. 11:1371 and R.S. 11:1381, be it
14 more or less estimated at $ 1,469,984$ 1,469,984
15 10 Judicial College $ 33,072$ 55,502
16 Program Description: The Judicial College was established by order of the Supreme Court in 1976 to
17 provide continuing legal education to Louisiana judges.
18 11 State contribution to judicial
19 retirement provided for in Article V,
20 Section 23 of the Constitution and
21 R.S. 11:551 et seq., be it more or
22 less estimated at $18,155,129$18,595,302
23 12 Civil commitment matters as
24 required by R.S. 28:54 $ 143,424$ 243,075
25 13 Paul M. Hebert Law Center for
26 expenses of storage of appellate
27 court records $ 60,000$ 60,000
28 14 Funding for statewide operations of the
29 Louisiana Protective Order Registry
30 (R.S. 46:2136.2) under the Case
31 Management Information System $ 1,048,254$ 1,048,254
32 15 Information Technology $ 1,054,733$ 1,096,238
33 16 Payable out of State General
34 Funds for Operational expenses of
35 the Families in Need of Services
36 Program (FINS) $ 1,995,709$ 1,995,709
37 Program Description: The mission of the FINS Assistance Program is to assist local FINS processes by
38 developing and implementing a needs-based allocation formula; developing, implementing, and mandating
39 the use of a uniform data system for tracking, managing, and reporting FINS informal cases; developing
40 and mandating the use of programmatic standards; developing, implementing, and reporting performance
41 indicators and measures; requiring and monitoring periodic fiscal reports and financial accountability;
42 and, generally supervising and assisting local FINS processes in other ways.
43
44 17 Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts $ 9,755,000$ 9,755,000
45 Program Description: Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts, such as Drug/DWI Treatment Courts,
46 authorized in 1977 by R.S. 13:5301 - R.S. 13:5304, Reentry Courts, authorized in 2010 by R.S. 13:5401,
47 Mental Health Courts, authorized in 2013 by R.S. 13:5353 - 5358, and Veterans Treatment Courts,
48 authorized in 2014 by R.S. 13:5361 - 5368, are proven and effective alternatives to traditional criminal
49 justice interventions. These programs provide integrated treatment for substance use and mental health
50 disorders, including the appropriate use of sanctions and incentives along with case management, to place
51 participants in need of services into appropriate community-based and judicially supervised rehabilitation
Page 4 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
1 programs. Clients are regularly tested and monitored for compliance with educational, employment, and
2 treatment requirements pursuant to current best practices and the proven national model.
3 18 Court Appointed Special Advocates$ 1,794,035$ 1,794,036
4 Program Description: The purpose of the CASA Assistance Program is to promote timely placement of
5 children in need of care in permanent, safe and stable homes, in accordance with the provisions of
6 Children's Code articles 424-426. Services are provided through local CASA programs which recruit,
7 screen, train and supervise community advocates. Upon appointment by the trial judge, qualified
8 advocates serve children by providing independent factual information to the judge, advocating for the best
9 interest of the children, monitoring cases to which they have been assigned, and advising and assisting the
10 judge in the determination of the best interest of the children involved.
11TOTAL - GENERAL FUND (DIRECT) $51,491,999$ 56,684,580
12 FY 18 EOB FY 19
13 19 Payable out of the State General Fund
14 from Statutory Dedications, Judges'
15 Supplemental Compensation Fund,
16 R. S. 13:10.3, be it more or less
17 estimated at $ 6,223,724$ 6,223,724
18 Program Description: The Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund was established by the Legislature
19 in 1985 to fund salary supplements and salary-related expenses to judges and commissioners. The funding
20 source is a non-refundable filing fee assessed on civil filings as provided in R.S. 13:10.3.
21 FY 18 EOB FY 19
22 20 Payable out of the State General
23 Fund from Statutory Dedications,
24 Trial Court Case Management
25 Information Fund, for the Case
26 Management Information System,
27 Article 887 (F) of the Code of
28 Criminal Procedure, be it more or less
29 estimated at $ 4,017,201$ 4,017,201
30 Program Description: The Case Management Information System (CMIS) was created by the Supreme
31 Court in 1993 to provide a statewide information system for tracking and managing criminal, civil,
32 juvenile, traffic, and appellate cases as well as protective orders. Data is received from courts statewide,
33 transferred to the CMIS repository, and made available to courts and executive branch agencies.
34 Additional information will also be available from the Department of Public Safety & Corrections. CMIS
35 is funded from a court cost assessed on all criminal and traffic convictions as provided under
36 C.Cr.P.887(F).
37TOTAL - STATE GENERAL FUND
38 BY STATUTORY DEDICATIONS $10,240,925$ 10,240,925
39TOTAL SUPREME COURT $61,732,924$76,318,355
40 FY 18 EOB FY 19
41 21Drug court maintenance and enhancement,
42 payable out of the State General Fund
43 through Interagency Transfers from the
44 Department of Children and Family
45 Services $ 5,400,000$ 5,400,000
46
47 22 Court Appointed Special Advocates,
48 payable out of the State General Fund
49 through Interagency Transfers from the
50 Department of Children and Family
51 Services $ 3,992,850$ 3,992,850
52TOTAL - STATE GENERAL FUND
53 THROUGH INTERAGENCY
54 TRANSFERS $ 9,392,850$ 9,392,850
Page 5 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
103-8171 COURTS OF APPEAL
2 Program Description: The five courts of appeal, domiciled in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles,
3 New Orleans, and Gretna, have supervisory jurisdiction over all cases arising within their respective
4 circuits, subject to the general supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Each court of appeal also
5 has appellate jurisdiction over all civil matters, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and
6 all criminal cases triable by a jury which arise within its circuit, except for those cases appealable directly
7 to the Supreme Court or to the district courts.
8 Mission Statement: The mission of the appellate courts of Louisiana is to provide meaningful access to
9 all who seek review under the Courts' appellate and supervisory jurisdiction granted by the Louisiana
10 Constitution while protecting and promoting the rule of law, preserving the public trust, and using public
11 resources efficiently.
12 Goal: To protect the rule of law.
13 Objective: To provide a reasonable opportunity for multi-judge review of decisions made by lower
14 tribunals.
15 General Performance Information:
16 2015 2016 2017
17 Total appeals filed 2,053 1,783 1,897
18 Total writs filed 4,048 3,670 3,420
19 Total dispositions rendered 5,019 4,761 4,439
20 Goal: To promote the rule of law.
21 Objective: To resolve cases expeditiously.
22 General Performance Information:
23 2015 2016 2017
24 Average number of days from lodging of the
25 appeal to argument:
26 Time Standard = no more than 175 days.
27 Criminal cases 143 162 147
28 Civil Cases 147 155 162
29 Median number of days for all cases 146 158 159
30 Average number of days from argument to
31 rendering of the opinion:
32 Time Standard = no more than 70 days.
33 Criminal cases 43 43 43
34 Civil cases 43 42 44
35 Median number of days for all cases 43 43 44
36 Goal: To preserve public trust.
37 Objective: To facilitate public access to the decisions of the courts of appeal.
38 General Performance Information:
39 2015 2016 2017
40 Percentage of written opinions available
41 to the public within 5 days of decision 100% 100% 100%
42Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
43 FY 18 EOB FY 19
44 01 Salaries of five (5) Chief Judges
45 and forty-eight (48) Judges of
46 the Courts of Appeal, R.S. 13:311$ 7,913,159$ 8,123,080
47 02 Salaries and expenses of operation
48 and maintenance of the Court of
49 appeal, First Circuit $ 10,186,973$ 10,777,116
50 03 Salaries and expenses of operation
51 and maintenance of the Court of
52 appeal, Second Circuit $ 5,707,610$ 6,013,644
53 04 Salaries and expenses of operation
54 and maintenance of the Court of
55 appeal, Third Circuit $ 8,739,437$ 9,176,428
Page 6 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
1 05 Salaries and expenses of operation
2 and maintenance of the Court of
3 appeal, Fourth Circuit $ 8,121,408$ 8,602,396
4 06 Salaries and expenses of operation
5 and maintenance of the Court of
6 appeal, Fifth Circuit $ 5,919,956$ 6,295,517
7TOTAL COURTS OF APPEAL $ 46,588,543$ 48,988,181
803-8172DISTRICT COURTS
9 Program Description: There are forty-one district courts in Louisiana that have general
10 jurisdiction over all matters within their territorial limits, except in those judicial districts
11 (the 1st, the 19th, and the 24th Judicial Districts) where family and juvenile courts have
12 exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases and except in Orleans Parish where
13 there are separate courts exercising civil, criminal, and juvenile jurisdictions,
14 respectively. In certain cases, the forty-one general jurisdiction courts have concurrent
15 jurisdiction with justices of the peace and parish courts. The district courts generally
16 have appellate jurisdiction of criminal cases tried by city, parish, municipal, traffic, and
17 mayors' courts, except in certain cases. The district courts also have appellate
18 jurisdiction over justices of the peace in parishes where no parish courts exist. The Civil
19 District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction of all civil cases in that parish. The
20 Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction over all criminal cases in the
21 parish. It also has general supervisory jurisdiction over the municipal and traffic court
22 in Orleans Parish. The Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish has exclusive
23 jurisdiction of many domestic cases in the parish. The four juvenile courts located in
24 Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes have exclusive jurisdiction
25 of juvenile cases in their respective parishes.
26 Mission Statement: The mission of the trial courts of Louisiana is to provide access
27 to justice, to meet all responsibilities in a timely and expeditious manner, to provide
28 equality, fairness, and integrity in their proceedings, to maintain judicial independence
29 and accountability, and to reach a fair and just result by adherence to the procedural
30 and substantive law, thereby instilling trust and confidence in the public.
31 Goal: To establish a more open and accessible system of justice.
32 Objective: To encourage responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible,
33 and convenient.
34 General Performance Information:
35 201520162017
36 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
37 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to improve compliance with
38 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 93.8% 81.3% 83.3%
39 Objective: To encourage all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the
40 costs of access to the trial court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms
41 of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and
42 affordable.
43 General Performance Information:
44 201520162017
45 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
46 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to assist self-represented
47 litigants 97.9%85.4% 85.4%
48 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities
49 in a timely and expeditious manner.
50 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
51 General Performance Information:
52 201520162017
53 Number of parishes reporting criminal disposition
54 data to CMIS 64 64 64
55 Percentage of parishes reporting criminal disposition
56 data to CMIS 100%100% 100%
57 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges 201520162017
58 indicating that their courts had taken steps within
59 FY 2016-2017 to reduce delays and improve the
60 timeliness of case processing 97.9%87.5% 93.8%
Page 7 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
1 Objective: To enhance jury service.
2 General Performance Information:
3 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
4 that their court had taken steps within FY 2016-2017
5 to make jury service more convenient or effective 100%90.7% 92.9%
6 Goal: To provide due process and equal protection of the law to all who have business
7 before the court; and to demonstrate integrity in all procedures and decisions.
8 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court operations
9 as necessary.
10 General Performance Information:
11 2015 20162017
12 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
13 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to improve employee
14 training and development 87.5%85.4% 87.5%
15 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
16 actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to install or implement
17 technologies 100%91.7% 95.8%
18 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in
19 its governmental relations and accountability to the public.
20 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
21 General Performance Information:
22 201520162017
23 Percentage of surveyed district court chief judges indicating
24 that their courts regularly provided public education
25 and public outreach services in FY 2016-2017 97.9%87.5% 91.7%
26Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
27 FY 18 EOB FY 19
28 01 Salaries of one hundred ninety-one
29 (191) District Judges as provided
30 by R.S. 13:691 $ 27,187,585$27,913,116
31 02 Office and travel expenses of District
32 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698
33 and R.S. 13:694, respectively $ 1,285,250$ 1,285,250
34 03 Salaries of fourteen (14) Judges of
35 Civil District Court, Orleans Parish,
36 as provided by R.S. 13:691 $ 1,992,807$ 2,045,988
37 04 Expenses of Judges of Civil District
38 Court, Parish of Orleans, for salaries
39 of stenographers, clerks, law books,
40 stationery, telephone, and like
41 expenses as provided by R.S. 13:698$ 80,500$ 80,500
42 05 Salaries of two (2) Court Reporters
43 of the Twentieth Judicial District Court,
44 including retirement contributions, as
45 provided by R.S. 13:966.1 $ 114,514$ 115,348
46 06 Clerk of Civil District Court, Orleans
47 Parish, as provided by R.S. 13:1212(A)$ 10,000$ 10,000
48 07 State share of Group, Workers'
49 Compensation, General Liability, and
50 Property Insurance Premiums as
51 provided by R.S.42:851 $ 6,834,271$ 7,018,364
Page 8 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
1 08 Salaries of two (2) commissioners of
2 the Nineteenth Judicial District and
3 one (1) commissioner of the Fifteenth
4 Judicial District as provided by
5 R.S. 13:712 and R.S. 13:715,
6 respectively $ 569,959$ 584,251
7 09 Office expenses for the Judicial
8 Expense Fund of the Nineteenth Judicial
9 District Court as provided by
10 R.S. 13:711-713 $ 354,707$ 401,401
11 10 Office expenses for the Judicial
12 Expense Fund of the Fifteenth
13 Judicial District Court as provided
14 by R.S. 13:714-716 $ 221,305$ 313,594
15 11 Law Clerk, Twentieth Judicial District
16 Court as provided by Act 747 of 1977$ 49,311$ 49,311
17 12 For the expenses of the Judicial Expense
18 Fund, Tenth Judicial District Court as
19 provided by Act 57 of 2006 $ 35,000$ 35,000
20 SUBTOTAL $38,735,209$39,852,123
21 13 Criminal Court - Parish of Orleans
22 Program Description: The Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans has exclusive jurisdiction
23 of the trial and punishment of all crimes, misdemeanors, and offenses committed within the parish of
24 Orleans, if the jurisdiction is not vested by law in some other court. The court, through its magistrate and
25 with assistance from its commissioners, has the power of committing magistrates in all felony charges and
26 the power to hold preliminary examinations, with authority to bail or discharge, or to hold for trial, in all
27 cases before the court. The court has appellate jurisdiction of all cases tried before the Municipal and
28 Traffic Court of New Orleans and has general supervisory jurisdiction over these courts.
29 A. Salaries of thirteen (13) District
30 Judges of Criminal Court, Orleans
31 Parish as provided by R.S. 13:691$ 1,850,465$ 1,899,846
32 B. Office expenses of Judges of
33 Criminal Court, Orleans Parish as
34 Provided by R.S. 13:698 $ 74,750$ 74,750
35 C. State's share of group insurance
36 for personnel of Criminal Court
37 as provided by R.S. 42:851 $ 698,422$ 714,162
38 SUBTOTAL $ 6,132,036$ 2,688,758
39 14 Juvenile and Family Court Judges
40 A. Salaries of thirteen (13) Juvenile
41 Court Judges as provided by
42 R.S. 13:691 $ 1,992,907$ 1,899,846
43 B. Salaries of four (4) Family Court
44 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:691$ 569,374$ 584,568
Page 9 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
1 C. Office and travel expenses of Juvenile
2 and Family Court Judges as
3 provided by R.S. 13:698 and
4 R.S. 13:694, respectively $ 103,500$ 103,500
5 SUBTOTAL $ 2,665,781$ 2,587,914
6TOTAL DISTRICT COURTS $47,533,026$45,128,795
703-8173 OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES AS REQUIRED
8 BY STATUTE
9 Program Description: The category includes forty-seven city courts, one municipal and
10 traffic court (New Orleans), and one parish court (Ascension 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 costs
18 of access to the court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of money, time,
19 or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and affordable.
20 General Performance Information:
21 2015 20162017
22 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
23 indicating actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to assist
24 pro se litigants 96.2% 96.2% 98.1%
25 Goal: To meet all responsibilities to everyone affected by the court and its activities in a
26 timely and expeditious manner.
27 Objective: To encourage timely case management and processing.
28 General Performance Information:
29 2015 20162017
30 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
31 indicating that their courts had taken steps within
32 FY 2016-2017 to reduce delays and improve the
33 timeliness of case processing 88.5% 92.3% 90.4%
34 Goal: To maintain judicial independence, while observing the principle of comity in its
35 governmental relations and accountability to the public.
36 Objective: To inform the community of the court's structure and function.
37 General Performance Information:
38 2015 20162017
39 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
40 indicating that their courts regularly provided
41 public education and public outreach services
42 in FY 2016-2017 92.3% 88.5% 88.5%
43 Objective: To recognize new conditions or emerging events and to adjust court operations
44 as necessary.
45 General Performance Information:
46 2015 20162017
47 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
48 indicating actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to
49 improve employee training and development 98.1% 96.2% 92.3%
50 Percentage of surveyed city/parish court chief judges
51 indicating actions taken in FY 2016-2017 to install
52 or implement technologies 96.2% 90.4% 90.4%
Page 10 of 14 HLS 18RS-460 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 698
1Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
2 FY 18 EOB FY 19
3 01 Salaries of sixty (60) City Court
4 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:1875$ 2,757,559$ 2,831,152
5 02 Salaries of seven (7) Municipal and
6 Traffic and one (1) Parish Court
7 Judge as provided by R.S. 13:2492,
8 13:2501.1, and 13:2563.5,
9 respectively $ 444,777$ 410,347
10TOTAL OTHER COURTS REQUIRED
11BY STATUTE $ 3,202,336$ 3,241,499
12
1303-8174OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES NOT
14 REQUIRED BY STATUTE
15Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
16 FY 18 EOB FY 19
17 01 Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective
18 Care Monitoring Program $ 511,132$ 560,014
19 Program Description: The program tracks and maintains child abuse and neglect cases in the Orleans
20 Parish Juvenile Court. It also provides assistance in support of the Families in Need of Services Program.
21 02 Orleans Parish Juvenile Court
22 Reporters $ 71,178$ 73,976
23 03 For the expenses of the Judges'
24 Assistance Program $ 61,877$ 63,634
25 Program Description: The Judges' Assistance Program provides counseling and other assistance to
26 judges with substance abuse problems.
27TOTAL OTHER COURTS NOT REQUIRED
28BY STATUTE $ 644,187$ 697,624
2903-8175NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXP ENSES
30Payable out of the State General Fund (Direct):
31 FY 18 EOB FY 19
32 01 Legal representation of children in
33 child protection cases $ 2,070,853$ 2,070,853
34 Program Description: As recommended by the Task Force on Legal representation
35 in Child Protection Cases and at the request of the Division of Administration, in
36 order to advance the administration of justice, the Supreme Court administers
37 funding to provide qualified legal representation for children in child protection
38 cases as required to fulfill the state’s statutory responsibility.
39TOTAL NON-JUDICIAL STATE EXPENSES $ 2,070,853$ 2,070,853
40 Section 2. The appropriations, and the allocations of such appropriations, from the State
41General Fund (Direct) contained in Section 1 of this Act shall be reduced by a total amount
42of Sixteen Million Five Hundred Eighty Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Three
43($16,588,993) Dollars, pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judiciary Budgetary Control Board
44or as approved by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
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HB NO. 698
1 Section 3.A. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or her duly authorized and
2appointed agent, shall warrant the state treasurer for the allocations herein provided, or for
3so much thereof as may be necessary. The aforesaid warrant shall be paid out of the state
4general fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrant by preference over all other
5warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state and warrants
6for expenses of the legislature, which shall be concurrent with the warrant provided by this
7Act.
8 B. The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the judiciary
9in an approved bank that has been selected by the Supreme Court and is located in the state.
10 C. Any funds herein allocated to the judiciary, any portion of the funds previously
11appropriated to the judiciary, other revenue of the judiciary or its agencies, and interest
12earnings are hereby appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the judiciary;
13however, all funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered shall be returnable to the State
14General Fund on or before September 1, 2019.
15 D. For Fiscal Year 2018-2019, any surpluses occurring in the appropriations made in
16this Act may be transferred from one agency or line-item to another during the fiscal year
17in accordance with the rules of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the
18Supreme Court.
19 E. The adjustment to be made in the salaries of judicial employees and the number of
20authorized positions of the judiciary shall be as decided by the judicial agency affected,
21subject to the approval of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board or as approved by the
22Supreme Court.
23 F. The program descriptions, general performance information and indicators,
24objectives, goals, and mission statements contained in this Act are not part of the law and
25are not enacted into law by virtue of their inclusion in this Act. The missions, goals, and
26objectives contained in the Act are derived from performance standards established by
27Section 10 of Part G General Administrative Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
28 G. The inclusion in this Act of staff salaries and benefits for lower court or other judicial
29branch agency employees shall not be deemed to create or impose any obligation upon the
30State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
31Control Board, or the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office relative to the
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HB NO. 698
1administration of pay, retirement or other benefits to any such employees. Accordingly, the
2State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
3Control Board, and the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office are not to be
4considered the "employer" or "employing agency" of lower court or other judicial agency
5employees whose staff salaries and other benefits are included in this Act.
6 Section 4. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2018; if vetoed by the
7governor 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 Engrossed 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 $176,445,307 from the following
sources: $156,811,532 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, and $9,392,850 out of Interagency Transfers from the Dept.
of Children and Family Services.
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 2,688,758
(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 $176,445,307
Requires that the appropriations out of the State General Fund (Direct) contained in this Act
be reduced by a total amount of $16,588,993, pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial
Budgetary Control Board or as provided by the La. Supreme Court.
Effective July 1, 2018.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
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HB NO. 698
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Ways and Means to the
original bill:
1. Provide for a change in means of financing to decrease State General Fund
(Direct) and increase Interagency Transfers from the Dept. of Children and
Family Services by $9,392,850 for support of drug courts and the Court
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program.
2. Add a requirement that appropriations contained in this Act be reduced by a total
amount of $16,588,993, pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial Budgetary
Control Board or as provided by the La. Supreme Court.
3. Remove funding from the District Courts appropriation for various activities,
staff, officers, and functions for the Criminal Court for Orleans Parish in the total
amount of $3,731,858.
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