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 55 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Robert Johnson
Abstract: Provides for a special district in Avoyelles Parish to fund, build, and operate courtroom
facilities for the Twelfth Judicial District.
Present law requires that a parish governing authority provide a courthouse, with rooms for jurors
and a jail.
Present law creates a parish justice center district in any parish with a population of not less than
41,500 and not more than 45,000 people. Provides that the purposes of the district are to locate,
build, operate, and maintain courtroom and related facilities for the judicial district that encompasses
the district.
Proposed law limits the applicability of present law to Avoyelles Parish and creates the Avoyelles
Parish Justice Center District (district), which is authorized to locate, build, operate, and maintain
courtroom and related facilities for the Twelfth Judicial District anywhere within the boundaries of
the judicial district as deemed appropriate by the board of commissioners.
Present law provides for governance of the district by the elected judges of the judicial district.
Proposed law provides instead for governance by a board of not less than three nor more than seven
commissioners appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the elected judges of the judicial district.
Present law provides that the district has all powers necessary or convenient to effectuate its purpose
including:
(1)To acquire and develop property to be used as a justice center.
(2)To develop plans for and to construct a justice center.
(3)To operate and maintain the justice center.
(4)To govern, manage, and direct the justice center; to lay out, regulate, improve, and beautify
the same; to pass ordinances for the regulation and governance thereof; to appoint and
employ such architects, engineers, surveyors, clerks, and others as may be necessary and to
prescribe and define their respective duties and authority and the amount of their
compensation; and generally to do all things in regard to the powers granted pursuant to
present law. Present law authorizes the district, in accordance with present law and subject to voter approval, to
levy ad valorem and sales and use taxes. Present law requires that any tax proposition submitted to
the voters state the rate, duration, and purpose of the tax as such are requested by resolution of the
district governing authority.
Present law authorizes any political subdivision which is authorized to own public facilities to
finance or refinance the acquisition, construction, improvement, rehabilitation, repair, or enlargement
of such facilities by entering a sale, sale-back, lease, or sublease transaction or other agreement or
any combination thereof with any public corporation, joint commission, or public trust provided that
any such agreement contains a provision that the political subdivision will make a good faith effort
to appropriate funds sufficient to pay all amounts due under the agreement but that failure to do so
shall not constitute a default. Provides that the purpose of such agreements shall be to facilitate the
issuance of bonds by any public corporation, joint commission, or public trust on behalf of the
political subdivision. Provides further with respect to such agreements including provisions for use
and control of the facility and title to the facility. Authorizes the state treasurer to withhold state aid
funds from the political subdivision and pay such funds to the public corporation, joint commission,
or public trust which is party to such agreement if and in the exact amount that the political
subdivision fails to make required payments to the public corporation, joint commission, or public
trust. Present law authorizes the district to enter such agreements.
Present law authorizes the district to incur debt and fund tax revenues into bonds in accordance with
present law. Provides that a proposition authorizing bonds secured by a sales and use tax shall state
the amount of bonds to be issued.
Present law provides that the district governing authority shall exercise the authority granted in
present law to the extent that revenues for such exercise are approved by the voters, and that the
parish shall not exercise any authority which conflicts with the district's authority. Further provides
that to the extent that sufficient revenues are not authorized, the parish may exercise its own
authority with respect to the acquisition, construction, renovation, operation, or maintenance of a
parish courthouse.
Proposed law retains present law as applicable to Avoyelles Parish, the Avoyelles Parish Justice
Center District, and the Twelfth Judicial District.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:4715.3(A) and (B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original bill:
1. Change the amount of members of the board of commissioners from three to not less
than three nor more than seven. 2. Make technical changes.
3. Add clerks of court offices to the list of courtroom facilities that the district is to locate,
build, and maintain.
4. Provide that courtroom facilities shall be located anywhere within the boundaries of the
judicial district as deemed appropriate by the board of commissioners of the Avoyelles
Parish Justice Center District.