RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 138 (HB 55) 2019 Regular Session Robert Johnson
Existing law requires each parish governing authority to provide a courthouse with rooms
for jurors and a jail.
Prior law created a parish justice center district in any parish with a population of not less
than 41,500 and not more than 45,000 people, and provided that the purposes of the district
were to locate, build, operate, and maintain courtroom and related facilities for the judicial
district that encompasses the district, including offices for judges and support staff, jury
rooms, accommodations for the public, and other facilities deemed appropriate for the
administration of justice.
New law eliminates prior law general applicability to parishes with a population of not less
than 41,500 and not more than 45,000 and limits the applicability of existing law to
Avoyelles Parish, creating 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. New law limits the location of such facilities to anywhere within
the boundaries of the judicial district as deemed appropriate by the board of commissioners.
New law adds offices for clerks of court and support staff to the list of courtroom facilities
the district is authorized to locate, build, operate, and maintain.
Prior law provided for governance of the district by a board of commissioners consisting of
the elected judges of the judicial district.
New law changes prior law to provide that the board of commissioners shall consist 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.
Effective upon signature of governor (June 6, 2019).
(Adds R.S. 33:4715.3(A) and (B))