HLS 20RS-421 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 61
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAGLEY
COURTS: Provides relative to the maximum age limitation for constables
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:2583(A), relative to constables; to provide relative to
3 qualifications; to provide for the elimination of the maximum age limitation of
4 constables; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 13:2583(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 ยง2583. Constables; election; term of office; qualifications
8 A.(1) There shall be one constable for the court of each justice of the peace
9 in the several parishes of the state, who shall be of good moral character, be able to
10 read and write the English language, possess a high school diploma or its equivalent
11 as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and be
12 an elector and resident of the ward or district from which elected. However, the
13 requirement of a high school diploma or its equivalent does not apply to any
14 constable who was in office as a constable or elected to the office of constable on or
15 before November 19, 1995, in terms of his qualification to remain in office or to seek
16 reelection to a consecutive term. He shall possess such other qualifications as are
17 provided by law.
18 (2)(a) Beginning in the year 2008, to qualify to run for the office of
19 constable, a person shall not have attained the age of seventy years by the date of
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-421 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 61
1 qualification to run for office. A constable who attains seventy years of age while
2 serving a term of office shall be allowed to complete that term of office.
3 (b) The provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall not apply to
4 those constables who are serving as a constable or elected to the office of constable
5 on or before August 15, 2006.
6 * * *
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 61 Original 2020 Regular Session Bagley
Abstract: Eliminates the maximum age limitation for a person to run for the office of
constable.
Present law provides that beginning in the year 2008, to qualify to run for the office of
constable, a person shall not have attained the age of 70 years by the date of qualification
to run for office.
Present law further provides that a constable who attains 70 years of age while serving a
term of office shall be allowed to complete that term of office.
Present law also provides that the present law provision shall not apply to those constables
who are serving as a constable or elected to the office of constable on or before Aug. 15,
2006.
Proposed law eliminates the maximum age limitation for all constables.
(Amends R.S. 13:2583(A))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.