HLS 21RS-424 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 51
BY REPRESENTATIVE LACOMBE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
JUDGES/JUSTICE OF PEACE: Changes the territorial jurisdiction of justices of the peace
and constables in Pointe Coupee Parish
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:2612, relative to territorial limits of justices of the peace and
3 constables; to provide for the number of justices of the peace and constables elected
4 in Pointe Coupee Parish; to provide relative to elections; to provide for applicability;
5 and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 13:2612 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง2612. Territorial jurisdiction; Pointe Coupee Parish justice of the peace courts and
9 constables
10 Effective January 1, 1997 January 1, 2026, the territorial limits of the justice
11 of the peace courts and constables in Pointe Coupee Parish shall be the same as the
12 parish police jury districts eight parish council districts within the parish and the
13 persons elected to the offices of justice of the peace and constable for those courts
14 at the 1996 congressional election shall be elected from those districts. If the police
15 jury council district lines are changed thereafter, the territorial jurisdiction of the
16 justice of the peace courts and constables shall also be changed to coincide with the
17 new police jury council district lines effective at the beginning of the next regular
18 term of office for justices of the peace and constables. However, in the event that the
19 change in police jury council district lines increases or reduces the number of police
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-424 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 51
1 jury council districts, the territorial jurisdiction of the justice of the peace courts and
2 constables shall not be changed but shall remain the same.
3 Section 2. This Act shall be effective for election purposes with the opening of the
4qualifying period for the regularly scheduled 2026 primary election for justices of the peace
5and constables, and the persons elected to the offices of justice of the peace and constable
6for such justice of the peace courts in Pointe Coupee Parish at the next regularly scheduled
7election and their successors shall be elected from the districts provided in this Act. The
8provisions of this Act shall be effective for all other purposes beginning January 1, 2027.
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 51 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session LaCombe
Abstract: Changes the territorial jurisdiction for justices of the peace and constables in
Pointe Coupee Parish.
Present law provides for 12 justices of the peace and constables in Pointe Coupee Parish,
where territorial limits coincide with the 12 police jury districts.
Proposed law reduces the number of justices of the peace and constables from 12 to eight,
whose territorial limits coincide with the eight parish council districts.
Proposed law provides for applicability at the election of justices of the peace and constables
in 2026.
(Amends R.S. 13:2612)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.