HLS 23RS-310 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 347
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
COURTS/COURT COSTS: Provides relative to court costs and civil filing fees in
Alexandria City Court
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:1875(12)(c) and 1899(B), relative to the City Court of
3 Alexandria; to provide relative to the use of civil filing fees and court costs in
4 criminal matters; to provide relative to the general fund of the city of Alexandria; to
5 provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 13:1875(12)(c) and 1899(B) are hereby amended and reenacted to
8read as follows:
9 §1875. Compensation of city judges; particular courts
10 * * *
11 (12)
12 * * *
13 (c) One-half of civil fees assessed and collected shall be transmitted, on a
14 monthly basis, by the clerk of the city court for deposit to the general fund of the city
15 of Alexandria used for the operational expenses of the City Court of Alexandria and
16 one-half thereof shall be transmitted for deposit to the general fund of the Rapides
17 Parish Police Jury.
18 * * *
19 §1899. Assessment and disposition of costs in criminal cases; costs in juvenile
20 matters for specified courts
21 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-310 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 347
1 B.(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the proceeds derived from these
2 costs shall be deposited in a special account which shall be subject to audit, and used
3 for the operational expenses of the court or for the payment of clerical fees or other
4 similar expenditures as may be approved by the judge.
5 (2) In lieu of the requirement to use the costs assessed in criminal matters for
6 the operational expenses of the court pursuant to Paragraph(B)(1) of this Subsection,
7 all fines, fees, including probation fees, or costs of court assessed and collected by
8 the City Court of Alexandria pursuant to Subsection A shall be deposited in the
9 general fund of the city of Alexandria.
10 * * *
11 Section 2. R.S. 13:1875(12)(c) and 1899(B) are hereby amended and reenacted to
12read as follows:
13 §1875. Compensation of city judges; particular courts
14 * * *
15 (12)
16 * * *
17 (c) One-half of civil fees assessed and collected shall be used for the
18 operational expenses of the City Court of Alexandria transmitted, on a monthly basis,
19 by the clerk of the city court for deposit to the general fund of the city of Alexandria
20 and one-half thereof shall be transmitted for deposit to the general fund of the
21 Rapides Parish Police Jury.
22 * * *
23 §1899. Assessment and disposition of costs in criminal cases; costs in juvenile
24 matters for specified courts
25 * * *
26 B.(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the proceeds derived from these
27 costs shall be deposited in a special account which shall be subject to audit, and used
28 for the operational expenses of the court or for the payment of clerical fees or other
29 similar expenditures as may be approved by the judge.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-310 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 347
1 (2) In lieu of the requirement to use the costs assessed in criminal matters for
2 the operational expenses of the court pursuant to Paragraph(B)(1) of this Subsection,
3 all fines, fees, including probation fees, or costs of court assessed and collected by
4 the City Court of Alexandria pursuant to Subsection A shall be deposited in the
5 general fund of the city of Alexandria.
6 * * *
7 Section 3. Section 1 of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2024.
8 Section 4. Section 2 of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026.
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 347 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Harris
Abstract: Changes the allocation of court costs and civil filing fees in Alexandria City
Court.
Present law provides that one-half of the civil filing fees assessed and collected by the City
Court of Alexandria shall be deposited in the general fund of the city of Alexandria.
Proposed law changes the use of the civil filing fees assessed and collected by the city court
of Alexandria and provides that such costs shall be used for the operational expenses of the
court.
Present law provides that additional costs in all criminal matters, including traffic violations,
assessed and collected by the city court of Alexandria shall be used for the operational
expenses of the court.
Proposed law changes the use of the additional costs in criminal matters, including traffic
violations, and provides that such costs shall be deposited in the general fund of the city of
Alexandria.
The proposed law re-allocation of court costs becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2024, and remains
effective until Jan. 1, 2026, at which time the allocation of court costs revert back to present
law.
(Amends R.S. 13:1875(12)(c) and 1899(B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Sunset the changes to present law on Jan. 1, 2026, to revert back to present law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.