HLS 24RS-659 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 358
BY REPRESENTATIVES BACALA, EDMONSTON, AND WILEY
JUDGES: Creates an additional judgeship for the 23
rd
Judicial District Court
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:621.23, relative to the Twenty-Third Judicial District Court;
3 to create an additional judgeship for the Twenty-Third Judicial District Court; to
4 provide for compensation of the additional judge; to provide for the election and
5 term of office of the additional judgeship and those of the successors in office; to
6 provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 13:621.23 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง621.23. Twenty-third Twenty-Third Judicial District
10 The Twenty-third Twenty-Third Judicial District Court shall have five six
11 judges. One judge shall be elected from election section one, and four five judges
12 shall be elected from election section two.
13 Section 2.(A) There is hereby created an additional district judgeship for the
14Twenty-Third Judicial District for the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, and St. James.
15The additional judge herein provided for and his successors shall preside over Division F,
16which is hereby created for purposes of nomination and election only. The additional judge
17and his successors shall be elected at large and shall have jurisdiction throughout the district
18and shall receive the same compensation and expense allowances, payable from the same
19sources and in the same manner, as are now or may hereafter be provided for other judges
20of the district.
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HB NO. 358
1 (B) The individual to be elected to the additional judgeship created by this Act for
2the Twenty-Third Judicial District shall be elected as provided by Article V, Section 22 of
3the Constitution of Louisiana, and shall serve a term which shall begin on the first January
4first immediately following the effective date of this Act and which shall expire at the same
5time as is provided by law for the other judges of the court. Thereafter, the successors to the
6judge provided for in this Act for the Twenty-Third Judicial District shall be elected at the
7same time and in the same manner and shall serve the same term as is now or may be
8provided hereafter for other judges of the court.
9 Section 3.(A) The provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Act shall become effective
10if and when a work point study by the National Center for State Courts is completed in
11accordance with House Concurrent Resolution No. 39 of the 2024 Regular Session of the
12Louisiana Legislature and the work point study concludes the additional district court
13judgeship is necessary.
14 (B) The provisions of this Section shall become effective upon signature by the
15governor or, if not signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become
16law without signature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the
17Constitution of Louisiana. If vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the
18legislature, the provisions of this Section shall become effective on the day following such
19approval.
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 358 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Bacala
Abstract: Creates an additional judgeship for the 23rd Judicial District Court.
Present law provides for five judgeships in the 23rd Judicial District Court (Ascension,
Assumption, and St. James Parishes).
Proposed law adds a 6th judgeship to the 23rd Judicial District Court. Proposed law also
adds a new division to the 23
rd
Judicial District Court.
Proposed law provides for the judge and his successors to be elected at large, to have
jurisdiction throughout the district, and receive the same compensation and expense
allowances as other judges in the district.
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HB NO. 358
Proposed law provides for the new judge to serve a term which begins on January 1
st
immediately following the effective date of the proposed law. Further provides for the
judgeship to expire at the same time as provided in present law as other judges of the court.
Proposed law provides it shall become effective if and when a work point study by the
National Center for State Courts is completed in accordance with House Concurrent
Resolution No. 39 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature and the work point study
concludes the additional district court judgeship is necessary.
Effective in part upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:621.23)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the
engrossed bill:
1. Provide for the jurisdiction of the additional judgeship.
2. Create a new division for the 23
rd
Judicial District.
3. Provide for election and term of the judge and his successors.
4. Provide for the compensation of the judge.
5. Provide for effectiveness.
6. Make technical changes.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.