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 442 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Robby Carter
Abstract: Creates an additional judgeship for the 21st Judicial District Court and provides an
election section from which the judge is to be elected.
Statistical summaries of proposed law including maps illustrating proposed district
boundaries accompany this digest. (Attached to the bill version on the internet.)
Present law provides that the 21st Judicial District Court is comprised of Livingston, St. Helena, and
Tangipahoa Parishes. Provides that the 21st Judicial District Court has nine judges, who are elected
at large.
Proposed law adds a 10th judge to the 21st Judicial District Court.
Proposed law divides the 21st Judicial District Court into two election sections and provides that
nine judges are assigned to election section one and one judge is assigned to election section two.
Provides that the additional judge added by proposed law shall be elected from election section two
and that his initial term begins on the first January first following the effective date of Section 1 of
the Act that originated as HB 442 of the 2024 Regular Session.
Proposed law specifies that precincts referenced in district descriptions are those precincts contained
in the file named "2024 Precinct Shapefiles (01-10-2024)" available on the legislature's website.
Provides that the 2024 Precinct Shapefiles are based upon those Voting Districts (VTDs) contained
in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles for the State of La. as those files have been
modified and validated through the data verification program of the La. House of Representatives
and the La. Senate to represent precinct changes submitted through Jan. 10, 2024, to the Legislature
of La. by parish governing authorities.
Proposed law also specifies that if any such precinct has been subdivided by action of the parish
governing authority on a nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish governing
authority on a geographic basis in accordance with present law, the enumeration of the general
precinct designation shall include all nongeographic and all geographic subdivisions thereof. Further
provides that the territorial limits of the districts as enacted shall continue in effect until changed by
law regardless of any subsequent change made to the precincts by the parish governing authority.
Population data in the summaries accompanying this digest are derived from 2020 Census
Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171), Summary File for La. Population data, statistical information, and maps are supplied for purposes of information and analysis and comprise no part
of proposed law.
Effective upon the completion of a work point study conducted by the National Center of State
Courts is completed in accordance with HCR 39 of the 2024 Regular Session and the work point
study concludes the additional judgeship is necessary.
(Amends R.S. 13:477(21) and 621.21(A) and (E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs to the original bill:
1. Provide the specific boundaries of two election sections.
2. Provide an effective date.
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the engrossed
bill:
1. Revise the boundaries of election section one.
2. Provide that the additional judge shall have jurisdiction throughout the district.
3. Remove the requirement that the additional judge be elected in the same manner as the
judges elected from election section one.
4. Provide for identification of the precincts referenced in proposed law.
5. Make effectiveness of the bill contingent upon the completion of a work point study by
the National Center for State Courts in accordance with HCR 39 of the 2024 Regular
Session.