HLS 24RS-880 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 464
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
COURTS/COURT COSTS: Provides relative to certain witness fees
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 15:255(Z), relative to witness fees; to provide relative to witness fees in the
3 city of Pineville; to provide for the transfer of certain surplus witness fees; to provide
4 for certain limitations and requirements; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 15:255(Z) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง255. Witness fees to off-duty law enforcement officers
8 * * *
9 Z. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the city of Pineville
10 may adopt an ordinance which provides that on January first of each year the amount
11 of money in the witness fee fund for the City Court of Pineville which exceeds
12 fifteen thousand dollars shall be transferred to the general fund of the city of
13 Pineville to be used solely for the Community Affairs Division of the police
14 department for crime suppression. The balance in the witness fee fund shall not be
15 expended or encumbered and shall not be reduced below fifteen thousand dollars as
16 a result of a transfer pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-880 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 464
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 464 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Abstract: Provides for the distribution of surplus monies in the witness fee fund for
Pineville City Court.
Present law provides for the collection of court costs, known as "witness fees", to pay off-
duty law enforcement officers who are required to be present in a criminal case or
delinquency proceeding. Provides that each judicial district shall establish a schedule of
witness fees and shall place these fees in a special fund administered by the governing
authority.
Proposed law provides that in the Pineville City Court, surplus monies in the witness fee
fund that exceed $15,000 at the end of each calendar year shall be transferred to the general
fund of the city of Pineville to be used solely for the Community Affairs Division of the
police department for crime suppression.
Proposed law provides that the witness fee fund shall not be expended or encumbered and
shall not be reduced below $15,000 as a result of a transfer pursuant to proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 15:255(Z))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Transfer surplus monies in the witness fee fund of Pineville City Court that
exceed $15,000 at the end of each calendar year to the general fund of the city
of Pineville.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Specify that the witness fee fund shall not be expended or encumbered and shall
not be reduced below $15,000 as a result of a transfer pursuant to proposed law.
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.