ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 781
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCFARLAND
1 AN ACT
2 To appropriate funds to defray the expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary, including the
3 Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, Criminal District Court of Orleans
4 Parish, and other courts; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. A. The sum of Two Hundred Thirteen Million Seven Hundred Forty-Five
8 Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty-Nine ($213,745,869) Dollars, or so much thereof as may be
9 necessary, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of the judiciary, including the
10 Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, the District Courts, the Criminal District Court of Orleans
11 Parish, and of the other courts.
12 B. The total amount herein appropriated is hereby allocated to provide as follows:
13 03-8170 SUPREME COURT
14 Program Description: The Supreme Court has general supervisory jurisdiction over all lower courts.
15 It may establish procedural and administrative rules not in conflict with law and may assign a sitting or
16 retired judge to any court. The Supreme Court has sole authority to provide by rule for appointments of
17 attorneys as temporary or ad hoc judges. It considers applications for writs to review individual cases,
18 and has criminal and other appellate jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction
19 of disciplinary proceedings against lawyers, recommendations of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana
20 for the discipline of judges, and fact questions affecting its appellate jurisdiction. It has inherent authority
21 to regulate the legal profession and to promulgate and update the Code of Judicial Conduct. The court
22 also provides judicial training through the Judicial College and works to improve the administration of
23 justice.
24 FY 24 EOB FY 25 REC
25 01 Salaries of one (1) Chief Justice and
26 six (6) Associate Justices of the
27 Supreme Court, as provided by
28 R.S. 13:102 $ 1,282,315$ 1,381,774
29 02 Salaries and other expenses of the
30 Supreme Court Proper and salary of
31 the Crier of the Supreme Court$11,941,695$12,813,962
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1 03 Expenses of Judicial Administrator's
2 Office and of the Judiciary
3 Commission provided for in Article V,
4 Section 25 of the Constitution of
5 Louisiana and under the provisions of
6 R.S. 13:32 et seq.
7 A. Expenses of Judicial
8 Administrator's Office $ 5,799,573$ 5,999,379
9 Program Description: The Judicial Administrator's Office assists the Supreme Court in the
10 administration of the state court system. It staffs the Judicial Council and the Judiciary Commission of
11 Louisiana. Through the Judicial Council, it performs studies and makes recommendations for the creation
12 of new judgeships and for improving the administration of justice. The Judicial Administrator's Office
13 provides payroll and other fiscal services to the Judiciary, including the administration of a judicial
14 retirement system; support for the Supreme Court and Appellate Court human resource system; and
15 support for judicial branch reporting obligations. The Judicial Administrator's Office also manages the
16 ad hoc judgeship system, monitors cases under advisement, provides support for initiatives to ensure
17 access to the courts for limited English proficiency individuals; provides outreach services to state and
18 local courts, applies for and administers grants to improve judicial administration; and staffs the
19 Committee on Judicial Ethics. The Judicial Administrator’s office administers several programs, including
20 the Supreme Court Drug Court / Specialty Court Office, the Louisiana Protective Order Registry, and
21 CASA and FINS through the Division of Children and Families. The Judicial Administrator’s office also
22 provides staff support for the Louisiana Judicial College, and performs numerous legal services for the
23 Supreme Court and the Judiciary.
24 B. Expenses of Judiciary Commission $ 2,210,912$ 2,351,156
25 Program Description: The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a constitutional body established under
26 Article V, Section 25 of the Constitution of 1974 to accept, screen, investigate, and prosecute complaints
27 of judicial misconduct. As part of its authority, it may recommend to the Supreme Court the censure,
28 suspension, removal from office, or involuntary retirement of any judge for ethical misconduct.
29 C. Court Reporters; Statistical
30 Reporting Systems $ 362,299$ 380,536
31 D. Dues to National Center for
32 State Courts $ 186,000$ 186,000
33 04 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary
34 Board, as per Louisiana Supreme
35 Court Rule XIX $ 3,000$ 3,000
36 05 Compensation and expenses of retired
37 judges assigned under Article V,
38 Section 5(A) of the Constitution of
39 Louisiana, be it more or less
40 estimated at $ 873,866$ 917,559
41 06 Law Library of Louisiana for salaries,
42 services, supplies, maintenance, repairs,
43 and equipment $ 1,868,758$ 2,010,898
44 Program Description: The Law Library of Louisiana serves the legal information needs of the state
45 judiciary, and is open to members of the bar and public.
46 07 Salaries and expenses of transferred
47 judges assigned under Article V,
48 Section 5(A) of the Constitution,
49 be it more or less estimated as $ 75,000$ 78,750
50 08 Retirement pay for services rendered by
51 justices and judges of all courts, as
52 provided by R.S. 11:1358 $ 527,000$ 548,080
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1 09 Pensions for widows of justices and
2 judges of all courts, as provided by
3 R.S. 11:1371 and R.S. 11:1381, be it
4 more or less estimated at $ 715,000$ 730,494
5 10 Judicial College $ 266,227$ 283,830
6 Program Description: The Judicial College was established by order of the Supreme Court in 1976 to
7 provide continuing legal education to Louisiana judges.
8 11 State contribution to judicial
9 retirement provided for in Article V,
10 Section 23 of the Constitution and
11 R.S. 11:551 et seq., be it more or
12 less estimated at $22,166,383$22,170,013
13 12 Civil commitment matters as
14 required by R.S. 28:54 $ 345,335$ 405,088
15 13 Paul M. Hebert Law Center for
16 expenses of storage of appellate
17 court records $ 60,000$ 60,000
18 14 Funding for statewide operations of the
19 Louisiana Protective Order Registry
20 (R.S. 46:2136.2) under the Case
21 Management Information System $ 1,243,914$ 1,593,127
22 15 Information Technology $ 2,053,167$ 2,495,770
23 16 Operational expenses of
24 the Families in Need of Services
25 Program (FINS) $ 2,358,111$ 3,219,018
26 Program Description: The mission of the FINS Assistance Program is to assist local FINS processes by
27 developing and implementing a needs-based allocation formula; developing, implementing, and mandating
28 the use of a uniform data system for tracking, managing, and reporting FINS informal cases; developing
29 and mandating the use of programmatic standards; developing, implementing, and reporting performance
30 indicators and measures; requiring and monitoring periodic fiscal reports and financial accountability;
31 and, generally supervising and assisting local FINS processes in other ways.
32
33 17 Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts $15,775,458$16,643,558
34 Program Description: Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts, such as Drug/DWI Treatment Courts,
35 authorized in 1977 by R.S. 13:5301-5304; Reentry Courts, authorized in 2010 by R.S. 13:5401; Mental
36 Health Courts, authorized in 2013 by R.S. 13:5353 - 5358; Swift and Certain Program, authorized by R.S.
37 13:5371; and Veterans Treatment Courts, authorized in 2014 by R.S. 13:5361 - 5368, are proven and
38 effective alternatives to traditional criminal justice interventions. These programs provide integrated
39 treatment for substance use and mental health disorders, including the appropriate use of sanctions and
40 incentives along with case management, to place participants in need of services into appropriate
41 community-based and judicially supervised rehabilitation programs. Clients are regularly tested and
42 monitored for compliance with educational, employment, and treatment requirements pursuant to current
43 best practices and the proven national model.
44 18 Court Appointed Special Advocates$ 7,350,304$ 8,052,692
45 Program Description: The purpose of the CASA Assistance Program is to promote timely placement of
46 children in need of care in permanent, safe and stable homes, in accordance with the provisions of
47 Children's Code articles 424-426. Services are provided through local CASA programs which recruit,
48 screen, train and supervise community advocates. Upon appointment by the trial judge, qualified
49 advocates serve children by providing independent factual information to the judge, advocating for the best
50 interest of the children, monitoring cases to which they have been assigned, and advising and assisting the
51 judge in the determination of the best interest of the children involved.
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1 19 Judges' supplemental compensation
2 R.S. 13:10.3, be it more or less
3 estimated at $ 6,223,724$ 7,785,844
4 Program Description: The Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund was established by the Legislature
5 in 1985 to fund salary supplements and salary-related expenses to judges and commissioners. The funding
6 source is a non-refundable filing fee assessed on civil filings as provided in R.S. 13:10.3.
7 20 Case Management Information System,
8 Article 887(F) of the Code of Criminal
9 Procedure, be it more or less
10 estimated at $ 4,017,201$ 4,057,080
11 Program Description: The Case Management Information System (CMIS) was created by the Supreme
12 Court in 1993 to provide a statewide information system for tracking and managing criminal, civil,
13 juvenile, traffic, and appellate cases as well as protective orders. Data is received from courts statewide,
14 transferred to the CMIS repository, and made available to courts and executive branch agencies.
15 Additional information will also be available from the Department of Public Safety & Corrections. CMIS
16 is funded from a court cost assessed on all criminal and traffic convictions as provided under
17 C.Cr.P.887(F).
18 TOTAL EXPENDITURES: $87,705,242$94,167,608
19 MEANS OF FINANCE:
20 State General Fund (Direct) $68,071,467$72,931,834
21 State General Fund by:
22 Interagency Transfers $ 9,392,850$ 9,392,850
23 Statutory Dedications:
24 Judges' Supplemental Compensation
25 Fund $ 6,223,724$ 7,785,844
26 Trial Court Case Management
27 Information Fund $ 4,017,201$ 4,057,080
28 TOTAL MEANS OF FINANCING $87,705,242$94,167,608
29 03-8171COURTS OF APPEAL
30 Program Description: The five courts of appeal, domiciled in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles,
31 New Orleans, and Gretna, have supervisory jurisdiction over all cases arising within their respective
32 circuits, subject to the general supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Each court of appeal also
33 has appellate jurisdiction over all civil matters, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and
34 all criminal cases triable by a jury which arise within its circuit, except for those cases appealable directly
35 to the Supreme Court or to the district courts.
36 FY 24 EOB FY 25 REC
37 01 Salaries of five (5) Chief Judges
38 and forty-eight (48) Judges of
39 the Courts of Appeal, R.S. 13:311$ 9,022,841$ 9,901,650
40 02 Salaries and expenses of operation
41 and maintenance of the Court of
42 Appeal, First Circuit $11,279,856$11,902,319
43 03 Salaries and expenses of operation
44 and maintenance of the Court of
45 Appeal, Second Circuit $ 6,378,931$ 6,764,817
46 04 Salaries and expenses of operation
47 and maintenance of the Court of
48 Appeal, Third Circuit $ 9,691,207$10,310,148
49 05 Salaries and expenses of operation
50 and maintenance of the Court of
51 Appeal, Fourth Circuit $ 9,011,897$ 9,694,031
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1 06 Salaries and expenses of operation
2 and maintenance of the Court of
3 Appeal, Fifth Circuit $ 6,602,212$ 7,257,673
4 TOTAL EXPENDITURES: $51,986,944$55,830,638
5 MEANS OF FINANCE:
6 State General Fund (Direct) $51,986,944$55,830,638
7 TOTAL MEANS OF FINANCING $51,986,944$55,830,638
8 03-8172DISTRICT COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES AS
9 REQUIRED BY STATUTE
10 Program Description: There are forty-one district courts in Louisiana that have general jurisdiction over
11 all matters within their territorial limits, except in those judicial districts (the 1st, the 19th, and the 24th
12 Judicial Districts) where family and juvenile courts have exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases
13 and except in Orleans Parish where there are separate courts exercising civil, criminal, and juvenile
14 jurisdictions. In certain cases, the forty-one general jurisdiction courts have concurrent jurisdiction with
15 justices of the peace and parish courts. The district courts generally have appellate jurisdiction of
16 criminal cases tried by city, parish, municipal, traffic, and mayors' courts, except in certain cases. The
17 district courts also have appellate jurisdiction over justices of the peace in parishes where no parish courts
18 exist. The Civil District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction of all civil cases in that parish. The
19 Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish has jurisdiction over all criminal cases in that parish. It also
20 has general supervisory jurisdiction over the municipal and traffic court in Orleans Parish. The Family
21 Court of East Baton Rouge Parish has exclusive jurisdiction of many domestic cases in that parish. The
22 four juvenile courts located in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes have exclusive
23 jurisdiction of juvenile cases in their respective parishes.
24 FY 24 EOB FY 25 REC
25 01 Salaries of one hundred ninety-one
26 (191) District Judges as provided
27 by R.S. 13:691 $ 31,159,398$33,751,199
28 02 Office and travel expenses of District
29 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:698
30 and R.S. 13:694, respectively $ 1,285,250$ 1,299,750
31 03 Salaries of fourteen (14) Judges of
32 Civil District Court, Orleans Parish,
33 as provided by R.S. 13:691 $ 2,273,223$ 2,462,307
34 04 Expenses of Judges of Civil District
35 Court, Parish of Orleans, for salaries
36 of stenographers, clerks, law books,
37 stationery, telephone, and like
38 expenses as provided by R.S. 13:698$ 80,500$ 80,500
39 05 Salaries of two (2) Court Reporters
40 of the Twentieth Judicial District Court,
41 including retirement contributions, as
42 provided by R.S. 13:966.1 $ 114,514$ 114,098
43 06 Clerk of Civil District Court, Orleans
44 Parish, as provided by R.S. 13:1212(A)$ 10,000$ 10,000
45 07 State share of Group, Workers'
46 Compensation, General Liability, and
47 Property Insurance Premiums as
48 provided by R.S. 42:851 $ 8,161,271$ 9,307,095
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1 08 Salaries of two (2) commissioners of
2 the Nineteenth Judicial District and
3 one (1) commissioner of the Fifteenth
4 Judicial District as provided by
5 R.S. 13:712 and R.S. 13:715,
6 respectively $ 650,843$ 689,813
7 09 Office expenses for the Judicial
8 Expense Fund of the Nineteenth Judicial
9 District Court as provided by
10 R.S. 13:711-713 $ 447,975$ 567,875
11 10 Office expenses for the Judicial
12 Expense Fund of the Fifteenth
13 Judicial District Court as provided
14 by R.S. 13:714-716 $ 303,754$ 317,343
15 11 Law Clerk, Twentieth Judicial District
16 Court as provided by Act 747 of 1977$ 49,311$ 49,311
17 12 For the expenses of the Judicial Expense
18 Fund, Tenth Judicial District Court as
19 provided by Act 57 of 2006 $ 35,000$ 35,000
20 SUBTOTAL $44,571,039$48,684,291
21 13 Criminal Court - Parish of Orleans
22 Program Description: The Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans has exclusive jurisdiction
23 of the trial and punishment of all crimes, misdemeanors, and offenses committed within the parish of
24 Orleans, if the jurisdiction is not vested by law in some other court. The court, through its magistrate and
25 with assistance from its commissioners, has the power of committing magistrates in all felony charges and
26 the power to hold preliminary examinations, with authority to bail or discharge, or to hold for trial, in all
27 cases before the court. The court has appellate jurisdiction of all cases tried before the Municipal and
28 Traffic Court of New Orleans and has general supervisory jurisdiction over these courts.
29 A.Salaries of thirteen (13) District
30 Judges of Criminal Court, Orleans
31 Parish as provided by R.S. 13:691$ 2,110,850$ 2,286,428
32 B.Office expenses of Judges of
33 Criminal Court, Orleans Parish as
34 Provided by R.S. 13:698 $ 74,750$ 74,750
35 C.State's share of group insurance
36 for personnel of Criminal Court
37 as provided by R.S. 42:851 $ 754,735$ 809,410
38 D.Salaries of thirteen (13) minute
39 clerks as provided by R.S.
40 13:1373.1 $ 294,775$ 284,090
41 E.Salaries of twenty-six (26) court
42 reporters as provided by R.S.
43 13:1373.1 $ 460,845$ 447,504
44 F.Salaries of four (4) commissioners
45 of Criminal Court, Orleans Parish,
46 including related benefits as
47 provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 567,412$ 597,692
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1 G.Office and travel expenses of
2 commissioners as provided by
3 R.S. 13:1347 $ 10,600$ 10,600
4 H.Salaries of four (4) minute clerks,
5 one for each commissioner
6 as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 79,683$ 77,708
7 I.Salaries of four (4) court reporters,
8 one for each commissioner
9 as provided by R.S. 13:1347 $ 58,103$ 57,057
10 J.Salaries of Judicial Administrator,
11 and assistants, including
12 related benefits $ 1,052,496$ 1,220,656
13 K.Salaries of thirteen (13) law clerks$ 785,166$ 773,076
14 L.Salaries of four (4) secretaries $ 227,400$ 224,948
15 M.Sanity Commissions $ 58,855$ 60,179
16 N.Board of Jury Commissioners $ 443,769$ 463,679
17 SUBTOTAL $ 6,979,439$ 7,387,777
18 14 Juvenile and Family Court Judges
19 A.Salaries of thirteen (13) Juvenile
20 Court Judges as provided by
21 R.S. 13:691 $ 2,110,850$ 2,110,549
22 B.Salaries of four (4) Family Court
23 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:691$ 649,492$ 703,516
24 C.Office and travel expenses of Juvenile
25 and Family Court Judges as
26 provided by R.S. 13:698 and
27 R.S. 13:694, respectively $ 97,750$ 97,750
28 SUBTOTAL $ 2,858,092$ 2,911,815
29 TOTAL EXPENDITURES (District Courts):$54,408,570$58,983,883
30 MEANS OF FINANCE:
31 State General Fund (Direct) $54,408,570$58,983,883
32 TOTAL MEANS OF FINANCING
33 (District Courts): $54,408,570$58,983,883
34 03-8173OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES AS
35 REQUIRED BY STATUTE
36 Program Description: The category includes forty-seven city courts, one municipal and traffic court
37 (New Orleans), and one parish court (Ascension Parish).
38 FY 24 EOB FY 25 REC
39 01Salaries of sixty (60) City Court
40 Judges as provided by R.S. 13:1875 $ 3,145,602$3,407,236
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1 02Salaries of seven (7) Municipal and
2 Traffic and one (1) Parish Court
3 Judge as provided by R.S. 13:2492
4 and 2563.5, respectively $ 455,923 $ 493,846
5 TOTAL EXPENDITURES (OTHER COURTS
6 REQUIRED BY STATUTE) $ 3,601,525$3,901,082
7 MEANS OF FINANCE:
8 State General Fund (Direct) $ 3,601,525$3,901,082
9 TOTAL MEANS OF FINANCE (OTHER
10 COURTS REQUIRED BY STATUTE) $ 3,601,525$3,901,082
11 03-8174 OTHER COURTS - SALARIES AND OFFICE EXPENSES NOT
12 REQUIRED BY STATUTE
13 FY 24 EOB FY 25 REC
14 01Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective
15 Care Monitoring Program $ 634,328 $ 671,737
16 Program Description: The program tracks and maintains child abuse and neglect cases in the Orleans
17 Parish Juvenile Court. It also provides assistance in support of the Families in Need of Services Program.
18 02Orleans Parish Juvenile Court
19 Reporters $ 118,978 $ 127,652
20 03 For the expenses of the Judges'
21 Assistance Program $ 61,877 $ 63,269
22 Program Description: The Judges' Assistance Program provides counseling and other assistance to
23 judges with substance abuse problems.
24 TOTAL EXPENDITURES (OTHER COURTS
25 NOT REQUIRED BY STATUTE) $ 815,183 $ 862,658
26 MEANS OF FINANCE:
27 State General Fund (Direct) $ 815,183 $ 862,658
28 TOTAL MEANS OF FINANCE (OTHER
29 COURTS NOT REQUIRED BY
30 STATUTE) $ 815,183 $ 862,658
31 Section 2.A. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or his duly authorized and
32 appointed agent, shall warrant the state treasurer for the allocations herein provided, or for
33 so much thereof as may be necessary. The aforesaid warrant shall be paid out of the State
34 General Fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrant by preference over all other
35 warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state and warrants
36 for expenses of the legislature, which shall be concurrent with the warrant provided by this
37 Act.
38 B. The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the judiciary
39 in an approved bank that has been selected by the Supreme Court and is located in the state.
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1 C. Any funds herein allocated to the judiciary, any portion of the funds previously
2 appropriated to the judiciary, other revenue of the judiciary or its agencies, and interest
3 earnings are hereby appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the judiciary;
4 however, all funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered shall be returnable to the State
5 General Fund on or before September 1, 2025.
6 D. For Fiscal Year 2024-2025, any surpluses occurring in the appropriations made in
7 this Act may be transferred from one agency or line-item to another during the fiscal year
8 in accordance with the rules of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the
9 Supreme Court.
10 E. The adjustment to be made in the salaries of judicial employees and the number of
11 authorized positions of the judiciary shall be as decided by the judicial agency affected,
12 subject to the approval of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board, or as approved by the
13 Supreme Court.
14 F. The program descriptions contained in this Act are not part of the law and are not
15 enacted into law by virtue of their inclusion in this Act.
16 G. The inclusion in this Act of staff salaries and benefits for lower court or other judicial
17 branch agency employees shall not be deemed to create or impose any obligation upon the
18 State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
19 Control Board, or the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office relative to the
20 administration of pay, retirement, or other benefits to any such employees. Accordingly, the
21 State of Louisiana Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Judicial Budgetary
22 Control Board, and the Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office are not to be
23 considered the "employer" or "employing agency" of lower court or other judicial agency
24 employees whose staff salaries and other benefits are included in this Act.
25 Section 3. The appropriations, and the allocations of such appropriations, from the State
26 General Fund (Direct) contained in Section 1 of this Act shall be reduced by a total amount
27 of Thirteen Million Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Two Hundred Eighty-Five
28 ($13,666,285) Dollars, pursuant to a plan adopted by the Judicial Budgetary Control Board
29 or as approved by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
30 Section 4. The appropriations, and the allocations of such appropriations, from the State
31 General Fund (Direct) contained in Section 1 of this Act shall be increased by a total amount
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1 of Two Million Seven Hundred Seventy-One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty-Five
2 ($2,771,745) Dollars to be distributed as follows: Seven Hundred Fifty-Eight Thousand One
3 Hundred Forty-Two ($758,142) Dollars for the funding of additional positions with Families
4 in Need of Services and the Louisiana Protective Order Registry; Seven Hundred Thirty-
5 Four Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Three ($734,553) Dollars for the expansion of Families
6 in Need of Services; Six Hundred Fifty Thousand ($650,000) Dollars for Louisiana Drug and
7 Specialty Courts; and Six Hundred Twenty-Nine Thousand Fifty ($629,050) Dollars for
8 Court Appointed Special Advocates.
9 Section 5. The appropriations, and the allocations of such appropriations, from the State
10 General Fund (Direct) contained in Section 1 of this Act shall be increased by a total amount
11 of Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand ($5,700,000) Dollars for the operation of drug
12 courts.
13 Section 6.(A) If the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Judicial Budgetary
14 Control Board each determine that the judiciary has sufficient funding from its approved
15 bank account, as reflected in its balance as of June 30, 2024, to fund a one-time stipend as
16 authorized in this Section, then the justices of the supreme court shall receive an additional
17 one-time payment of Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred Eighty ($15,280) Dollars; the judges
18 of the courts of appeal shall receive an additional one-time payment of Seventeen Thousand
19 Six Hundred Eighty ($17,680) Dollars; the judges of the district courts shall receive an
20 additional one-time payment of Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-One ($14,691)
21 Dollars; and the judges of city courts and parish courts shall receive an additional one-time
22 payment of Eight and Forty-Five Hundredths (8.45) Percent of their current base salary.
23 (B) The one-time stipend authorized in this Section shall be funded solely by the
24 approved bank account of the judiciary based on its balance as of June 30, 2024.
25 (C) The one-time stipend authorized in this Section shall become effective following the
26 completion of a work point study of the appellate and district courts in Louisiana with the
27 National Center for State Courts and the submission of a report to the Louisiana Supreme
28 Court and the Judicial Structure Task Force continued pursuant to House Resolution No. 3
29 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
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1 (D) The one-time stipend authorized in this Section shall not be funded by a specific
2 appropriation of the Louisiana Legislature, and as such shall not be considered compensation
3 pursuant to Article V, Section 21 of the Constitution of Louisiana.
4 (E) Any salary increase pursuant to R.S. 13:5636 that occurs by operation of law shall
5 be considered a salary increase for purposes of Article V, Section 31 of the Constitution of
6 Louisiana.
7 Section 7. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2024; if vetoed by the governor
8 and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1,
9 2024, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
10 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT
11 In accordance with R.S. 39:51(D), the following represents a comparative statement for
12 each Court and program. The existing operating budget for FY 2023-2024 is compared
13 to the appropriations for FY 2024-2025 as contained in the original bill.
14 Existing Operating Budget Appropriation Request
15 Courts and Programs FY 2023-2024 FY 2024-2025
16 By Expenditure:
17 Supreme Court $87,705,242 $ 94,167,608
18 Courts of Appeal $51,986,944 $ 55,830,638
19 District Courts $54,408,570 $ 58,983,883
20 Other Courts (statutory) $ 3,601,525 $ 3,901,082
21 Other Programs (non-statutory)$ 815,183 $ 862,658
22 Reduction $ 0 $($13,666,285)
23 Addition $ 0 $ 2,771,745
24 Addition $ 0 $ 5,700,000
25 Total Expenditures $198,517,464 $208,551,329
26 By Means of Finance:
27 Total General Fund (Direct) $178,883,689 $ 192,510,095
28 Reduction General Fund (Direct)$ 0 $(13,666,285)
29 Addition General Fund (Direct)$ 0 $ 2,771,745
30 Addition General Fund (Direct)$ 0 $ 5,700,000
31 Total Interagency Transfers $ 9,392,850 $ 9,392,850
32 Total Statutory Dedications $10,240,925 $ 11,842,9 2 4
33 Total Funding $198,517,464 $ 208,551,329
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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