HLS 24RS-2106 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 905
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREIBERG
JURY DUTY: Permits jurors to donate their per diem compensation to the Capital Area
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 13:3049.2, relative to juror per diem compensation in the Nineteenth Judicial
3 District Court; to establish a two-year pilot program that enables jurors to voluntarily
4 donate their per diem compensation to certain organizations; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 13:3049.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง3049.2. Nineteenth Judicial District; pilot program; donation of juror per diem;
9 procedures
10 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person serving
11 as a juror in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court may elect to donate the juror per
12 diem compensation in whole or in part to an organization that meets either of the
13 following criteria:
14 (1) Formally recognized under Children's Code Article 424 for its role in
15 advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system.
16 (2) Specifically designated as the Capital Area Court Appointed Special
17 Advocates (CASA).
18 B. The clerk of court for the Nineteenth Judicial District Court shall provide
19 each juror with an option to donate the per diem compensation to the designated
20 organization as described in Paragraph (A) of this Section at the time of juror
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-2106 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 905
1 orientation or at another appropriate time during the juror service process. The
2 option to donate shall be voluntary and presented in a manner that ensures informed
3 consent of the juror.
4 C. The clerk of court shall establish procedures for the collection and timely
5 distribution of donated per diem compensations to the designated organization.
6 These procedures shall include provisions for donor acknowledgment and
7 compliance with financial management standards. A form shall be presented to each
8 person registered for the jury pool which provides the mission of CASA and offers
9 the jurors the voluntary option to assign all fees due them as a tax-deductible
10 donation to CASA.
11 D. The pilot program in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court is established
12 as a voluntary option for jurors to support a court-related nonprofit organization with
13 the Nineteenth Judicial District Court Jury Office facilitating the consolidation of
14 individual juror payments into a monthly payment to CASA. The Juror Office shall
15 send a monthly check to CASA and provide the list of the names, addresses, and
16 amounts for participating jurors to allow CASA to mail a tax-deductible receipt for
17 their donation. Information provided by the Juror Office to CASA shall remain
18 private.
19 E.(1) CASA shall be designated exclusively for donations due to its
20 court-related advocacy and purpose during the two-year pilot program.
21 (2) A designated organization receiving donations under this Section shall
22 utilize the donations exclusively for supporting its mission within the jurisdiction of
23 the Nineteenth Judicial District.
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 905 Original 2024 Regular Session Freiberg
Abstract: Establishes a pilot program for donations of juror per diem in the 19th JDC.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-2106 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 905
Proposed law allows jurors in the 19th JDC to donate their per diem compensation in whole
or in part to an organization that is either (1) formally recognized under Ch.C. Art. 424 for
its role in advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court
system, or (2) specifically designated as Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocates
(CASA).
Proposed law requires the clerk of court for the 19th JDC to provide each juror an option to
donate the per diem compensation to the organizations provided by proposed law during jury
orientation or the juror service process.
Proposed law requires the clerk of court for the 19th JDC to establish procedures for the
collection and timely distribution of donated per diem compensation to the designated
organization.
Proposed law requires that the procedures for the collection and timely distribution of
donated per diem compensation to the designated organization include provisions for donor
acknowledgment and compliance with financial management standards.
Proposed law also requires a form distributed to each person registered for the jury pool that
has the mission of CASA and the voluntary option to assign fees due to them as a tax-
deductible donation to the organization.
Proposed law provides for the purpose of the program and requires the Juror Office of the
19th JDC to send a monthly check of individual juror payments to CASA along with the
names, addresses, and amounts donated of the individual juror for a mailed tax-deductible
receipt.
Proposed law also provides that any information provided to CASA by the Juror Office shall
remain private.
Proposed law requires that CASA be designated exclusively for the per diem donations
during the two-year pilot program. Proposed law also provides that donations made to the
designated organization pursuant to proposed law shall be utilized exclusively for supporting
its mission within the jurisdiction of the 19th JDC.
(Adds R.S. 13:3049.2)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.