HLS 25RS-1267 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 643
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the consent
judgment against the state in the suit entitled DeRoche v DOTD et al.
1 AN ACT
2Relative to the appropriation of monies out of the state general fund to be used to pay the
3 consent judgment captioned "Rachelle Elizabeth Deroche versus State of Louisiana
4 through its Department of Transportation & Development and Jordan Gaten"
5 between the state of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and
6 Development and its employee Jordan Gaten, and Rachelle Elizabeth Deroche; to
7 provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. The sum of Eighteen Thousand and No/100 ($18,000) Dollars is hereby
10payable out of the State General Fund (Direct) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 for payment of the
11consent judgment captioned "Rachelle Elizabeth Deroche versus State of Louisiana through
12its Department of Transportation & Development and Jordan Gaten", signed on March 25,
132025, between the state of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and
14Development and its employee Jordan Gaten, and Rachelle Elizabeth Deroche, bearing
15Number 2021-0002473, Division E, on the docket of the Twenty-First Judicial District,
16parish of Tangipahoa, state of Louisiana.
17 Section 2. The judgment may only be paid from this appropriation if it is final and
18shall be paid as to principal, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees as awarded in the
19judgment. If the provisions of the judgment conflict with the provisions of this Act, the
20provisions of the judgment shall be controlling. Any other provision of this Act not in
21conflict with the provisions of the judgment shall control. Payment shall be made only after
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HB NO. 643
1presentation to the state treasurer of documentation required by the state treasurer. Further,
2the judgment shall be deemed to have been paid on the effective date of this Act, and interest
3shall cease to run as of that date.
4 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
5signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
6by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
7vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
8effective on the day following such approval.
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 643 Original 2025 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Appropriates $18,000 out of the State General Fund (Direct) for FY 2024-2025 for payment
of the consent judgment against the state in the suit entitled Deroche v. State of La. through
its Dept. of Transportation and Development et al., bearing No. 2021-0002473, Division E,
on the docket of the 21
st
Judicial District, parish of Tangipahoa.
Proposed law provides relative to payment. Provides relative to conflicts between the
judgment and proposed law. Prohibits accrual of interest on the judgment as of the effective
date of proposed law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
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