LA Rev Stat § 13:996.43 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Revised Statutes|Title 13 - Courts and Judicial Procedure|§996.43. Judicial expense fund for Fifth Judicial District

RS 996.43 - Judicial expense fund for Fifth Judicial District  NOTE: R.S. 13:996.43 AS ENACTED BY ACTS 1985, NO. 252, §1, EFF. JULY 6, 1985:  A. In addition to all other fees or costs now or hereafter provided by law, each clerk of court in the Fifth Judicial District shall collect from every person filing any type of civil suit or proceeding, and who is not otherwise exempted by law from the payment of court costs, a sum to be determined by the judges of the district, sitting en banc, which sum shall not exceed fifteen dollars, subject, however, to the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181, et seq. In all criminal cases over which the Fifth Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there shall be taxed as costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial, or after he pleads guilty, or who forfeits his bond, a sum likewise determined, but which shall not exceed five dollars, which shall be in addition to all other fines, costs, or forfeitures lawfully imposed, and which shall be transmitted to the clerk for further disposition.  B. The clerk of court shall place all sums collected or received under this Section in a separate account to be designated as the judicial expense fund for the Fifth Judicial District Court. The judges, en banc, of the Fifth Judicial District shall have control over the fund and all disbursements made therefrom. They shall cause to be conducted annually an audit of the fund and the books and accounts relating thereto and shall file the same with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.  C. The judges, en banc, may appoint such law clerks and secretarial, clerical, research, administrative, and other personnel as they deem necessary to expedite the business and function of the court and fix and pay all or any part of the salaries of such personnel out of the monies in the judicial expense fund. In like manner, the judges, en banc, may utilize the monies in the judicial expense fund to pay all or any part of the cost of establishing or maintaining a law library for the court, to support the Indigent Defender Board, or for buying or maintaining any type of equipment, supplies, or other items consistent with or germane to the efficient operation of the court. In general, the judicial expense fund is established and may be used for any purpose or purposes connected with, incidental to, or related to the proper administration or function of the court, or the offices of the individual judges, and is in addition to any and all other funds, salaries, expenses, or other monies that are provided, authorized, or established by law for any of these purposes.  NOTE: R.S. 13:996.43 AS ENACTED BY ACTS 1985, NO. 974, §1:  A.(1) In addition to all other fees or costs now or hereafter provided by law, each clerk of court in the Fifth Judicial District shall collect from every person filing any type of civil suit or proceeding, and who is not otherwise exempted by law from the payment of court costs, the sum of fifteen dollars subject to the provisions of Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181, et seq.  (2) In all criminal cases over which the Fifth Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there shall be taxed as costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial, or after he pleads guilty, or who forfeits his bond, a sum which shall not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents. Such sum shall be in addition to all other fines, costs or forfeitures lawfully imposed, and which shall be transmitted to the clerk for further disposition in accordance with this Section.  B. The clerks of court shall place all sums collected or received under this Section in a separate account to be designated as the Judicial Expense Fund for the Fifth Judicial District, hereinafter referred to as "the fund". The district judges, en banc, shall have control over the fund and all disbursements. They shall conduct an annual audit of the fund including the books and accounts, and shall file such audit with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.  C. The judges, en banc, may expend monies from the fund to:  (1) Fix and pay each of their court reporters a salary in lieu of all or any part of the fees for reporting and transcribing testimony authorized under the provisions of R.S. 13:961(F) or other applicable laws, and in addition to salaries otherwise provided, authorized, or established by law.  (2) Appoint such secretarial, law clerks, clerical, research, administrative, or other personnel as they deem necessary to expedite the proper administration business and function of the court.  (3) Pay all or any part of the cost of establishing or maintaining a law library for the court.  (4) Buy or maintain any type of equipment, supplies, or other items consistent with or germane to the efficient operation of the court(s).  (5) Effectuate any purpose or purposes connected with, incidental to or related to the proper administration or function of the district, or the offices of the individual judges.  D. The monies in the fund shall be in addition to any and all other funds, salaries, expenses, or other monies that are now or hereafter provided, authorized, or established by law for the Fifth Judicial District for any other purposes.  E. No salary shall be paid from the fund to any of the judges of said district. Prior legislative approval shall be required to pay any judge's costs for administering the fund.  Acts 1985, No. 252, §1, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 1985, No. 974, §1.