LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: SB 177 SLS 24RS 413
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 31, 2024 8:53 PM Author: MORRIS, JAY
Dept./Agy.: Judiciary/Secretary of State/Courts
Subject: Composition of Judiciary Commission Members Analyst: Daniel Druilhet
COURTS EN +$7,115 GF EX See Note Page 1 of 1
Constitutional amendment to increase the non-lawyer membership of and provide for the selection judiciary commission
members and to require investigations be conducted by directive of the supreme court. (2/3 - CA13s1(A))
Proposed law permits the supreme court on recommendation of the judiciary commission or on its own motion, disqualify a judge, or after
an investigation by the judiciary commission (instituted on recommendation of the judiciary commission or by a majority vote of the
supreme court), censure, suspend, involuntarily retire, or remove from office, a judge for willful misconduct relating to his official duty,
willful and persistent failure to perform his duty, persistent and public conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the
judicial office into disrepute, malfeasance, conduct while in office which would constitute a felony, sustaining a felony conviction, or for a
disability that seriously interferes with the performance of his duties and that is likely to become permanent; provides that the supreme
court shall make rules regarding censuring, disqualifying, involuntarily retiring, or removing a judge from office; adds two appointees of
the speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, two appointees of the Louisiana Senate, and one appointee of the governor, to the
judiciary commission; places proposed law as a Constitutional amendment to be submitted on a ballot proposition for the statewide
election to be held 12/07/24.
EXPENDITURES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $7,115 $7,328 $7,548 $7,774 $8,008 $37,773
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $7,115 $7,328 $7,548 $7,774 $8,008 $37,773
REVENUES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
The proposed legislation is anticipated to increase SGF expenditures in the Louisiana Supreme Court by approximately $7,115 in FY 25,
$7,328 in FY 26, $7,548 in FY 27, $7,774 in FY 28, and $8,008 in FY 29 associated with travel and lodging costs, to the extent that an
affirmative vote of the majority of electors in the December 7, 2024, statewide election on the constitutional amendment increases the
Judiciary Commission from nine members to 14 members.
Projections for travel and lodging expenditures related to four new Judiciary Commission members in FY 25 and subsequent fiscal years
(calculated with a 3% inflation rate) are based on an annual average of $12,807 in expenses reimbursed by the Louisiana Supreme Court
to nine current Judiciary Commission members from FY 21 through FY 23.
$12,807 Average Annual Expenses/9 Judiciary Commission Members = $1,423 Average Expenses Per Member
$1,423 Average Expenses Per Member x 5 New Judiciary Commission Members = $7,115
Note: The average expenses for each of the new members appointed with an affirmative vote of the majority of the electors in the
December 7, 2024, statewide election may fluctuate, depending on the location of the new members and associated expenditures for per
diems and mileage reimbursements. The Judiciary Commission meets approximately 10 times per year.
The proposed legislation assigns additional duties to the Judiciary Commission relative to investigating members of the judiciary for willful
misconduct or malfeasance, and requires the supreme court to establish rules regarding the investigative authority provided to judiciary
commission members. The LFO presumes that additional expenditures may be incurred associated with the Supreme Court promulgating
these rules and judiciary commission members exercising their investigative authority, but any fiscal impact related to these measures is
indeterminable.
Secretary of State
The proposed constitutional amendment may result in a minimal increase in programming costs for the Department of State to update
voting machines for statewide judicial elections and can likely be absorbed within the department’s existing operating budget. The
Department of State may incur minimal ballot processing costs associated with this measure. As a regular practice, the Department of
State typically budgets for up to 10 constitutional amendments and statewide propositions for the fall statewide elections. To the extent
the ballot includes more than 10 constitutional amendments and statewide propositions, the Department of State may require additional
SGF resources for the December 7, 2024, statewide election. Any expenditure impact would be realized in FY 25.
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on governmental revenues as a result of this measure.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Patrice Thomas
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Deputy Fiscal Officer