LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 754 HLS 24RS 1011
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 16, 2024 11:13 AM Author: LAFLEUR
Dept./Agy.: 19th Judicial District Court
Subject: Complex Litigation Section Pilot Program Analyst: Daniel Druilhet
COURTS/COURT COSTS EN +$120,000 LF RV See Note Page 1 of 1
Provides relative to filing fees for the Complex Litigation Section Pilot Program in the 19th JDC
Proposed law creates the Complex Litigation Section Pilot Program; provides that the Nineteenth Judicial District Court may
establish a Complex Litigation Fund to provide for additional filing fees for complex litigation cases; provides that the clerk of
court may demand and receive a filing fee of $200 for each case referred to the Complex Litigation Section; provides that
the clerk of court shall collect all monies generated pursuant to the Complex Litigation Section and forward them to the 19th
JDC for placement in a separate account account to be designated as the Complex Litigation Section Fund to be used for any
operating expenses of the Complex Litigation Section (including salaries); mandates that the court keep accurate records,
cause to be conducted an audit of the fund and books and accounts relating to the fund, and file the audit with the office of
the legislative auditor to be available for public inspection; provides that the pilot program shall be effective for a period of
two years, unless extended by the legislature.
EXPENDITURES 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 $40,500 $40,500 $0 $0 $0 $81,000
Annual Total $40,500 $40,500 $0 $0 $0 $81,000
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 $120,000 SEE BELOW $0 $0 $0 $120,000
Annual Total $120,000 $0 $0 $0 $120,000
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
Proposed law may result in $40,500 in Local Funds expenditures in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court, to the extent that
the court is required to conduct an audit of the Complex Litigation Section Fund for the period of time during which the pilot
program is in effect. The Nineteenth Judicial District Court currently expends $40,500 to conduct an annual audit of the
Nineteenth Judicial District Court Expense Fund. For any additional audits required of any new judicial expense funds in
operation by the court, the Nineteenth Judicial District Court expects to expend an equivalent amount to conduct annual
audits.
REVENUE EXPLANATION
Proposed law may result in an increase of no less than $120,000 in revenues in FY 25 in the 19th Judicial District Court,
associated with the receipt of additional filing fees for cases designated as complex litigation cases. Currently, there is no
data collected by the 19th Judicial District Court to determine the number of cases that would potentially be impacted with
the enactment of the proposed law, but there are over 600 cases involving litigation issues related to hurricanes that have
been referred to the Complex Litigation Section. If additional filing fees were assessed for each of these cases referred to
the pilot program, Local revenues of no less than $120,000 (600 x $200) would be generated in FY 25 for the 19th Judicial
District Court Complex Litigation Fund.
Note: The 19th JDC advises that there are 15,000 civil case filings that it processes each year, and that there is presently
no indicator for the Clerk of Court to identify the number of civil matters that would be referred to the Complex Litigation
Section, as the proposed law requires a subject review of each matter.
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}
Patrice Thomas
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee 6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Deputy Fiscal Officer