Senate Bill No. 165, introduced by Senator Miller, aims to amend the governance structure of the River Parishes Juvenile Justice District by adding Lafourche Parish to its jurisdiction. The bill modifies the existing law to include Lafourche Parish alongside Ascension, Assumption, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes within the district's territorial jurisdiction. Additionally, the composition of the board of commissioners is altered, reducing the number of commissioners appointed by the sheriffs of the Twenty-Third Judicial District from five to three, and introducing a new commissioner position appointed by the sheriff of Lafourche Parish. The domicile of the board is also changed from St. James Parish to Lafourche Parish.

Furthermore, the bill expands the commission's ability to cooperate with juvenile courts and public agencies within the Seventeenth Judicial District, in addition to the existing judicial districts. It also establishes provisions for levying special costs in Lafourche Parish, similar to those already in place for the other parishes in the district, ensuring that costs are applied to defendants and juveniles found guilty of offenses. The changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
SB165 Original: 15:12(A), 15:16(A), 15:17(A)