House Bill No. 538, introduced by Representative Freiberg, amends R.S. 13:1631 to modify the judicial expense fund for the Juvenile Court of East Baton Rouge Parish. The bill increases the maximum additional civil filing fee from $15 to $75 and changes the administration of the fund from the chief judge to the judges of the court sitting en banc. This means that the collective judges will now determine the amount of fees, control the fund, and conduct the required annual audit, rather than the chief judge alone.

Additionally, the bill retains the prohibition against using the judicial expense fund to pay salaries to judges. It allows the clerk of court to collect certain additional costs in civil and criminal nonsupport proceedings, with the funds being deposited into a designated judicial expense fund. The proposed changes aim to enhance the financial management and operational efficiency of the Juvenile Court while ensuring transparency through annual audits.

Statutes affected:
HB538 Original:
HB538 Engrossed: