House Bill No. [insert bill number] amends existing Louisiana law to allow jurors in any judicial district court to voluntarily donate their per diem compensation to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. The bill removes the previous limitation of a pilot program in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court and establishes a broader framework for donations across all judicial districts. The clerk of court is required to provide jurors with the option to donate during jury orientation and to establish procedures for the collection and distribution of these donations to CASA. Additionally, the bill mandates that the information regarding the donations, including the names and amounts contributed by jurors, remains confidential and is exempt from public records.

The proposed law also stipulates that CASA must utilize the donations exclusively to support its mission, which focuses on advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system. The clerks of court are tasked with ensuring that jurors are informed about the donation process and that they receive acknowledgment for their contributions, which are tax-deductible. Overall, this bill aims to enhance support for CASA by facilitating juror contributions while ensuring the confidentiality of donor information.

Statutes affected:
HB1011 Original: 44:1(B)(6)