§2562.22. Judicial expense fund; traffic case management and accident reporting system

A. In all criminal cases over which the First and Second Parish Courts of Jefferson Parish have jurisdiction, there shall be taxed as costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial or after plea of guilty or who forfeits his bond, a sum likewise determined but which shall not exceed fifteen dollars, which shall be in addition to all other fines, costs, or forfeitures lawfully imposed, and which shall be transmitted to the said clerk for further disposition in accordance herewith.

B. All sums collected or received under this Section shall be placed in a separate account, to be designated as the Judicial Expense Fund for the First and Second Parish Courts of Jefferson Parish. The judges, en banc, of the courts shall have control over the fund and all disbursements made therefrom. They shall cause to be conducted annually an audit of the fund and the books and accounts relating thereto, and shall file the same with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.

C. The judges, en banc, of the First and Second Parish Courts of Jefferson Parish may, in addition to salaries otherwise provided, authorized, or established by law, fix and pay each of their court reporters a salary from the judicial expense fund. The judges, en banc, may appoint such secretarial, clerical, research, administrative, or other personnel as they deem necessary to expedite the business and functions of the court, and fix and pay all or any part of the salaries of such personnel out of the monies in the judicial expense fund. In like manner, the judges, en banc, may utilize the monies in the judicial expense fund to pay all or any part of the cost of establishing and/or maintaining a law library for the court, or implementing and operating a traffic case management and accident reporting system, or for buying and/or maintaining any type of equipment, supplies, or other items consistent with or germane to the efficient operation of the court. In general, the judicial expense fund is established and may be used for any purpose or purposes connected with, incidental to, or related to the proper administration or function of the said court or the offices of the individual judges; and, is in addition to any and all other funds, salaries, expenses, and other monies that are now or hereafter provided, authorized, or established by law for any of the aforesaid purposes.

D. No salary shall be paid from the judicial expense fund for the parish courts to any of the judges of the courts except as may be paid for administering the said fund, and then only after prior legislative approval.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 340, §1, eff. July 18, 1982.