§996.39. Judicial expense fund for Thirty-ninth Judicial District

A. In addition to all other fees or costs now or hereafter provided by law, the clerk of court in the Thirty-ninth Judicial District shall collect from every person filing any type of civil suit or proceeding, and who is not otherwise exempted by law from the payment of court costs, a sum to be determined by the judge of said district, which sum shall not exceed ten dollars, subject, however, to the provisions of Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Article 5181 et seq. In all criminal cases over which the Thirty-ninth Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there shall be taxed as costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial, or after he pleads 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 clerk for further disposition in accordance herewith. However, in all criminal cases over which the Thirty-ninth Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there may be taxed as costs against every defendant who is convicted of a felony after trial, or after he pleads guilty, or who forfeits his bond, a sum likewise determined, but which shall not exceed five hundred dollars, which shall be in addition to all other fines, costs or forfeitures lawfully imposed, and which shall be transmitted to the clerk for further disposition in accordance herewith.

B. The clerk of court shall place all sums collected or received under this Section in a separate account to be designated as the judicial expense fund for the Thirty-ninth Judicial District Court. The judge of the Thirty-ninth Judicial District shall have control over the fund and all disbursements made therefrom. He 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 judge of the Thirty-ninth Judicial District Court may, in lieu of all or any part of the fees for reporting and transcribing testimony authorized under the provisions of R.S. 13:961(F), or other applicable laws, and in addition to salaries otherwise provided, authorized, or established by law, fix and pay his court reporters a salary from the judicial expense fund. The judge may further appoint such secretarial, clerical, research, administrative, or other personnel as he deems necessary to expedite the business and function 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 judge may utilize the monies in the judicial expense fund to pay all or any part of the cost of establishing or maintaining a law library for the court, or for buying 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 office of the judge thereof, and is in addition to any and all other funds, salaries, expenses, or 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 Thirty-ninth Judicial District to the judge thereof except as may be paid for administering the said fund and then only after prior legislative approval.

Acts 1984, No. 52, §3; Acts 1990, No. 333, §1.