§186.5. Safe Return Representation Program Fund

A. "The Louisiana Safe Return Representation Program Fund", hereafter referred to as "the fund", is hereby created within the state treasury. Interest earned on the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited into the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Monies in the fund shall be appropriated, administered, and used solely as provided in this Section.

B. The fund shall be comprised of all monies appropriated by the legislature specifically for the program or other monies made available to the program. All monies required to be deposited in the state treasury in accordance with Article VII, Section 9(A), of the Louisiana Constitution shall be deposited in the fund after first meeting the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B), of the Louisiana Constitution.

C. The fund shall be segregated from all other funds and shall be used solely to provide for the implementation and operation of the Safe Return Representation Program. Monies appropriated to the fund shall also be used to supplement the judicial district indigent defender funds as provided in R.S. 15:168 and shall not be used to displace, replace, or supplant monies available for this program or the purpose of providing legal representation to children in the custody of the office of juvenile justice.

D. Monies in the fund which have been appropriated to the Louisiana Public Defender Board shall be administered by the Louisiana Public Defender Board, or any successor to that board.

E. The board shall not commingle the monies appropriated from the fund with any other monies of the board.

Acts 2016, No. 617, §2.