§1631. Judicial expense fund for the Juvenile Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge; established; disbursements

A. In addition to all other fees or costs now or hereafter provided by law, the clerk of court of the Nineteenth Judicial District shall collect from every person filing any action, suit, or motion and rule to show cause on the docket of the Juvenile Court of East Baton Rouge Parish and who is not otherwise exempted by law from the payment of court costs, a sum to be determined by the chief judge of the court, but not to exceed fifteen dollars, subject, however, to the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181 et seq.; and in all criminal nonsupport cases over which the court has jurisdiction, including contempt proceedings provided for by Children's Code Article 1353, 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 not to exceed ten 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 Juvenile Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge. The chief judge of the court shall have control over the fund and all disbursements made therefrom. The chief judge 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 chief judge of the court, 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, may fix and pay each court reporter a salary from the judicial expense fund. The chief judge may further appoint such secretarial, clerical, research, administrative, or other personnel 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 chief 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 functions of the court, or of the office of the individual judge, and is in addition to any and all other funds, salaries, expenses, or other monies authorized by law for any of these purposes.

D. No salary shall be paid from the judicial expense fund to a judge of the court.

Acts 1991, No. 213, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 145, §1, eff. July 7, 1994.