Bill > HB983

This bill appropriates funds for the expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, totaling $229,647,995. * **Supreme Court:** $102,492,829 from the State General Fund (Direct), Interagency Transfers, Judges' Supplemental Compensation Fund, and Trial Court Case Management Information Fund. This covers salaries for justices, court operations, the Judicial Administrator's Office, the Judiciary Commission, statistical reporting, dues to the National Center for State Courts, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, compensation for retired and assigned judges, the Law Library, retirement pay, pensions for widows, the Judicial College, civil commitment matters, the Louisiana Protective Order Registry, information technology, the Families in Need of Services Program, Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts, Court Appointed Special Advocates, judges' supplemental compensation, and the Case Management Information System. * **Courts of Appeal:** $62,750,266 from the State General Fund (Direct). This covers salaries for judges and the operational expenses of the five Courts of Appeal. * **District Courts:** $59,581,183 from the State General Fund (Direct). This covers salaries and office expenses for District Judges, Court Reporters, Clerks of Court, insurance premiums, commissioners, and judicial expense funds for various judicial districts, as well as salaries and expenses for the Criminal Court in Orleans Parish, and salaries and expenses for Juvenile and Family Court Judges. * **Other Courts (Statutory):** $3,929,511 from the State General Fund (Direct). This covers salaries for City Court Judges and judges of the Municipal and Traffic Court and Ascension Parish Court. * **Other Courts (Non-Statutory):** $894,206 from the State General Fund (Direct). This covers the Orleans Parish Juvenile Protective Care Monitoring Program, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Reporters, and the Judges' Assistance Program. * **Adjustments:** A reduction of $20,556,666 and an increase of $18,268,012 are made to the State General Fund (Direct) appropriations, with specific allocations for Families in Need of Services, staff pay plan adjustments, and salary increases for judges. * **Integrated Criminal Justice Information System (ICJIS):** $5,892,093 from the State General Fund by Statutory Dedications out of the Criminal Justice Priority Fund, contingent on the enactment of Senate Bill No. 141 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. All unexpended or unencumbered funds must be returned to the State General Fund by September 1, 2027. Surpluses can be transferred between agencies or line items with approval. Adjustments to judicial employee salaries and positions are subject to approval by the Judicial Budgetary Control Board or the Louisiana Supreme Court.