§ 13:712 — Commissioners; qualifications; salary and benefits; restrictions on employment;

§712. Commissioners; qualifications; salary and benefits; restrictions on employment;
quarters; supplies; equipment; employees
A. A commissioner shall possess the same qualifications for office as the
qualifications of a district judge. However, there shall be no requirement of prior residency
within the state or district as a prerequisite to office.
B. The salary of the commissioners in Section A and Section B, in addition to any
supplements or emoluments otherwise provided by law, shall be ninety percent of the
state-funded portion of the salary paid to a district judge per annum, such salary and related
benefits to be payable in the same manner and from the same sources as the salary and
benefits of a district judge. The salary of the commissioners in Section C and Section D, in
addition to any supplements or emoluments otherwise provided by law, shall be ninety
percent of the state-funded portion of the salary paid to a district judge per annum, such
salary and related benefits to be payable from funds available to the Nineteenth Judicial
District Court. Commissioners shall be members of the State Employees' Retirement
System.
C. A commissioner shall not engage in the practice of law and may not engage in any
other business, occupation, or employment inconsistent with the expeditious, proper, and
impartial performance of their duties as judicial officers. Any question regarding the
propriety of other business, occupation, or employment by a commissioner shall be
determined by a majority of the elected judges of the district court.
D. Quarters necessary for the conduct of the office of commissioner shall be
provided by the governing authority of the parish of East Baton Rouge, or otherwise provided
from funds available to the judges of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. The state shall
provide appropriate quarters for the hearing of matters at state penal institutions and shall pay
vouchered travel expenses of the commissioners and their staff incurred in connection with
hearings at state penal institutions.
E. Equipment, supplies, and the salaries and related benefits of employees of the
offices of commissioner of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court shall be payable by the state
or out of funds available to the judges of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. State funds
for such purpose shall be appropriated to the Judicial Expense Fund for the Nineteenth
Judicial District Court. All employees of the office of commissioner shall be hired only upon
the prior approval of employment by the elected judges of the Nineteenth Judicial District
Court pursuant to adopted rules or the specific order of the court, shall be in the unclassified
service of the state, and shall be members of the State Employees' Retirement System.
{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1990, NO. 271, §2, FOR PAY RAISE
IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS.}}

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1979, No. 62, §1, eff. June 22, 1979. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 169, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1981, No. 636, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1986, No. 931, §1; Acts 1987, No. 599, §1; Acts 1990, No. 271, §1, eff. July 1, 1990; Acts 2001, No. 428, §1; Acts 2023, No. 229, §1.