§ 15:167 — Louisiana Public Defender Fund

Louisiana § 15:167

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 15: Criminal Procedure

Text

§167. Louisiana Public Defender Fund
A. "The Louisiana Public Defender Fund", hereinafter referred to as the "LPD Fund",
is hereby created in the state treasury. Interest earned on the investment of monies in the
fund shall be deposited in and credited to 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 and exclusively for purposes of the Louisiana
Public Defender Act, other services and programs, and as further provided in this Section.
B. The fund shall be comprised of all monies appropriated, donated, or otherwise
made available to provide funding for the provisions of the Louisiana Public Defender Act.
All of such monies required to be deposited in the state treasury in accordance with Article
VII, Section 9(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana shall be deposited in the fund after first
meeting the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana
relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.
C. Monies in the fund shall be appropriated and used solely and exclusively to
provide for the implementation of the Louisiana Public Defender Act and the program.
D. The LPD Fund shall be administered by the office as authorized by the provisions
of the Louisiana Public Defender Act. The office is hereby authorized to establish such
accounts or sub-accounts within the LPD Fund as deemed necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Louisiana Public Defender Act and the program.
E. The office shall dedicate and disburse at least seventy-five percent of the entirety
of its annual budget and its funds in the LPD Fund as defined in Subsection A of this Section
each fiscal year to the offices of the district public defenders and their indigent defender
funds as defined in R.S. 15:168(A) in the various judicial districts throughout the state. The
provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to statutorily dedicated funds or funds received
through the awarding of grants.

Legislative History

Acts 2007, No. 307, §1; Acts 2016, No. 571, §1; Acts 2024, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 22, §1, eff. March 20, 2024; Acts 2024, No 528, §1, eff. June 10, 2024.