INDIGENT DEFENSE: Changes the municipality threshold relative to the mandatory assessment and remittance of special costs to the district indigent defender fund

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeremy LaCombe

HB 978 exempts the town of Addis from the mandatory remittance of a $35 district indigent defender fund special cost.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.

Purpose

HB 978 proposes an exception to the mandatory assessment and remittance of special costs to the district indigent defender fund (DIDF) for a specific municipality. Specifically, it would exclude the town of Addis from the existing requirement that certain courts remit special costs to the district indigent defender fund.

Key Provisions

Targeted Exception: The bill adds an exception to present law that generally requires courts of original criminal jurisdiction to remit certain special costs to the district indigent defender fund. The exception applies to the town of Addis.

The amendment language indicates the exclusion is based on municipalities (with certain populations) and, after amendments, becomes a more tailored exception for Addis.

Affected Jurisdiction: Present law applies to most courts of original criminal jurisdiction, with listed exceptions (Jonesville, Plaquemine, and smaller municipalities’ mayors’ courts with pop. < 5,000). HB 978 narrows the requirement further by removing Addis from the remit requirement.

Financial Element: Present law sets a standard $35 surcharge in certain convictions, to be remitted monthly to the district indigent defender fund by the 10th day of the following month, in addition to other fines and costs. HB 978 does not appear to alter the $35 amount itself; it focuses on excluding Addis from the remittance obligation.

Remittance Timing: The current timeline (remittance by the 10th day of the month following conviction) remains in scope for those still subject to the rule; the bill changes only Addis’ status with respect to the obligation.

Who Is Affected?

Primary Effect: The town of Addis would be exempt from the mandatory assessment and monthly remittance of the $35 special cost to the district indigent defender fund for qualifying convictions.

Broader Context: Other municipalities and courts covered by existing law would continue to remit the special costs as currently required.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Effective Change: The bill amends R.S. 15:168(B)(1)(a) to implement the Addis-specific exception.

Legislative Path: As of the latest action, HB 978 was read by title and referred to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice. The provided amendments were proposed within the committee process.

Committee Amendments: The amendments reorganize the geographic scope of the Addis exception and broaden the stated language from a specific town to a more population-focused framework, later tailored back to Addis via amendments.

Practical Impact and Considerations

Indigent Defender Funding: Excluding Addis from the mandatory DIDF remittance potential reduces the pool of funds available to the district indigent defender program from that town’s convictions for the period the exception applies.

Revenue Distribution: The change could affect how funds from Addis are allocated within the DIDF, possibly impacting indigent defense resources in the district over time.

Policy Rationale: The bill appears to be a targeted adjustment, likely reflecting Addis-specific considerations or concerns about the cost/benefit of remitting these special costs.

If you need, I can compare this to current didf remittance rules in other towns or outline potential fiscal impacts with hypothetical conviction volumes.

Bill