Provides that functions of the West Baton Rouge Parish jury commission be performed by the clerk of court. (8/1/26)

This bill enacts a new subsection to the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure to transfer all jury commission functions in West Baton Rouge Parish to the clerk of court. Under present law, each parish maintains a separate jury commission to oversee jury venire coordination and related administrative functions. The legislation eliminates the independent jury commission structure for West Baton Rouge Parish and consolidates those responsibilities within the clerk of court's office, either to be performed directly by the clerk or by a deputy clerk designated in writing by the clerk. The new subsection specifies that the clerk or designated deputy shall possess all the same powers, duties, and responsibilities that jury commissioners otherwise hold under applicable law, and the clerk shall coordinate the jury venire process and receive compensation at the rate authorized for jury commissioners.

The practical effect of this legislation is the consolidation of jury administration duties within West Baton Rouge Parish's clerk of court office. The clerk of court or a designated deputy will assume responsibility for all functions previously handled by the independent jury commission, including the coordination and management of jury venires. This change streamlines parish administration by eliminating a separate governmental entity and centralizing jury-related duties under one office. West Baton Rouge Parish citizens and courts will interact with the clerk's office for jury-related matters rather than a distinct commission. The clerk receives compensation at the jury commissioner rate for performing these additional responsibilities.

This legislation operates within the framework of Code of Criminal Procedure Article 404, which establishes the general requirements for parish jury commissions throughout Louisiana. The statutory scheme grants each parish the authority to structure its jury commission operations, and this bill exercises that authority for West Baton Rouge Parish specifically. The clerk of court already maintains statutory responsibilities related to jury venires under various provisions of law, and this bill consolidates additional jury commission duties into that existing role. The effective date of August 1, 2026 allows the clerk's office time to transition jury commission operations before the statute takes effect.