A.  In addition to all other fees or costs now or hereafter provided by law, the clerk of court in the Thirty-third Judicial District shall collect from every person filing any type of civil suit or proceeding, and who is not otherwise exempted by law from the payment of court costs, a sum to be determined by the judge of the district, which sum shall not exceed fifteen dollars, subject, however, to the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181 et seq.  In all criminal cases over which the Thirty-third Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there shall be taxed as costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial or after he or she pleads guilty or who forfeits his or her bond a sum likewise determined, but which shall not exceed five dollars, which shall be collected by the sheriff.

B.  The clerk of court and sheriff shall place all sums collected or received under this Section with the judge of the district who shall place those sums in a separate account to be designated as the judicial expense fund for the Thirty-third Judicial District Court.  The judge of the Thirty-third Judicial District shall have control over the fund and all disbursements made therefrom.  He or she shall cause to be conducted annually an audit of the fund and the books and accounts relating thereto and shall file the same with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.

C.  The judge of the Thirty-third Judicial District Court, in lieu of all or any part of the fees for reporting and transcribing testimony authorized under the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 13:961(F), or other applicable laws, and in addition to salaries otherwise provided, authorized, or established by law, may fix and pay his or her court reporter a salary from the judicial expense fund.  The judge may further appoint such secretarial, law clerks, clerical, research, administrative, or other personnel as he or she deems necessary to expedite the business and function of the court and fix and pay all or any part of the salaries of such personnel out of the monies in the judicial expense fund.  In like manner, the judge may utilize the monies in the judicial expense fund to pay all or any part of the cost of establishing or maintaining a law library for the court or for buying or maintaining any type of equipment, supplies, or other items consistent with or germane to the efficient operation of the court.  In general, the judicial expense fund is established and may be used for any purpose connected with, incidental to, or related to the proper administration or function of the court or the offices of the judge, and is in addition to any and all other funds, salaries, expenses, or other monies that are now or hereafter provided, authorized, or established by law for any of the aforesaid purposes.

D.  No salary shall be paid from the judicial expense fund for the Thirty-third Judicial District to the judge thereof, except as may be paid for administering the fund and then only after prior legislative approval.

Acts 1997, No. 344, §1.