The state must pay justices of the peace and constables an additional monthly salary, capped at $120, and parish officials must handle the related warrant, withholding, and payment steps. Parish governing authorities may also reimburse training-course expenses if funds are available and a voucher is provided.
§2591. Amount of additional salary for justices of the peace and constables; payment of expenses at the Justice of the Peace Training Course A.(1) Every justice of the peace and every constable for each justice of the peace court in the state shall be paid by the state an additional salary equal to the amount paid to justices of the peace and constables by their respective parishes, in no event to exceed one hundred twenty dollars per month, provided funds are available and appropriated by the legislature. (2) On or before the tenth day of each month, the parish officials of the respective parishes shall forward the warrants to the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall cause to be prepared and shall sign checks to the appropriate parish on behalf of each justice of the peace and constable, representing the amount to be paid out of state funds to each justice of the peace and constable in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection, including any required employer contributions attributable to said additional salary. Each such check shall show the legislative appropriation from which payment is made and shall note that it represents additional compensation paid by the state under the provisions of this Section. The secretary shall deliver the checks to the parish in whose favor they are drawn, by mail, or by such other means as he shall determine. (3) The treasurer or other appropriate official of the respective parishes shall be responsible for calculating and withholding all requisite deductions for taxes and for transferring or remitting all sums of employee withholdings to the appropriate taxing authorities, on behalf of the justices of the peace and constables and, within thirty days after receipt of the funds, for making payment of the appropriate net amount to the justices of the peace and constables. B. When the parish governing authority determines that funds are available, it may reimburse each justice of the peace and constable in the parish for expenses actually incurred by attending the Justice of the Peace Training Course, as authorized by R.S. 49:251.1. The allowance for mileage, lodging, meals, and related expenses shall be based on the rate of payment for travel expenses as set forth by the Division of Administration, and a written, itemized voucher shall be required in order to obtain reimbursement. Added by Acts 1975, No. 813, §1, eff. July 1, 1975. Acts 1986, No. 706, §1; Acts 1992, No. 897, §1; Acts 2005, No. 96, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2023, No. 320, §1, eff. July 1, 2023.