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Committee approves resolution directing ethics board and auditor to provide public records on justices of the peace
Summary
House Resolution 202, amended to correct which records are available for justices of the peace, was reported favorably. The amendment narrows requests to campaign finance reports to reflect that justices are subject to the judicial code and file campaign reports rather than annual financial statements with the Board of Ethics.
House Resolution 202, by Representative McMakin, directs the Louisiana Board of Ethics and the Legislative Auditor to provide reports on Justices of the Peace. Committee amendments were adopted to align the resolution with existing reporting rules for justices and constables.
Committee staff explained that justices of the peace are treated as judges under the judicial code and do not file annual financial disclosure statements with the Board of Ethics; instead they file campaign finance reports. The adopted amendments changed the resolution's language to request campaign finance reports from the Board of Ethics and to route copies to the Speaker of the House rather than the judiciary committee. The committee adopted the amendment set and then voted to report the resolution favorably as amended; the roll call was 7 yeas and 5 nays.
Constable James LeBlanc, president of the Louisiana Justice of the Peace and Constables Association, testified that the records requested are public and offered to assist in providing them. LeBlanc also noted many justices and constables run unopposed and may not have active campaign accounts; campaign reports are required when a campaign receives or spends more than the statutory threshold. The sponsor said the request would not impose additional work on justices or constables because the data sought is public record.
