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Public Safety & Corrections
Public Safety Services

State Trooper Pay Raise

• A $15.6 million pay raise was provided for Louisiana State Troopers during the 2002 Regular Session of the Legislature. This funding will raise the starting pay of troopers from $22,048 to $31,304, with a salary increase to $36,601 after one year of service. Louisiana had ranked last in a comparison with 14 other Southern states. Top-ranked North Carolina pays its state troopers $33,672 to start, over $11,000 more than Louisiana previously offered.

Homeland Defense

• For FY03, a total of $2.4 million and 68 state troopers and civilians, including equipment and supplies, were added for Homeland Defense efforts.

Other Significant Budget Items

• $1,029,099 in Statutory Dedications from the Criminal Identification and Information Fund for thirty-five positions to perform criminal background checks.
   
• $1,000,000 in State General Fund for operations of the State Crime Laboratory, including development of a plan for equitable distribution of funds to crime laboratories in the state subject to review and approval by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.
   
• $450,000 for enforcement activities for slot machines at race tracks in the Gaming Enforcement Program in the Office of State Police.
   
• $369,540 in State General Fund for salary funding of 9 information technology positions in the Office of Management and Finance.
   
• $225,981 in State General Fund for additional administrative hearings for the Legal Program in the Office of Legal Affairs.