§59. Deputies, confidential assistants, and other permanent office employees; temporary employees; appointment and compensation; prohibited increase in compensation

A. Except as otherwise provided by law and in conformity with applicable civil service laws, registrars may appoint deputies, confidential assistants, and other office employees. A deputy registrar shall be a qualified voter of the state of Louisiana. Each deputy shall take the constitutional oath of office. A confidential assistant may perform all the duties of a chief deputy if he meets the qualifications of a deputy.

B.(1) The annual salary of the chief deputy registrar of voters in each parish shall be based on the most recent population figures as shown by the latest federal decennial census, the Louisiana Tech University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or as determined by the governing authority of each parish in accordance with law.

(2) The salary ranges and pay schedule for the chief deputy shall be as follows:

Population Range

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

0 to 40,000

$33,697

$34,708

$35,750

$36,822

40,001 to 60,000

$40,117

$41,321

$42,560

$43,837

60,001 to 100,000

$46,537

$47,933

$49,371

$50,852

100,001 to 200,000

$52,956

$54,544

$56,181

$57,866

200,001 to 1,000,000

$59,375

$61,156

$62,991

$64,880

Population Range

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

0 to 40,000

$37,927

$39,064

$40,236

$41,443

40,001 to 60,000

$45,152

$46,507

$47,902

$49,339

60,001 to 100,000

$52,378

$53,949

$55,568

$57,235

100,001 to 200,000

$59,602

$61,390

$63,232

$65,129

200,001 to 1,000,000

$66,827

$68,831

$70,896

$73,023

Population Range

Step 9

Step 10

Step 11

Step 12

0 to 40,000

$42,687

$43,967

$45,286

$46,645

40,001 to 60,000

$50,819

$52,344

$53,914

$55,532

60,001 to 100,000

$58,952

$60,720

$62,542

$64,418

100,001 to 200,000

$67,083

$69,095

$71,168

$73,303

200,001 to 1,000,000

$75,214

$77,470

$79,795

$82,188

(3)(a) A person appointed as chief deputy by the registrar on or after July 1, 1997, shall be employed with an annual salary of step one of the appropriate population range unless the appointment is a promotion from confidential assistant of the parish and would result in a reduction in compensation. In such an instance, the newly appointed chief deputy shall receive an increase in salary of the amount required to place him on the nearest step and give him a minimum increase of three hundred dollars.

(b) Each parish governing authority shall continue to compensate its chief deputy registrar at no less than the same annual dollar amount as that paid by the particular parish on July 1, 1991, including both the prior mandated portion and any supplements authorized. The difference between the amount of compensation due each chief deputy and the amount payable by the parish governing authority shall be paid by the state through the secretary of state.

(4)(a) Each chief deputy shall automatically receive an annual salary increase to the next step on July first until his salary equals the highest step of the appropriate population range. However, a chief deputy whose salary is less than step one of the applicable population range shall receive an annual salary increase of four thousand five hundred dollars until that amount would cause his salary to exceed step one. At that time, he shall receive a salary increase to the amount of the nearest step which will provide an increase of not less than three hundred dollars.

(b) Each chief deputy whose salary is at the level of step one or higher shall be evaluated as to merit in January. The criteria and procedure for the merit evaluation shall be determined by the Registrar of Voters Association. It shall provide that each chief deputy will be evaluated by the registrar of his parish. Upon a finding of "excellent" on a merit evaluation, the chief deputy shall receive a salary increase to the next step until his salary equals the highest step of the appropriate population range.

C.(1) The annual salary of the confidential assistant to the registrar of voters in each parish shall be based on the most recent population figures as shown by the latest federal decennial census, the Louisiana Tech University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or as determined by the governing authority of each parish in accordance with law.

(2) The salary ranges and pay schedule for the confidential assistant shall be as follows:

Population Range

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

0 to 40,000

$27,281

$28,099

$28,942

$29,810

40,001 to 60,000

$33,699

$34,710

$35,751

$36,823

60,001 to 100,000

$40,117

$41,321

$42,560

$43,837

100,001 to 200,000

$46,537

$47,933

$49,371

$50,852

200,001 to 1,000,000

$52,956

$54,544

$56,181

$57,866

Population Range

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

0 to 40,000

$30,704

$31,626

$32,574

$33,552

40,001 to 60,000

$37,928

$39,066

$40,238

$41,445

60,001 to 100,000

$45,152

$46,507

$47,902

$49,339

100,001 to 200,000

$52,378

$53,949

$55,568

$57,235

200,001 to 1,000,000

$59,602

$61,390

$63,232

$65,129

Population Range

Step 9

Step 10

Step 11

Step 12

0 to 40,000

$34,558

$35,595

$36,663

$37,763

40,001 to 60,000

$42,688

$43,969

$45,288

$46,647

60,001 to 100,000

$50,819

$52,344

$53,914

$55,532

100,001 to 200,000

$58,952

$60,720

$62,542

$64,418

200,001 to 1,000,000

$67,083

$69,095

$71,168

$73,303

(3)(a) A person appointed by the registrar as confidential assistant on or after July 1, 1997, shall be employed with an annual salary of step one of the appropriate population range.

(b) Each parish shall continue to compensate its confidential assistant at no less than the same annual dollar amount as that paid by the particular parish on July 1, 1991, including both the prior mandated portion and any supplements authorized. The difference between the amount of compensation due each confidential assistant and the amount payable by the parish governing authority shall be paid by the state through the secretary of state.

(4)(a) Each confidential assistant shall automatically receive an annual salary increase to the next step on July first until his salary equals the highest step of the appropriate population range. However, a confidential assistant whose salary is less than step one of the appropriate population range shall receive a salary increase of four thousand five hundred dollars until that amount would cause his salary to exceed step one. At that time, he shall receive a salary increase to the amount of the nearest step which would provide an increase of not less than two hundred dollars.

(b) Each confidential assistant whose salary is at the level of step one or higher shall be evaluated as to merit in January. The criteria and procedure for the merit evaluation shall be determined by the Registrar of Voters Association. It shall provide that each confidential assistant be evaluated by the registrar of his parish. Upon a finding of "excellent" on a merit evaluation, the confidential assistant shall receive a salary increase to the next step until the confidential assistant's salary is equal to the highest step of the appropriate population range.

D. No law to increase or decrease that portion of the salary payable by the parish shall be enacted hereafter unless notice of intent to enact such a law has been published on two separate days, without cost to the state, in the official journal of each locality affected by the enactment of the increase or decrease in the salary figures. The last day of publication shall be at least thirty days prior to introduction of the bill.

E. The annual compensation of each chief deputy registrar of voters and confidential assistant shall be based upon the most recent census taken by the United States Government, the Louisiana Tech University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or upon the population figures of each parish as determined by its governing authority as provided by law.

F. The state portion of the salary of each chief deputy registrar of voters and confidential assistant shall be paid biweekly by the state through the secretary of state, and the parish portion of the salary shall be paid monthly by the parish governing authority on the warrant of each chief deputy and confidential assistant. The funds for the parish portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated by the parish governing authority and the funds for the state portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated by the legislature to the secretary of state.

G.(1) The annual salary of a person employed on July 1, 1991, in the position of chief deputy registrar of voters or confidential assistant shall not be decreased by the provisions of this Section.

(2) When the position of chief deputy registrar of voters or confidential assistant is vacated, the salary for such position shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of Subsections B and C hereof.

H. The portion of the salaries of permanent employees, other than registrars, chief deputies, and confidential assistants, which is being paid by the state on August 30, 1983, shall be paid by the state and the portion of such salaries being paid by the parish governing authority on August 30, 1983, shall be paid by the parish governing authority. The state shall pay one-half the salary and the parish governing authority shall pay one-half the salary of such permanent employees who are employed after August 30, 1983.

I.(1) A registrar may employ and fix the compensation of such additional temporary personnel as he finds necessary from time to time in order to efficiently perform a duty imposed upon him by law within the time the law requires that the duty be performed. The compensation so fixed shall be approved by the parish governing authority and shall be paid from funds appropriated by the parish governing authority.

(2) Temporary personnel, whether or not compensated, may with the authorization of the registrar be utilized for the purpose of registering voters and conducting absentee by mail and early voting.

J. In any parish in which the registrar had no extra clerical personnel on the effective date of the code, the registrar shall receive fifteen hundred dollars per year for extra clerical help and for expenses. However, in any of such parishes the registrar, in addition to employing extra clerical help or in lieu thereof, may appoint a deputy registrar, whose salary shall be paid out of this additional fifteen hundred dollars per year. A deputy registrar so appointed shall be governed by all of the provisions of law relating to deputy registrars of voters.

K. Repealed by Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.

L. The chief deputy registrar and confidential assistant shall receive cost-of-living salary increases whenever such salary increases are given to state employees and a similar structure adjustment shall be made in the entire pay schedule.

M.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, no chief deputy shall receive an increase in salary as provided in Paragraph (B)(4) of this Section during a time period when the State Civil Service Commission has suspended the authority to award merit increases to classified employees.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, no confidential assistant shall receive an increase in salary as provided in Paragraph (C)(4) of this Section during a time period when the State Civil Service Commission has suspended the authority to award merit increases to classified employees.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 163, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 314, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 322, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 569, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 578, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 615, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 708, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 37, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 236, §4, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 276, §1; Acts 1980, No. 463, §1; Acts 1980, No. 479, §1; Acts 1980, No. 634, §1; eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 716, §3; Acts 1981, No. 213, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1981, No. 669, §1; Acts 1981, No. 687, §1; Acts 1981, No. 750, §1, eff. July 23, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 25, §1, eff. July 1, 1982; Acts 1982, No. 30, §1, eff. July 9, 1982; Acts 1982, No. 50, §1; Acts 1982, No. 141, §1, eff. July 12, 1982; Acts 1982, No. 149, §1, eff. July 12, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 299, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1989, No. 574, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 277, §1; Acts 1991, No. 395, §1, eff. July 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §§1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1008, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 972, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2003, No. 683, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2007, No. 254, §1, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2010, No. 622, §1, eff. June 25, 2010.

NOTE: See Acts 1983, No. 299, §§2 and 3.