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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 174
BY REPRESENTATIVE ARNOLD
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CLERKS OF COURT: Provides for an increase in salary for clerks of court
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 13:782(A) and to repeal R.S. 13:782(K), relative to clerks of2
districts courts; to provide for an increase in annual compensation for clerks of3
district courts; to require annual certification training; and to provide for related4
matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 13:782(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 7
ยง782. Compensation of clerks8
A.(1) Clerks of district courts of the various parishes shall establish their9
own rates of annual compensation for their services, payable out of the clerk's salary10
fund, which rates shall not exceed the following amounts based on the applicable11
population of the respective parishes, according to the latest United States census or12
the population estimates published pursuant to the United States Bureau of the13
Census Federal State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates as follows:14
Population Compensation15
(a) Less than 50,000 $ 88,00016
(b) 50,000-200,000 $ 98,00017
(c) Over 200,000 $108,00018
(d) The annual compensation for each population class shall be increased by19
four percent annually through Fiscal Year 2016-2017. The applicable compensation20 HLS 13RS-753 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 174
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for each fiscal year shall be used to calculate any compensation granted by1
Subsection J of this Section for the fiscal year.2
(2) A clerk is eligible to receive a salary increase as provided for by this3
Subsection if the clerk completes the annual certification updates and renewal4
courses as provided for in Subparagraph (I)(4)(c) of this Section.5
(3) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit clerks from6
participation in an approved state deferred compensation plan as specified in R.S.7
42:1301 et seq. A clerk shall not authorize or receive an employer contribution that8
would be more favorable than that offered to the employees of the clerk's office.9
* * *10
Section 2. R.S. 13:782(K) is hereby repealed in its entirety.11
Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not12
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature13
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If14
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become15
effective on the day following such approval.16
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Arnold HB No. 174
Abstract: Authorizes a 4% increase in compensation for clerks of district courts through
Fiscal Year 2016-2017.
Present law authorizes clerks of district courts of the various parishes to establish their own
rates of annual compensation not to exceed a certain amount, based on the population of
their parishes according to the latest U.S. census or estimates published pursuant to the U.S.
Bureau of the Census Federal State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates.
Present law further provides that the annual compensation cannot exceed the following
amounts based on population:
Population: Compensation:
(1) Less than 50,000 $ 88,000
(2) 50,000-200,000 $ 98,000 HLS 13RS-753 ENGROSSED
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(3) Over 200,000 $108,000
Proposed law authorizes an annual 4% increase through FY 2016-2017.
Proposed law provides that the applicable fiscal year compensation should be used to
calculate the increase authorized by present law for approved completion of the clerks of
court certification program.
Proposed law requires that a clerk must complete the annual certification update and renewal
course to be eligible to receive the salary increase.
Proposed law deletes an obsolete provision of present law which provides that the clerks'
salary begins in FY 1997-1998.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:782(A); Repeals R.S. 13:782(K))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original bill.
1. Changed the increase in salary from beginning in Fiscal Year 2012-2013 to an
annual increase through Fiscal Year 2016-2017.