HLS 15RS-1077 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 79
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS: Creates a special subcommittee to study certain matters
relative to registrars of voters
1 A RESOLUTION
2To create and provide for a special subcommittee to be comprised of members of the House
3 Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on House and
4 Governmental Affairs to examine and study certain matters relative to registrars of
5 voters.
6 WHEREAS, Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana requires the
7governing authority of each parish to appoint a registrar of voters but prohibits removal of
8the registrar by the appointing authority; and
9 WHEREAS, R.S. 18:53 provides for the removal of a registrar by the State Board
10of Election Supervisors only for willful misconduct relating to his official duty, willful and
11persistent failure to perform his duty, persistent public conduct prejudicial to the
12administration of the laws relative to the registration of voters that brings the office into
13disrepute, or conviction of a felony; and
14 WHEREAS, the law provides that the registrar, subject to the direction of the
15secretary of state, is responsible for the registration of voters in the parish, the administration
16and enforcement of the laws and rules and regulations of the secretary of state relating to
17registration of voters, and conducting absentee by mail and early voting in the parish; and
18 WHEREAS, R.S. 18:55 sets out a pay schedule for registrars that is based on the
19population of the parish, with 12 salary steps for each population range; and
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HR NO. 79
1 WHEREAS, the law provides that each registrar shall automatically receive an
2annual salary increase to the next step on July first until his annual salary equals the highest
3step of the appropriate population range; and
4 WHEREAS, each registrar whose salary is at the level of step one or higher is
5evaluated as to merit in January, and upon a finding of "excellent" on the merit evaluation,
6the registrar receives an additional salary increase to the next step until the registrar's salary
7is equal to the highest step of the appropriate population range; and
8 WHEREAS, the law provides that the criteria and procedure for the merit evaluation
9shall be determined by the secretary of state in conjunction with the Registrar of Voters
10Association; and
11 WHEREAS, the Election Code also provides for a seven percent raise in the
12registrar's salary if the registrar satisfies the requirements for the voter registration
13administrator's certification program; and
14 WHEREAS, in light of the importance of the voter registration and election
15processes and the serious financial challenges facing state and local government, it is
16desirable to examine the compensation and evaluation of registrars of voters; and
17 WHEREAS, because these matters involve subjects that cross the jurisdictions of
18standing committees, a multidisciplinary approach is advisable.
19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
20Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create a special subcommittee of the House Committee
21on Appropriations and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs to
22examine and study the compensation and evaluation of registrars of voters and any related
23issues that the special subcommittee deems appropriate.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special subcommittee shall be composed of
25seven members appointed by the speaker: three members appointed from the House
26Committee on Appropriations and four members appointed from the House Committee on
27House and Governmental Affairs; the speaker shall designate the chairman of the special
28subcommittee.
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HR NO. 79
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special subcommittee shall be responsible
2for examining all matters relating to the compensation and evaluation of registrars of voters
3and any related issues that the special subcommittee deems appropriate.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special subcommittee shall make such
5studies as it shall find necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes; for the purposes of
6conducting such studies, the special subcommittee may call upon the staffs of any
7department, agency, or official of the state for data and assistance, all such departments,
8agencies, and officials shall cooperate with the subcommittee, and the subcommittee may
9request and utilize the assistance of any and all public and private sources.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special subcommittee shall solicit input,
11recommendations, and advice from the following:
12 (1) The secretary of state.
13 (2) The commissioner of elections.
14 (3) The attorney general.
15 (4) The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association.
16 (5) The Louisiana Registrars of Voters Association.
17 (6) The Police Jury Association of Louisiana.
18 (7) The Department of State Civil Service.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special subcommittee shall have the power
20and authority of a standing committee to hold hearings, require the production of books and
21records, and do all other things necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special subcommittee shall make a report
23of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the House of
24Representatives no later than thirty days prior to the 2016 Regular Session.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special subcommittee shall be dissolved
26upon the adjournment sine die of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
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HR NO. 79
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)]
HR 79 Original 2015 Regular Session Smith
Creates and provides for a special subcommittee to be comprised of members of the House
committees on appropriations and house and governmental affairs to study certain matters
relative to registrars of voters, including compensation and evaluation of registrars.
Requires the special subcommittee to make a report of its findings and recommendations,
including proposed legislation, to the House no later than 30 days prior to the 2016 R.S.
Provides that the special subcommittee is dissolved upon the adjournment sine die of the
2016 R.S.
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