HLS 15RS-2595 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 94
BY REPRESENTATIVE DANAHAY
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS: Provides relative to a study regarding registrars of voters
1 A RESOLUTION
2To create and provide for a subcommittee of the House Committee on House and
3 Governmental Affairs to examine and study certain matters relative to registrars of
4 voters.
5 WHEREAS, Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana requires the
6governing authority of each parish to appoint a registrar of voters but prohibits removal of
7the registrar by the appointing authority; and
8 WHEREAS, the law does not provide procedures or requirements for appointing the
9registrar; and
10 WHEREAS, R.S. 18:53 provides for the removal of a registrar by the State Board
11of Election Supervisors only for willful misconduct relating to his official duty, willful and
12persistent failure to perform his duty, persistent public conduct prejudicial to the
13administration of the laws relative to the registration of voters that brings the office into
14disrepute, or conviction of a felony; and
15 WHEREAS, the law provides that the registrar, subject to the direction of the
16secretary of state, is responsible for the registration of voters in the parish, the administration
17and enforcement of the laws and rules and regulations of the secretary of state relating to
18registration of voters, and conducting absentee by mail and early voting in the parish; and
19 WHEREAS, R.S. 18:55 sets out a pay schedule for registrars that is based on the
20population of the parish, with 12 salary steps for each population range; and
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HR NO. 94
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, R.S. 18:1400.8 provides that expenses incurred by a registrar of voters
15and his permanent employees to perform election duties and responsibilities associated with
16early voting on any day during the week between 4:30 p.m. and the time that early voting
17terminates that day and on any Saturday on which early voting is conducted shall be paid by
18the state from funds appropriated to the secretary of state for that purpose; and
19 WHEREAS, in light of concerns expressed recently regarding a number of issues
20involving registrars of voters and in light of the importance of the voter registration process,
21it is desirable to examine the compensation, evaluation, appointment, and placement within
22the structure of government of registrars of voters and payment of expenses incurred by a
23registrar of voters for early voting.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
25Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create a subcommittee of the House Committee on
26House and Governmental Affairs to examine and study the compensation, evaluation,
27appointment, and placement within the structure of government of registrars of voters;
28payment of expenses incurred by a registrar of voters for early voting; and any related issues
29that the subcommittee deems appropriate.
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HR NO. 94
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the House Committee on House
2and Governmental Affairs shall appoint the members of the subcommittee and designate the
3chairman and vice chairman of the subcommittee.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be responsible for
5examining all matters relating to the compensation, evaluation, appointment, and placement
6within the structure of government of registrars of voters; payment of expenses incurred by
7a registrar of voters for early voting; and any related issues that the subcommittee deems
8appropriate.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall make such studies as it
10shall find necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes; for the purposes of conducting
11such studies, the subcommittee may call upon the staffs of any department, agency, or
12official of the state for data and assistance; all such departments, agencies, and officials shall
13cooperate with the subcommittee; and the subcommittee may request and utilize the
14assistance of any and all public and private sources.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall solicit input,
16recommendations, and advice from the following:
17 (1) The secretary of state.
18 (2) The commissioner of elections.
19 (3) The attorney general.
20 (4) The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association.
21 (5) The Louisiana Registrars of Voters Association.
22 (6) The Police Jury Association of Louisiana.
23 (7) The Department of State Civil Service.
24 (8) The legislative auditor.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall have the power and
26authority of a standing committee to hold hearings, require the production of books and
27records, and do all other things necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall make a report of its
29findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the House Committee on
30House and Governmental Affairs no later than thirty days prior to the 2016 Regular Session.
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HR NO. 94
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be dissolved upon the
2adjournment sine die of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
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 94 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Danahay
Creates and provides for a subcommittee of the House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to study certain matters relative to registrars of voters, including
compensation, evaluation, appointment, and placement within the structure of government
of registrars of voters and payment of expenses incurred by a registrar of voters for early
voting.
Requires the special subcommittee to make a report of its findings and recommendations,
including proposed legislation, to the committee 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.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original resolution:
1. Add to the list of issues to be studied by the subcommittee the payment of
expenses incurred by a registrar of voters for early voting.
2. Add the legislative auditor to the list of officials and entities that the
subcommittee must solicit input, recommendations, and advice from in
conducting the study.
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