HLS 16RS-135 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 470
BY REPRESENTATIVE DANAHAY
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS: Provides that an appeal of an evaluation of a registrar of
voters is conducted by the State Board of Elections Supervisors
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:55(A)(4)(b) and to enact R.S. 18:24(A)(6), relative to
3 registrars of voters; to provide relative to merit evaluations of a registrar; to provide
4 relative to appeals of such evaluations; to provide relative to the duties and authority
5 of the State Board of Election Supervisors; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 18:55(A)(4)(b) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
818:24(A)(6) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §24. Powers and duties; authority to intervene in actions
10 A. To accomplish the purposes of this Part and Subpart G of Part V of
11 Chapter 5 of this Title, the board shall have the following powers, duties, and
12 functions:
13 * * *
14 (6) To conduct appeals of merit evaluations of registrars of voters as
15 provided in R.S. 18:55.
16 * * *
17 §55. Compensation of registrar of voters; amount and manner of payment; reduction
18 during tenure prohibited; prohibited increase
19 A.
20 * * *
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HB NO. 470
1 (4)
2 * * *
3 (b) Each registrar whose salary is at the level of step one or higher shall be
4 evaluated as to merit in January. The criteria and procedure for the merit evaluation
5 shall be determined by the secretary of state in conjunction with the Registrar of
6 Voters Association. It shall provide that each Each registrar shall be evaluated by
7 the secretary of state or his designee acting on his behalf. Upon a finding of
8 "excellent" on a merit evaluation, the registrar shall receive a salary increase to the
9 next step until the registrar's salary is equal to the highest step of the appropriate
10 population range. A registrar may appeal the finding on a merit evaluation to the
11 State Board of Election Supervisors in accordance with rules promulgated by the
12 board. If a member of the board participates in the merit evaluation of a registrar,
13 the member shall not participate in an appeal of the evaluation.
14 * * *
15 Section 2.(A) The provisions of this Act shall apply to evaluations conducted in
162017 and thereafter.
17 (B) The State Board of Election Supervisors shall promulgate rules in accordance
18with the Administrative Procedure Act for appeals of merit evaluations as soon as reasonably
19possible after the passage of this Act.
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)]
HB 470 Original 2016 Regular Session Danahay
Abstract: To provide for appeals of merit evaluations of a registrar of voters to be
conducted by the State Board of Election Supervisors.
Present law provides relative to the compensation of registrars of voters. Provides for a
five-category population range and 12-step pay scale for the salaries of registrars of voters.
Provides for each registrar to automatically receive an annual salary increase to the next step
on July first until his annual salary equals the highest step of the appropriate population
range.
Present law further provides that each registrar whose salary is at the level of step one or
higher shall be evaluated as to merit in Jan. Provides that upon a finding of "excellent" on
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 470
a merit evaluation, the registrar receives a salary increase to the next step until his salary is
equal to the highest step of the appropriate population range. Provides that the criteria and
procedure for the merit evaluation shall be determined by the secretary of state in
conjunction with the Registrar of Voters Assoc. Requires the secretary of state or his
designee acting on his behalf to evaluate each registrar.
Proposed law retains present law. Additionally provides that a registrar may appeal the
finding on a merit evaluation to the State Bd. of Election Supervisors in accordance with
rules promulgated by the board. Provides that if a member of the board participates in the
merit evaluation of a registrar, the member shall not participate in an appeal of the
evaluation.
Present law (R.S. 18:23) provides relative to the State Bd. of Election Supervisors. Provides
certain procedural requirements and for the powers and duties of the board. Provides that
the membership of the board is as follows:
(1)The lieutenant governor.
(2)The secretary of state.
(3)The attorney general.
(4)The commissioner of elections or a designee of the secretary of state, as determined
by the secretary of state.
(5)One member of the Clerks of Court Assoc. elected by the membership thereof to
serve a four-year term concurrent with that of the governor.
(6)One member of the Registrars of Voters Assoc. elected by the membership thereof
to serve a four-year term concurrent with that of the governor.
(7)One member appointed by the governor, for a term concurrent with the governor,
from a list of nominees submitted by the presidents of certain private universities in
the state, subject to Senate confirmation.
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 18:55(A)(4)(b); Adds R.S. 18:24(A)(6))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.