HLS 202ES-131 ENGROSSED
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 59
BY REPRESENTATIVE BEAULLIEU
ELECTIONS: Authorizes the payment of additional compensation to certain election
officials for elections held within a certain period following a gubernatorially
declared emergency (Item #5)
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:426.1, 1309(J), and 1354(C) and to enact R.S. 18:1314(E)(3),
3 relative to employees of the secretary of state; to provide relative to the
4 compensation of election commissioners and deputy parish custodians of voting
5 machines; to provide relative to such compensation after declared emergencies; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 18:426.1, 1309(J), and 1354(C) are hereby amended and reenacted
9and R.S. 18:1314(E)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §426.1. Election commissioners; compensation
11 A. Each commissioner who serves at the polling place on election day shall
12 be paid according to the following:
13 (1) A commissioner-in-charge shall receive two hundred fifty dollars.
14 (2) A commissioner-in-charge who serves at more than one precinct shall
15 receive three hundred dollars.
16 (3) A commissioner who has received a certificate of instruction, as provided
17 in R.S. 18:431(A), shall receive one hundred dollars.
18 (4) A commissioner who has received a certificate of instruction, as provided
19 in R.S. 18:431(B), shall receive two hundred dollars.
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HB NO. 59
1 (5) An uncertified commissioner shall receive thirty-five dollars.
2 B. For an election held within one year following the date of the issuance of
3 any gubernatorial declaration of an emergency, upon application of a parish board
4 of election supervisors, the secretary of state may approve payment of up to one
5 hundred dollars per election or each day of assistance, if applicable, as compensation
6 to each commissioner in addition to compensation provided for in Subsection A of
7 this Section.
8 * * *
9 §1309. Early voting; verification
10 * * *
11 J. Upon approval of the secretary of state, a registrar of voters may utilize
12 commissioners selected and trained by the registrar of voters to assist the registrar
13 during the early voting period in the conduct of early voting by his office. A
14 registrar of voters shall, in seeking the approval of the secretary of state, indicate to
15 the secretary the number of commissioners that is required for such assistance. A
16 commissioner who assists the registrar in the conduct of early voting shall take an
17 oath of office as a deputy registrar for the early voting period and shall complete an
18 affidavit prepared by the secretary of state that contains the name, address, and last
19 four digits of the social security number of the early voting commissioner and an
20 acknowledgment that the law prohibits the disclosure of confidential voter
21 information listed in the precinct register or early voting list kept by the registrar.
22 The affidavit shall be retained in the office of the registrar of voters. A
23 commissioner who assists the registrar in the conduct of early voting shall be paid
24 in accordance with R.S. 18:426.1(3) 18:426.1(A)(3) and B, if applicable, for each
25 day of such assistance.
26 * * *
27 §1314. Parish board commissioners
28 * * *
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HB NO. 59
1 E. Compensation. A parish board commissioner who serves on election day
2 or during the counting and tabulating of provisional ballots shall receive fifty dollars
3 or one hundred dollars for each day he serves as provided below:
4 * * *
5 (3) For an election held within one year following the date of the issuance
6 of any gubernatorial declaration of an emergency, upon application of the parish
7 board of election supervisors, the secretary of state may approve the payment of up
8 to one hundred dollars per election or each day of assistance, if applicable, as
9 compensation to each commissioner in addition to compensation otherwise provided
10 for in this Subsection.
11 * * *
12 §1354. Parish custodian of voting machines; powers and duties; appointment of
13 deputy custodians
14 * * *
15 C.(1) The parish custodian of voting machines may employ persons on a
16 temporary basis, as needed, to assist him in the performance of his duties. He may
17 appoint a deputy parish custodian of voting machines for any polling place he deems
18 necessary. He may not appoint as deputy parish custodian of voting machines any
19 person who has been convicted of a felony for which he has not been pardoned. The
20 parish custodian shall not appoint a person who is a candidate or a member of a
21 candidate's immediate family to serve in any polling location where the candidate's
22 name appears on the ballot. The compensation of a deputy parish custodian shall be
23 one hundred dollars for each election at which he serves. The deputy parish
24 custodian shall deliver the key envelope and the supplemental list to the
25 commissioner-in-charge at least one-half hour before the fixed time for the opening
26 of the polls.
27 (2) For an election held within one year following the date of the issuance
28 of any gubernatorial declaration of an emergency, upon application of the parish
29 custodian of voting machines, the secretary of state may approve the payment of up
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1 to one hundred dollars per election as compensation to each deputy parish custodian
2 in addition to compensation otherwise provided for in this Subsection.
3 * * *
4 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
5signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
6by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
7vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
8effective on the day following such approval.
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 59 Engrossed 2020 Second Extraordinary Session Beaullieu
Abstract: Authorizes additional compensation to certain election officials for elections held
within one year following a gubernatorially declared emergency.
Present law provides for the pay structure for certain election commissioners and parish
custodians of voting machines.
Proposed law authorizes the secretary of state to approve payment of up to $100 per election
or each day of assistance as additional compensation to commissioners and custodians
during an election held within one year following the date of the issuance of any
gubernatorial declaration of an emergency.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 18:426.1, 1309(J), and 1354(C); Adds R.S. 18:1314(E)(3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Add provision to proposed law authorizing additional pay per day of assistance
if applicable.
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