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 502 Original 2025 Regular Session Butler
Abstract: Provides for grounds for removal of a registrar of voters; for removal procedures when
the commissioner of elections raises allegations of conduct subject to removal; for a firing
freeze during the pendency of a removal; for evaluations of registrars, chief deputies, and
confidential assistants; for pay increases for registrars, chief deputies, and confidential
assistants; and for requirements of a registrar upon the closure of the registrar's office in
certain circumstances.
Present law provides the grounds for which a registrar of voters may be removed by the State Board
of Election Supervisors (state board), including willful misconduct relating to his official duty,
willful and persistent failure to perform his duty, persistent public conduct prejudicial to the
administration of the laws relative to the registration of voters that brings the office into disrepute,
and conviction of a felony.
Proposed law retains present law and provides additional grounds for removal to include
incompetence, consistent under-performance, abuse of leave policies established by the secretary of
state, violation of substance abuse policies established by the secretary of state, or a finding of
"unsuccessful" on a merit evaluation for two successive years.
Present law provides that if the state board receives a resolution from a parish governing authority
accusing the parish registrar of any conduct that is grounds for removal, the state board shall
schedule a hearing on the accusations contained in the resolution within 30 days of the receipt of
such resolution.
Proposed law retains present law and further provides that if the commissioner of elections raises
allegations that the parish registrar has engaged in any conduct that is grounds for removal, the state
board shall schedule a hearing on the allegations brought by the commissioner of elections within
30 days of the receipt of the accusations. If the commissioner of elections serves as a regular
member of the state board, he shall not serve for the purposes of such hearings and the secretary of
state shall designate a member of the Registrars of Voters Association (association) to serve in the
commissioner's place and shall notify the state board in writing of any such designation.
Present law provides for 12 salary levels for registrars, chief deputies, and confidential assistants.
Provides that each registrar, chief deputy, and confidential assistant whose salary is at the level of
step one or higher shall be evaluated as to merit in January. Provides that criteria and procedures
for evaluation of registrars are determined by the secretary of state in conjunction with the
association and that a registrar is evaluated by the secretary of state. Provides that criteria and procedures for evaluation of chief deputies and confidential assistants are determined by the
association and that a chief deputy or confidential assistant is evaluated by the registrar. Requires
an evaluation of "excellent" to receive a salary increase to the next step.
Proposed law retains present law and further provides that merit evaluations shall result in a finding
of "excellent", "successful", "unsuccessful", or "unrated".
Proposed law further provides that upon a finding of "excellent" on a merit evaluation of each
registrar, chief deputy, or confidential assistant whose salary is at the level of step 12, the registrar,
chief deputy, or confidential assistant shall receive a salary increase of 5%. Provides that no
registrar, chief deputy, or confidential assistant shall receive more than five such salary increases.
Present law provides that, subject to applicable civil service law, a registrar may remove any deputy,
clerk, or other employee.
Proposed law retains present law, except to provide that no registrar who is subject to removal by
the state board may remove a deputy, clerk, or other employee from the time the registrar is made
aware that he is subject to removal until after the state board makes a final determination on the
removal of the registrar.
Present law provides that a registrar shall keep his principal office open for business on those days
that state departments are open.
Proposed law retains present law and further provides that a registrar may close his principal office
on days that state departments are open only in extreme circumstances. However, on such days the
registrar shall still perform essential functions.
(Amends R.S. 18:53(A) and (B)(1) and (2), 55(A)(4)(b), 59(B)(4)(b) and (C)(4)(b), 60, and 134(A))