§782.  Compensation of clerks

A.(1)  Clerks of district courts of the various parishes shall establish their own rates of annual compensation for their services, payable out of the clerk's salary fund, which rates shall not exceed the following amounts based on the applicable population of the respective parishes, according to the latest United States census or the population estimates published pursuant to the United States Bureau of the Census Federal State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates as follows:

Population

Compensation

(a)  Less than 50,000

$  88,000

(b)  50,000-200,000

$  98,000

(c)  Over 200,000

$108,000

(d)  The annual compensation for each population class shall be increased by four percent annually through Fiscal Year 2016-2017.  The applicable compensation for each fiscal year shall be used to calculate any compensation granted by Subsection J of this Section for the fiscal year.

(2)  A clerk is eligible to receive a salary increase as provided for by this Subsection if the clerk completes the annual certification updates and renewal courses as provided for in Subparagraph (I)(4)(c) of this Section.

(3) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit clerks from participation in an approved state deferred compensation plan as specified in R.S. 42:1301 et seq. A clerk shall not authorize or receive an employer contribution that would be more favorable than that offered to the employees of the clerk's office.

B.  The governing authority of the parish of Plaquemines may pay the clerk of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District Court and ex officio recorder for said parish any such additional compensation for his services as it may deem necessary.

C.  Should any clerk of a district court receive an amount less than the maximum compensation allowed under the population category applicable to such clerk in this section, due to insufficiency of funds or other cause, and there occurs a surplus in the receipts of his office during any fiscal year within his term of office, or during any subsequent term or terms of office for which he is reelected, he shall receive out of any such surplus an amount sufficient to maintain his maximum annual compensation at the rate provided by law.

D.  In no case shall the amount of compensation received by any clerk of a district court for his services be less than nine hundred dollars per month, which sum is hereby fixed as the minimum monthly salary for any such clerk.  In the event a sufficient amount is not earned from all of the fees collected by his office to provide for said minimum monthly compensation, during his term of office, or any subsequent term or terms of office for which he is re-elected, the difference between the amount earned and said minimum monthly compensation shall be paid such clerk, on his own warrant, by the governing authority of his parish.

E.  All of the maximum rates of compensation provided by this section shall be due and payable to the various clerks of the several district courts from all of the fees collected by their offices, after the salaries of deputies and assistants and any and all other expenses have been paid, as provided in R.S. 13:783(A).

F.  Any clerk of a district court who agrees to share any part of his compensation provided in this section with any other person shall forfeit his office for gross misconduct upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction.

G.  Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other law to the contrary, no clerk of the district court for any parish, Orleans excepted, shall have his salary reduced because a later official United States Census shows the population of such parish to have decreased so as to place such parish within a lower population category upon which the compensation of the clerk of the district court of such parish is based as provided in this section.

H.  In addition to the above salary each individual clerk of the judicial district courts, including the register of conveyances and the recorder of mortgages for the parish of Orleans, shall be granted ten percent of his annual compensation as an expense allowance.

I.(1)  The Louisiana Clerks' of Court Certification program is hereby established to formalize and recognize the professional standards of clerks of court in the state.

(2)  Objectives.  The clerks' of court certification program is designed to provide practical learning experiences which establish a curriculum that will enable the clerks of court to learn the requirements of their elected office and to establish additional professional bonds of achievement.  The program will accomplish these goals by introducing clerks to new ideas that will enhance effective performance in public service; increasing the clerk's managerial competence to meet the changing environment of their parish and community; creating opportunities to enhance professional development through attendance and involvement in respective state associations; emphasizing the clerk's role as a public official and the need for continued maintenance of high standards for the clerk's office; and providing recognition for the attainment of enhanced managerial and administrative skills.

(3)  Eligibility.  Only those persons holding the office of clerk of a district court shall be eligible for participation in the clerks' of court certification program.

(4)(a)  Requirements.  The requisite education and training will be provided through courses of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Institute (LCCI), a continuing education program for clerks of court, offering academic training leading to professional accreditation, which was established through the Governmental Services Institute at Louisiana State University.  Education and training may also be provided through courses at other state institutions of higher education or institutions of training approved by the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT) or Louisiana Clerks of Court Association (LCCA).  All such instruction shall be offered and directed toward the attainment of the certification and maintenance of said certification.

(b)(i)  A total of fifty points must be earned to meet the requirements of the professional certification program.  Thirty points must be achieved under Category I - Education and twenty points must be achieved under Category II - Experience.

(ii)  Category I - Education (30 points required) Satisfactory completion of the Clerks of Court Institute approved by the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association (LCCA) or the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT).  Each session of the Clerks of Court Institute shall be twenty-five contact hours which shall equal fifteen points.  A bachelor's degree in a related field may be used as fifteen points toward the satisfaction of the requirements of this category.

(iii)  Category II - Experience (20 points required) Experience as a full time Clerk of Court shall qualify for one point per year, with a maximum of ten points.  Experience as a full time deputy clerk shall qualify for one-half point per year, with a maximum of ten points.  Other full time administrative position on local government shall qualify for one-half point per year, with a maximum of ten points.  Full time administrative position in business shall qualify for one-half point per year, with a maximum of five points.  Relevant university or college credited courses shall qualify for one-half point per course, with a maximum of five points.

(c)  The clerks of court certification program will provide training opportunities and challenges for clerks of court completing the certification program to remain current with the latest developments by providing update and renewal courses on an annual basis.  The general requirements for update and certification renewal will be the completion of an additional fifty points every four years.  If these requirements are not met, the clerk of court will lose certification and certification compensation until recertification requirements are met.

(d)  Notwithstanding any provision of this Subsection, any clerk of court, including any clerk in the parish of Orleans, who has served fifty or more years in office as clerk shall be deemed certified under the requirements of this Subsection and shall not be required to personally attend certification renewal courses as required in this Subsection; however, such a clerk shall designate an employee of his office to attend certification renewal courses on his behalf.

J.(1)  The clerks of court certification program committee is hereby created to govern the certification program.  The certification committee shall be composed of five members who shall serve one year terms and who may be reappointed.  The members shall be appointed as follows:

(a)  One member shall be the chairman of the Education Committee of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association who shall serve as chairman of the committee.

(b)  One member shall be the Program Coordinator or a representative of the Governmental Services Institute at Louisiana State University.

(c)  Three members shall be clerks of court who have achieved certification.

(2)(a)  Documents showing the successful completion of the certification program shall be submitted to and approved by the certification committee.  Upon approval of the application for certification, a person holding the office of clerk of court shall receive the designation of Certified Clerk of Court, (CCC), and notice of the approval shall be forwarded to the legislative auditor by the certification committee.

(b)  If, on July 1, 1990, a clerk has completed the educational and experience requirements as provided in Subsection I of this Section and the documents showing the successful completion of the program have been submitted to and approved by the certification committee and said approval documented to the legislative auditor, the clerk shall be granted a seven percent increase in compensation to his annual salary as set forth in Subsection A of this Section.

(c)  A clerk shall complete the requirements of Paragraph I(4) of this Section in order to receive and retain the seven percent compensation enhancement.  If a clerk does not complete the certification program as provided in Subsections I and J of this Section, or if after certification a clerk does not receive certification renewal within each four year period, his salary shall revert back to the salary scale provided for in Subsection A of this Section.

K.  Repealed by Acts 2013, No. 380, §2, eff. June 18, 2013.

L.  Repealed by Acts 1995, No. 329, §1.

Acts 1990, No. 132, §1; Acts 1990, No. 836, §1, eff. July 1, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 262, §1; Acts 1992, No. 595, §1; Acts 1995, No. 329, §1; Acts 1995, No. 536, §1, eff. June 18, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 470, §1; Acts 1999, No. 797, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1216, §1; Acts 2003, No. 157, §1; Acts 2004, No. 236, §1; Acts 2006, No. 724, §1; Acts 2007, No. 77, §1; Acts 2013, No. 380, §§1, 2, eff. June 18, 2013.