§55. Compensation of registrar of voters; amount and manner of payment; reduction during tenure prohibited; prohibited increase

            A.(1) The annual salary of registrars of voters shall be based on the most recent population figures as shown by the latest federal decennial census, the Louisiana Tech University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or as determined by the governing authority of each parish in accordance with law.

            (2) The salary ranges and pay schedule for the registrars shall be as follows:

      Population Range                      Step 1                Step 2             Step 3             Step 4

      0 to 40,000                               $57,769              $59,502           $61,287           $63,126

      40,001 to 60,000                      $64,188              $66,113           $68,097           $70,140

      60,001 to 100,000                    $70,607              $72,725           $74,907           $77,154

      100,001 to 200,000                  $77,026              $79,337           $81,717           $84,168

      200,001 to 1,000,000               $83,445              $85,948           $88,526           $91,182

      Population Range                      Step 5                Step 6             Step 7             Step 8

      0 to 40,000                               $65,019              $66,970           $68,979           $71,049

      40,001 to 60,000                      $72,244              $74,441           $76,644           $78,943

      60,001 to 100,000                    $79,469              $81,853           $84,309           $86,838

      100,001 to 200,000                  $86,693              $89,294           $91,973           $94,732

      200,001 to 1,000,000               $93,918              $96,735           $99,637         $102,626

      Population Range                      Step 9               Step 10           Step 11          Step 12

      0 to 40,000                               $73,180              $75,375           $77,637           $79,966

      40,001 to 60,000                      $81,311              $83,751           $86,263           $88,851

      60,001 to 100,000                    $89,443              $92,126           $94,890           $97,737

      100,001 to 200,000                  $97,574            $100,501         $103,516         $106,622

      200,001 to 1,000,000             $105,705            $108,876         $112,143         $115,507

            (3)(a) A person appointed by the parish governing authority as registrar on or after July 1, 1997, shall be employed with an annual salary of step one of the appropriate population range, unless the person is promoted from chief deputy or confidential assistant and such would result in a reduction in compensation. In such an instance, the newly appointed registrar shall receive a salary increase to the amount of the nearest step in the appropriate population range which will provide a minimum increase in salary of five hundred dollars.

            (b) Each parish governing authority shall continue to compensate its registrars at no less than the same annual dollar amount as that paid by the particular parish on July 1, 1991, including both the prior mandated parish portion and any supplements authorized. The difference between the amount of compensation due each registrar and the amount payable by the parish governing authority shall be paid by the state through the secretary of state.

            (4)(a) Each registrar shall 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. However, a registrar whose salary is less than step one of the appropriate population range shall receive an annual salary increase of four thousand five hundred dollars until that amount would cause his salary to exceed step one. At that time, he shall receive a salary increase to the amount of the nearest step which will provide an increase of not less than five hundred dollars.

            (b) Each registrar whose salary is at the level of step one or higher shall be evaluated as to merit in January. The criteria and procedure for the merit evaluation shall be determined by the secretary of state in conjunction with the Registrar of Voters Association. Each registrar shall be evaluated by the secretary of state or his designee acting on his behalf. Upon a finding of "excellent" on a merit evaluation, the registrar shall receive a salary increase to the next step until the registrar's salary is equal to the highest step of the appropriate population range. A registrar may appeal the finding on a merit evaluation to the State Board of Election Supervisors in accordance with rules promulgated by the board. 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.

            B. No law to increase or decrease that portion of the salary payable by the parish shall be enacted hereafter unless notice of intent to enact such a law has been published on two separate days, without cost to the state, in the official journal of each locality affected by the enactment of the increase or decrease in the salary figures. The last day of publication shall be at least thirty days prior to introduction of the bill.

            C. The annual compensation of each registrar of voters shall be based upon the most recent census taken by the United States Government, Louisiana Tech University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or upon the population figures of each parish as determined by its governing authority as provided by law.

            D. The state portion of each salary shall be paid biweekly by the state through the secretary of state, and the parish portion of each salary shall be paid monthly by the parish governing authority on the warrant of the respective registrars. The funds for the parish portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated by the parish governing authority and the funds for the state portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated to the secretary of state.

            E. The registrars of voters shall receive cost-of-living salary increases whenever such salary increases are given to state employees and a similar structure adjustment shall be made in the entire registrars' pay schedule.

            F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, no registrar shall receive an increase in salary as provided in Paragraph (A)(4) of this Section during a time period when the State Civil Service Commission has suspended the authority to award merit increases to classified employees.

            Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 37, §2, eff. Jan. 1978; Acts 1979, No. 236, §4, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 295, §3; Acts 1980, No. 634, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 716, §3; Acts 1983, No. 299, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1991, No. 277, §1; Acts 1991, No. 395, §1, eff. July 1, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 1008, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 972, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 683, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2007, No. 254, §1, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 622, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2016, No. 358, §1.