RS 13:783

§783. Expenses of clerk's office A. The clerk shall employ all necessary deputies and assistants, fix and pay their salaries, and defray all expenses out of the clerk's salary fund. B. The police jury of the parish of Plaquemines may pay the clerk of court and ex-officio recorder for the parish of Plaquemines such additional expenses as it may deem necessary. C. The clerk shall not be required to pay the court reporter out of the clerk's salary fund or the amounts allowed to the clerk out of the clerk's salary fund for expenses. If he is not paid by the clerk, unless his compensation is otherwise fixed by law, the court reporter may collect the fees allowed by law for his services. D.(1)(a)(i) Each of the clerks of the district courts is hereby authorized to purchase, out of any surplus in his salary fund, an automobile for the use of his office, after having first obtained the consent of the governing authority of the parish. (ii) However, the consent of the governing authority shall not be necessary as to any clerk of court who prior to July 29, 1970, has purchased an automobile under authority of any previously enacted law. (iii) The clerks of the district courts in East Feliciana Parish, West Feliciana Parish, Livingston Parish, and St. Landry Parish shall be exempt from obtaining consent from the governing authority to purchase an automobile for office use. (b) Each of the clerks of court is hereby authorized to purchase insurance for the automobile with any insurance company authorized to do business under the laws of this state and to pay the premiums on the insurance out of his salary fund. (2) In addition to the automobile authorized to be purchased in the above Paragraph, the clerk of court of Lafayette Parish may purchase, out of any surplus in his salary fund, an additional automobile for the use of his office. Such automobile shall also be purchased in accordance with the provisions set forth in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. (3) In addition to the automobile authorized to be purchased in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the clerk of court of Caddo Parish may purchase, out of his salary fund, an additional automobile for the use of his office. Such automobile and insurance therefor shall also be purchased in accordance with the provisions set forth in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. (4) In addition to the automobile authorized to be purchased in Paragraph (1), the clerk of court of Calcasieu Parish may purchase, out of any surplus in his salary fund, in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars, an additional automobile for the use of his office. Such automobile and insurance therefor shall also be purchased in accordance with the provisions set forth in Paragraph (1). (5) Repealed by Acts 2020, No. 26, §2. (6) The clerk of court for East Baton Rouge Parish is hereby authorized to purchase or lease the automobile authorized by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and, in addition, is authorized to purchase or lease one additional automobile for the transportation of employees, documents, equipment, or other items related to the office of the clerk or for use for any purpose related to the operation of the office of the clerk of court. The purchase price or lease payments of an automobile authorized in this Paragraph, including the automobile insurance premiums on that automobile, shall be payable out of the clerk's salary fund. The automobile insurance shall be obtained from an insurance company authorized by law to do business in this state. (7) The clerk of each district court may receive an automobile expense allowance equal to fifteen percent of their annual salary provided the clerk of court maintains three hundred thousand dollars of automobile insurance per accident for bodily injury and one hundred thousand dollars of automobile insurance per accident for property damage. The expense allowance shall come from surplus funds in each of the offices of the clerks of court and at no additional expense to the state or local governing authority. E. Each of the clerks of the district courts is authorized to purchase, out of any surplus in his salary fund, uniforms for his deputies and assistants. F.(1) Each of the clerks of the district courts is authorized to contract separately or through the insurance committee that administers the clerk's insurance fund of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association to obtain from any insurance company authorized to do business in this state, group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense and group disability insurance. This insurance may cover the clerk of court, the clerk's employees and retirees, dependents of the clerk, and the dependents of the clerk's employees and retirees. (2) The clerk may pay from the clerk's salary and expense fund the cost of insurance authorized to be contracted for by this Subsection for the clerk, his employees, and dependents of the clerk and the clerk's employees. No reduction of the insured's contribution shall be made on insurance contracts presently in effect. All costs for group insurance paid out of the clerk's salary and expense fund shall be included in each clerk's budget. The clerk, clerk's employee, or retiree shall pay any portion of the insurance cost that is not paid from the clerk's salary and expense fund. (3) The clerk or any clerk's employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires under the clerks of court retirement program may elect to continue insurance coverage obtained under this Subsection and the costs may be paid in the same manner as if he were still employed provided that the clerk or clerk's employee was a clerk or clerk's employee and a member of the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund for at least twelve years prior to retirement and begins receiving retirement benefits immediately upon retirement from active employment. (4) The clerk may pay any fee for the cost of administering the clerk's insurance fund that is charged participating members. This fee may be paid from the clerk's salary and expense fund. (5) Any insurance cost to be paid by the clerk or the clerk's employee may be deducted directly from their salaries if so authorized. The clerk shall remit these contributions to the clerk's insurance fund when the insurance contracts are administered by that fund, or directly to any insurance company with which the clerk has contracted separately. (6) In the parishes of Beauregard, East Carroll, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Richland, and Vernon, the clerk of court shall pay, from the clerk's salary fund, one hundred percent of the premium costs of the group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense for any employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires from the Beauregard Parish clerk of court's office, the East Carroll Parish clerk of court's office, the Jefferson Davis Parish clerk of court's office, the Rapides Parish clerk of court's office, the Richland Parish clerk of court's office, or the Vernon Parish clerk of court's office who begins receiving monthly benefits from the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund immediately upon retirement from active employment and has at least twenty years of full-time service with the clerk of court's office in Beauregard Parish, East Carroll Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Rapides Parish, Richland Parish, or Vernon Parish. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any other insurance, such as supplemental insurance, that an employee may elect to purchase. (7) In the parishes of Avoyelles, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Lafayette, LaSalle, Orleans, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Webster, West Feliciana, and Winn, the clerk of court shall pay, from the clerk's salary fund, one hundred percent of the premium costs of the group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense insurance for any employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires from the Avoyelles Parish clerk of court's office, the Bossier Parish clerk of court's office, the Caddo Parish clerk of court's office, the Calcasieu Parish clerk of court's office, the Caldwell Parish clerk of court's office, the Cameron Parish clerk of court's office, the Franklin Parish clerk of court's office, the Grant Parish clerk of court's office, the Iberia Parish clerk of court's office, the Lafayette Parish clerk of court's office, the LaSalle Parish clerk of court's office, the Orleans Parish Civil District Court clerk of court's office, the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk of court's office, the Ouachita Parish clerk of court's office, the Pointe Coupee Parish clerk of court's office, the St. Martin Parish clerk of court's office, the St. Mary Parish clerk of court's office, the Terrebonne Parish clerk of court's office, the Webster Parish clerk of court's office, the West Feliciana Parish clerk of court's office, or the Winn Parish clerk of court's office who begins receiving monthly benefits from the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund immediately upon retirement from active employment, who has at least twenty years of full-time service with the clerk of court's office in Avoyelles Parish, Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish, Calcasieu Parish, Caldwell Parish, Cameron Parish, Franklin Parish, Grant Parish, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, LaSalle Parish, Ouachita Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, St. Martin Parish, St. Mary Parish, Terrebonne Parish, Webster Parish, West Feliciana Parish, or Winn Parish, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, or Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, and who is at least fifty-five years of age. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any other insurance, such as supplemental insurance, that an employee may elect to purchase. (8) The clerk of court of East Baton Rouge Parish shall pay from the clerk's salary fund one hundred percent of the premium costs of the group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense insurance for any clerk or employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires from the East Baton Rouge Parish clerk of court's office who begins receiving monthly benefits from the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund immediately upon retirement from active employment, who has at least twelve years of full-time service with the clerk of court's office in East Baton Rouge Parish, and who is at least fifty-five years of age. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any other insurance, such as supplemental insurance, that any clerk or any employee may elect to purchase. (9) The clerk of court of St. James Parish, provided sufficient amounts are available, shall pay from the clerk's salary fund one hundred percent of the premium costs of the group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense insurance for any clerk or employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires from the St. James Parish clerk of court's office who begins receiving monthly benefits from the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund immediately upon retirement from active employment, who has at least twenty years of full-time service with the clerk of court's office in St. James Parish, and who is at least fifty-five years of age. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any other insurance, such as supplemental insurance, that an employee may elect to purchase. (10) The clerk of court of Acadia Parish shall pay from the clerk's salary fund one hundred percent of the premium costs of the group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense insurance for any clerk or employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires from the Acadia Parish clerk of court's office who begins receiving monthly benefits from the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund immediately upon retirement from active employment, who has at least twenty years of full-time service with the clerk of court's office in Acadia Parish, and is at least fifty-five years of age. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any other insurance, such as supplemental insurance, that an employee may elect to purchase. (11) The clerk of court of Ascension Parish shall pay from the clerk's salary fund one hundred percent of the premium costs of the group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense insurance for any clerk or employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires from the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court's office and begins receiving monthly benefits from the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund immediately upon retirement from active employment with at least twenty years of full-time service with the clerk of court's office in Ascension Parish, and who is at least fifty-five years of age. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any other insurance, such as supplemental insurance, that an employee may elect to purchase. (12) The clerk of court of Evangeline Parish shall pay from the clerk's salary fund one hundred percent of the premium costs of the group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical, or other medical expense insurance for any clerk or employee who was a covered employee, who elects to continue coverage, and who retires from the office of the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court and begins receiving monthly benefits from the Louisiana Clerks' of Court Retirement and Relief Fund immediately upon retirement from active employment with at least twenty years of full-time service with the office of the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court, and who is at least fifty-five years of age. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any other insurance, such as supplemental insurance, that an employee may elect to purchase. Acts 1950, No. 454, §1; Acts 1956, No. 467, §1; Acts 1968, No. 121, §1; Acts 1969, No. 166, §1; Acts 1970, No. 152, §1; Acts 1972, No. 323, §1; Acts 1976, No. 53, §1; Acts 1990, No. 64, §1; Acts 1991, No. 561, §1; Acts 1993, No. 615, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 43, §1, eff. July 1, 1994; Acts 1997, No. 519, §1, eff. July 3, 1997; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 101, §1, eff. April 17, 2000; Acts 2006, No. 670, §1; Acts 2007, No. 423, §1; Acts 2009, No. 471, §1, eff. July 9, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 170, §1; Acts 2010, No. 183, §1; Acts 2010, No. 422, §1; Acts 2011, No. 176, §1, eff. June 24, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 376, §1; Acts 2012, No. 467, §1; Acts 2013, No. 232, §1; Acts 2013, No. 344, §1; Acts 2013, No. 373, §1; Acts 2014, No. 537, §1; Acts 2014, No. 593, §1; Acts 2015, No. 178, §1; Acts 2015, No. 179, §1; Acts 2017, No. 31, §1; Acts 2018, No. 117, §1; Acts 2018, No. 605, §1; Acts 2020, No. 26, §§1, 2; Acts 2021, No. 106, §1, eff. June 4, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 94, §1; Acts 2022, No. 290, §1; Acts 2023, No. 49, §1.