Provides for the establishment and powers, functions, and duties of the Compensation Commission (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

House Bill 248 enacts Chapter 26 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, establishing the Compensation Commission as an independent office within the legislative auditor's office. The commission is charged with conducting a comprehensive examination and evaluation of the salary and other compensation for every elected official whose compensation was established by statute as of January 1, 2026, and with establishing new salaries and compensation for each office or class of offices based on that evaluation no later than January 15, 2037. Once the commission publishes its compensation recommendations for an office, those recommendations become effective at the beginning of the subsequent term of office for that position, and any conflicting provision of law becomes null and of no effect. The statutory framework grants the commission broad authority to evaluate compensation across all statewide elected officials, Public Service Commissioners, judges, district attorneys, sheriffs, coroners, clerks of court, tax assessors, and members of the legislature.

The commission will be composed of fifteen members serving ten-year terms, with appointments distributed among various appointing authorities including the governor, the supreme court, judicial associations, district attorney and sheriff associations, county officials associations, and legislative leadership representing both the majority and minority parties in both chambers. The membership structure requires that appointees be selected from a list of at least five qualified nominees submitted by presidents of accredited nonprofit private institutions of higher education in the state. Prospective members must be qualified voters of Louisiana and cannot be lobbyists, employees of lobbyists, public employees, elected officials, or appointed officials except for their service on the commission itself. Members serve without compensation but may receive reimbursement for actual expenses, and the commission meets at least quarterly to conduct its work, with all state departments, agencies, and local governments required to furnish necessary information and assistance as requested.

The statutory regime operates within Louisiana's constitutional framework, as the bill explicitly conditions its effectiveness upon the adoption and effectiveness of a proposed constitutional amendment to Article X of the Louisiana Constitution. This dependence on a separate constitutional amendment indicates that the legislature has determined that the commission's authority to supersede existing statutory compensation provisions and to terminate all conflicting laws requires constitutional foundation. The commission's work schedule and publication requirements are tied to the terms of office for various elected positions, creating a staggered implementation mechanism that ensures recommendations align with election cycles. The commission automatically terminates on January 15, 2037, or earlier upon notification to the legislature that its evaluation work is complete, establishing a defined lifespan for the compensation evaluation authority rather than creating a permanent institutional body.