Hourly wages and salaries for school employees; reduction limitations; definition

A. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the amount of the hourly wage or annual salary paid to any school employee shall not be reduced for any school year below the amount paid to the school employee in hourly wage or annual salary during the previous school year, nor shall the amount of the hourly wage or annual salary paid to any school employee be reduced at any time during an academic year. B. For purposes of this Section, the term "school employee" shall mean, without limitation, a teacher aide, paraprofessional, school bus operator, food service worker, clerical, custodial, and maintenance personnel, and any other employee of a city or parish school board, of the Louisiana School for the Deaf, the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, or of the Special School District who is not required to hold a teacher's certificate as a condition of employment. C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the reduction of any local salary funded, in whole or in part, from a revenue source requiring voter approval when such voter approval has not been obtained or when the reduction is necessary as a result of a decrease in revenues received from the production of or exploration for minerals, including severance taxes, royalty payments, bonus payments, or rentals. D. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent local school boards from reducing personnel or staff as may be necessary. E. For purposes of this Section, local bonuses or one-time special salary increases shall not be considered as salary.