51.281.  Compensation of certain county clerks — training program, attendance required, when, expenses, compensation — certain fees may be retained (second, third and fourth class counties). — 1.  The county clerk in any county, other than in a first classification county, shall receive an annual salary computed as set forth in the following schedule.  The assessed valuation factor shall be the amount thereof as shown for the year next preceding the computation.  The provisions of this section shall not permit or require a reduction in the amount of compensation being paid for the office of clerk on January 1, 1997.

  2.  Two thousand dollars of the salary authorized in this section shall be payable to the clerk only if the clerk has completed at least twenty hours of classroom instruction each calendar year relating to the operations of the clerk's office when approved by a professional association of the county clerks of Missouri unless exempted from the training by the professional association.  The professional association approving the program shall provide a certificate of completion to each clerk who completes the training program and shall send a list of certified clerks to the treasurer of each county.  Expenses incurred for attending the training session may be reimbursed to the county clerk in the same manner as other expenses as may be appropriated for that purpose.

  3.  The county clerk may retain any fees to which he is entitled for services performed in the issuance of fish and game licenses or permits.

  4.  The county clerk in any county, other than a first classification charter county or a first  classification county not having a charter form of government and not containing any part of a city with a population of three hundred thousand or more, shall not, except upon two-thirds vote of all the members of the salary commission, receive an annual compensation in an amount less than the total compensation being received for the office of county clerk in the particular county for services rendered or performed on the date the salary commission votes.