§2575.2. St. Tammany Parish; additional administrative adjudication procedures; judicial review procedures

A.(1) In the parish of St. Tammany, the term "housing violation" as used in this Chapter shall also encompass building codes, zoning, vegetation, and nuisance ordinances.

(2) In the parish of St. Tammany, the procedures for administrative adjudication provided in this Chapter may also be utilized in matters involving licensing and permits and any other ordinance violations that may be determined by the St. Tammany Parish Council.

B.(1) Any person or persons jointly or severally aggrieved by any decision of the St. Tammany Parish hearing officer may present a petition to the district court of the parish along with payment of such reasonable costs as may be required by the clerk. Such petition shall be duly verified, set forth that the decision is illegal, in whole or in part, and specify the grounds of the illegality. The petition shall be presented to the court within thirty days after the filing of the decision of the hearing officer.

(2) Upon the presentation of such petition, the court may allow a writ of certiorari directed to the hearing officer to review the decision of the hearing officer and there shall be prescribed therein the period of time within which a return may be made and served upon the relator's attorney. Such period shall be not less than ten days but may be extended by the court. The allowance of the writ shall not stay the proceedings upon the decision or any enforcement thereof unless the person who files the appeal for writ of certiorari furnishes security prior to filing notice of appeal with the agency of the parish designated by ordinance to accept such payments in the amount to be fixed by the hearing officer sufficient to assure satisfaction of the finding of the hearing officer relative to the fine, fee, penalty, costs of the hearing, and costs, if any, of correcting the violation.

(3) The St. Tammany Parish hearing officer shall not be required to return the original papers acted upon by the hearing officer, but may return certified or sworn copies thereof or such portions thereof as may be called for by the writ. The return shall concisely set forth such other facts as may be pertinent and material to show the grounds of the decision appealed from and shall be verified.

(4) If, upon the hearing, it shall appear to the court that testimony is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, the court may take additional evidence or appoint a referee to take such evidence as it may direct. Such referee shall report the same to the court with his findings of fact and conclusions of law, and his report shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determination of the court shall be made.

(5) The court may reverse or affirm, wholly or in part, or may modify the decision brought up for review. All issues in any proceedings under this Section shall have preference over all other civil actions and proceedings. The appellant and St. Tammany Parish shall be parties in such civil action and proceeding; the St. Tammany hearing officer shall not be a party to such civil action and proceeding.

Acts 2004, No. 298, §1, eff. June 18, 2004.