§2304. Clean Water State Revolving Fund; political subdivisions and public trusts; loans

A. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, and in addition to the authority to borrow money or incur debt under any other provisions of law, any political subdivision or public trust is hereby authorized to borrow money from and incur debt payable to the CWSRF in accordance with the provisions hereof and subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission. This Section shall not be deemed to be the exclusive authority under which political subdivisions or public trusts may borrow money from or incur indebtedness to the CWSRF.

B. All bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of any political subdivisions and public trusts issued to represent an obligation to repay a CWSRF loan shall be authorized and issued pursuant to a resolution or ordinance of the governing authority of such entity, which shall prescribe the form and details thereof, including the terms, security for, manner of execution, repayment schedule, and redemption features thereof and such resolution or ordinance may provide that an officer of such entity may execute in connection with such obligation any related contract including but not limited to a credit enhancement device, indenture of trust, loan agreement, pledge agreement, or other agreement or contract needed to accomplish the purposes for which said indebtedness is given. Any such resolution or ordinance shall set forth the maximum principal amount, the maximum interest rate, the maximum redemption premium, if any, and the maximum term of such indebtedness.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any political subdivision, or public trust upon entering into a loan from the CWSRF under this Section may dedicate and pledge a portion of any revenues it has available to it including but not limited to revenues from the general revenue fund, sales taxes, user fees, assessments, parcel fees, or property taxes of the political subdivision for a term not exceeding thirty years for repayment of the principal of, interest on, and any premium, administrative fee, or other fee or cost imposed by the department in connection with such loan; provided that any loan made solely for the purpose of financing the cost of facility planning and the preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates for construction of projects approved by the department shall have a term not to exceed five years from the date thereof.

D. Any evidence of indebtedness authorized pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall bear a rate or rates of interest that shall not exceed the rate or rates set forth in the resolution or ordinance authorizing and providing for the issuance thereof. Any such rate or rates of interest may be at fixed, variable, or adjustable rates.

E. Bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of a political subdivision shall be sold at a private, negotiated sale to the CWSRF at such price or prices, including premiums and discounts as shall be authorized in the resolution or ordinance of the borrower and agreed to by the department. The general laws of the state governing fully registered securities of public entities shall be applicable to the bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness issued pursuant to this Section.

F. All resolutions or ordinances authorizing the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of a political subdivision hereunder shall be published once in the official journal of the borrower. It shall not be necessary to publish exhibits to such resolution or ordinance, but such exhibits shall be made available for public inspection at the offices of the governing authority of the borrower at reasonable times and such fact must be stated in the publication. For a period of thirty days after the date of such publication, any persons in interest may contest the legality of the resolution or ordinance authorizing such evidence of indebtedness and any provisions thereof made for the security and payment thereof. After such thirty-day period no one shall have any cause or right of action to contest the regularity, formality, legality, or effectiveness of said resolution or ordinance and the provisions thereof or of the bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness authorized thereby for any cause whatsoever. If no suit, action, or proceeding is begun contesting the validity of the bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness authorized pursuant to such resolution or ordinance within the thirty days prescribed in this Subsection, the authority to issue the bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness, or to provide for the payment thereof, and the legality thereof, and all of the provisions of the resolution or ordinance and such evidence of indebtedness shall be conclusively presumed, and no court shall have authority or jurisdiction to inquire into any such matter.

G. Bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of a political subdivision issued under the authority of this Section shall be exempt from all taxation for state, parish, municipal, or other purposes. Such bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness shall be legal and authorized investments for banks, savings banks, insurance companies, any other financial institution, tutors of minors, curators of interdicts, trustees, and other fiduciaries. Such bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness may be used for deposit with any officer, board, or political subdivision of the state, in any case where, by present or future laws, deposit of security is required for state funds.

H. The department may by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings, protect and enforce any covenant relating to and the security provided in connection with any indebtedness issued pursuant to this Section, and may by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings enforce and compel performance of all of the duties required to be performed by the governing body and officials of any borrower hereunder and in any proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds or other evidences of indebtedness.

Acts 2010, No. 296, §1, eff. June 17, 2010.