HLS 10RS-1388 REENGROSSED Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2010 HOUSE BILL NO. 973 BY REPRESENTATIVE FOIL DISTRICTS/SPECIAL: Provides relative to Sustainable Energy Financing Districts AN ACT1 To amend and reenact R.S. 33:130.812(C), relative to Sustainable Energy Financing2 Districts; to provide relative to financing for projects in such districts; to provide for3 property assessment and collection of such assessments within such districts; and to4 provide for related matters.5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6 Section 1. R.S. 33:130.812(C) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:7 ยง130.812. Financing for projects8 * * *9 C.(1) If agreed by the district, the amount of the loan including interest rates10 and administrative fees shall be assessed against the immovable property upon which11 the improvements are placed and shall be collected in the same manner as is12 provided for the ad valorem taxes assessed on the property by the local governmental13 subdivision creating the district. In order to secure repayment of loans, upon entering14 into a loan with a borrower, the local government subdivision creating a district shall15 file a statement of lien with the recorder of mortgages for the parish in which the16 property is located to which the energy efficiency improvements are made in order17 to have legal effect. The lien or privilege shall take effect against third persons upon18 filing the statement of lien with the appropriate recorder of mortgages for the parish19 where the property is located. The lien shall rank according to the time of filing of20 the statement of lien and shall be inferior to all mortgages and privileges that are21 effective against third persons before the statement of lien is filed. That lien shall22 HLS 10RS-1388 REENGROSSED HB NO. 973 Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. have priority over other mortgages and privileges except for privileges for ad1 valorem taxes.2 (2) The district may enter into any necessary agreement with the sheriff or3 other local ad valorem property tax collector for assessing and collecting the4 assessment provided for in this Subsection, including provisions for reimbursing the5 sheriff or other collector for the cost of such assessment and collection. The6 statement of lien shall contain the following:7 (a) Identity of the lien holder, including a contact name, address, and phone8 number.9 (b) Identity of borrower, including borrower's full name, domicile, and10 permanent mailing address, and last four digits of the borrower's social security11 number or taxpayer identification number, whichever is applicable.12 (c) Legal description of the property encumbered with the lien.13 (d) Date that the lien is created, which means the date that the loan is closed.14 (e) Dollar amount of lien.15 (3) Upon failure of the property owner to pay the assessment within thirty16 days of receipt, the local governmental subdivision may file a certified copy of said17 charges with the recorder of mortgages, and the same, when so filed and recorded,18 shall operate as a lien and privilege in favor of the local governmental subdivision19 and district. Such lien and privilege shall have the same ranking as an ad valorem20 tax lien on immovable property as provided in R.S. 9:4821(1), and may be enforced21 and collected enforce and collect the amount due for the current year by ordinary22 civil proceeding or enforced and collected as any ordinary property tax lien assessed23 against the property and collected in the manner fixed for collection of tax and24 subject to the same civil penalties for delinquencies, together with proceedings in25 accordance with Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Articles 851 et seq. and may26 recover attorneys' fees and costs incurred in notification to the owner and the27 enforcement and with collection of the amounts owed.28 HLS 10RS-1388 REENGROSSED HB NO. 973 Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. (4) The duration of the effect of recordation of a statement of lien, the1 method of reinscription of the statement of lien, and the cancellation of recordation2 of a statement of lien after the effect of recordation has ceased shall be governed by3 the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title XXII-A of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code.4 DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] Foil HB No. 973 Abstract: Provides with respect to financing for projects in sustainable energy financing districts. Present law authorizes governing authorities of any local governmental subdivisions otherwise authorized to collect property taxes and to issue and sell bonds to create special districts known as sustainable energy financing districts. Relative to financing for projects, authorizes the local governmental subdivision to incur debt in order to provide to the district sufficient funds to make the loans provided for in present law and authorizes owners of property in the district to request loans from the district to cover the costs of energy-related improvements to the property. Provides for loan criteria, conditions, and terms. Proposed law retains present law. Present law provides that if agreed by the district, the amount of the loan shall be assessed against the property and collected in the same manner as ad valorem taxes assessed on the property by the local governmental subdivision. Authorizes the district to enter into agreements with the sheriff or other property tax collector for assessing and collecting the assessment. Proposed law removes present law and provides that in order to secure repayment of loans, the local government subdivision shall file a statement of lien with the recorder of mortgages for the parish in which the property is located to which the energy efficiency improvements are made in order to have legal effect. Further provides that the lien or privilege shall take effect against third persons upon the filing of the statement of lien and that the lien shall rank according the time of filing of such statement and be inferior to all mortgages and privileges that are effective against third persons before such statement is filed. Provides that the lien shall have priority over other mortgages and privileges except for privileges for ad valorem taxes. Adds specific information the statement of lien shall contain. Present law authorizes, upon failure of the property owner to pay the assessment within 30 days of receipt, the local governmental subdivision to file a certified copy of charges with the recorder of mortgages, which shall operate as a lien and privilege in favor of the local governmental subdivision and district. Provides that such lien and privilege shall have the same ranking as an ad valorem tax lien on immovable property and may be enforced and collected by ordinary civil proceeding or enforced and collected as any ordinary property tax lien assessed against the property and collected in the manner fixed for collection of tax and subject to the same civil penalties for delinquencies, together with attorney fees and costs incurred in notification to the owner and the enforcement and collection of the amounts owed. Proposed law removes the provisions relative to the filing of the certified copy of charges which shall operate as a lien and privilege and how they may be enforced and collected and HLS 10RS-1388 REENGROSSED HB NO. 973 Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. instead provides that upon such failure to pay, the local governmental subdivision may collect the amount due for the current year by ordinary civil proceedings in accordance with La. C.C.P. Art. 851 et seq. (ordinary proceedings). Adds that the duration of the effect of a statement of lien's recordation, method of reinscription, and cancellation of recordation after the effect of recordation has ceased shall be governed by the provisions of C.C. Arts. 3354- 3368 (mortgage records). (Amends R.S. 33:130.812(C))