SLS 12RS-667 REENGROSSED Page 1 of 7 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2012 SENATE BILL NO. 499 BY SENATOR RISER BONDS. Prohibits the State Bond Commission from approving bonds, notes, or other indebtedness of certain political subdivisions against whom there is an unpaid final, nonappealable judgment issued by a court of competent jurisdiction for amounts owed for services performed under contract. (8/1/12) AN ACT1 To enact R.S. 39:1405.5, relative to the issuance of debt by political subdivisions; to prohibit2 the State Bond Commission from approving the issuance of bonds, notes, or other3 evidences of indebtedness related to certain political subdivisions against whom4 there are filed certain unpaid judgments; to provide for the filing of notices of certain5 unpaid eligible judgments with the State Bond Commission; to provide that eligible6 judgments shall include judgments owed for goods, services, or work performed7 under a contractual obligation; to provide for exemptions for certain political8 subdivisions; and to provide for related matters.9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:10 Section 1. R.S. 39:1405.5 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 11 ยง1405.5. Other outstanding indebtedness12 A. Except as provided in Subsections F, G, and H of this Section, bonds,13 notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of any political subdivision required14 by the constitution or laws of Louisiana to be sold or approved by the State15 Bond Commission, shall not be sold or approved by the State Bond Commission16 if the political subdivision has a notice of eligible judgment on file with the State17 SB NO. 499 SLS 12RS-667 REENGROSSED Page 2 of 7 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Bond Commission, unless the political subdivision has obtained prior written1 approval from the judgment creditor described in the notice or the notice is2 withdrawn as provided in Subsection C of this Section.3 B. As used in this Section, the following words shall have the meanings4 provided in this Subsection, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:5 (1) "Judgment creditor" means any person or entity who has obtained6 an eligible judgment against a political subdivision, or the judgment creditor's7 heirs, successors, or assignees.8 (2) "Eligible judgment" means a judgment which has become final and9 nonappealable issued by a court of competent jurisdiction after the effective10 date of this statute, against a political subdivision for amounts owed for goods,11 services, or work performed under a contractual obligation and which12 judgment is recorded in the mortgage records in the parish where the political13 subdivision is located.14 (3) "Contractual obligation" means a voluntary written agreement15 between a political subdivision and any person or entity who contracts to16 provide goods, services, or work for, or on the behalf of, the political subdivision17 as an independent contractor, including but not limited to any professional18 service contract, consulting agreement, or procurement contract.19 C. The notice of eligible judgment filed with the State Bond Commission20 shall state the amount of the judgment indebtedness and shall include a copy of21 the recorded eligible judgment. The notice shall remain on file with the State22 Bond Commission until withdrawn. The notice shall be withdrawn by the23 judgment creditor promptly upon satisfaction of the judgment or by the State24 Bond Commission upon the petition of a political subdivision after a showing25 that the eligible judgment has been canceled by the recorder of mortgages in all26 applicable parishes or that the notice of judgment was improperly filed on a27 noneligible judgment.28 D. The State Bond Commission shall not approve any bonds, notes, or29 SB NO. 499 SLS 12RS-667 REENGROSSED Page 3 of 7 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. other evidences of indebtedness by any political subdivision, special district,1 public trust, or other entity seeking to issue them on behalf of a political2 subdivision which has a notice of eligible judgment on file with the State Bond3 Commission, unless the political subdivision has obtained prior written4 approval from the judgment creditor described in the notice or the judgment5 is withdrawn as provided in Subsection C of this Section.6 E. Bonds, notes or certificates of indebtedness shall not be invalid7 because of any noncompliance with this Section and shall be incontestable in the8 hands of bona fide purchasers or holders for value.9 F. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to bonds, notes, or other10 evidence of indebtedness of the political subdivisions within the following11 parishes or municipalities, or bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness12 by any political subdivision, special district, public trust, or other entity seeking13 to issue them on behalf of the political subdivisions within the following parishes14 or municipalities, if the parishes or municipalities are listed, or have the15 following populations according to the most recent federal decennial census:16 (1) Any parish with a population between fifty thousand and fifty-two17 thousand two hundred fifty.18 (2) Any parish with a population between seventy thousand and eighty19 thousand.20 (3) Any parish with a population between fifty-three thousand two21 hundred fifty and fifty-four thousand seven hundred.22 (4) Any parish with a population between sixty thousand five hundred23 and sixty-one thousand eight hundred.24 (5) Any parish with a population between eighty-two thousand five25 hundred and eighty-three thousand five hundred.26 (6) Any parish with a population between fifty-seven thousand and fifty-27 eight thousand.28 (7) Any parish with a population between fifty-two thousand two29 SB NO. 499 SLS 12RS-667 REENGROSSED Page 4 of 7 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. hundred and fifty-two thousand five hundred.1 (8) Any parish with a population between thirty-five thousand five2 hundred and thirty-five thousand eight hundred.3 (9) Any parish with a population between one hundred ninety thousand4 and two hundred thousand.5 (10) Any parish with a population between six thousand and seven6 thousand.7 (11) Any parish with a population between forty-seven thousand and8 forty-eight thousand.9 (12) Any parish with a population between one hundred seventeen10 thousand and one hundred twenty-five thousand.11 (13) Any parish with a population between two hundred thirty thousand12 and two hundred forty thousand.13 (14) Any parish with a population between two hundred twenty thousand14 and two hundred twenty-five thousand eighteen.15 (15) Any parish with a population between one hundred twenty-eight16 thousand and one hundred twenty-nine thousand.17 (16) Any parish with a population between ten thousand six hundred and18 eleven thousand four hundred.19 (17) Any parish with a population between four hundred thirty thousand20 and four hundred forty thousand.21 (18) Any municipality with a population between seventeen thousand and22 eighteen thousand.23 (19) Any municipality with a population between twenty-two thousand24 and twenty-seven thousand.25 (20) Any parish with a population between forty-one thousand five26 hundred and forty-three thousand.27 (21) Any parish with a population between twenty-five thousand and28 twenty-six thousand.29 SB NO. 499 SLS 12RS-667 REENGROSSED Page 5 of 7 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. (22) Any parish with a population between thirty-three thousand five1 hundred and thirty-four thousand.2 (23) Any parish with a population between twenty thousand seven3 hundred and twenty thousand seven hundred fifty.4 (24) Any parish with a population between eleven thousand seven5 hundred and twelve thousand one hundred.6 (25) Any parish with a population between twenty-seven thousand and7 twenty-eight thousand.8 (26) Any parish with a population between seven thousand five hundred9 and eight thousand.10 (27) Any parish with a population between five thousand and five11 thousand five hundred.12 (28) Any parish with a population between two hundred forty thousand13 and three hundred thousand.14 (29) Any parish with a population between one hundred twelve thousand15 and one hundred twenty thousand.16 (30) Any parish with a population between twenty-six thousand and17 twenty-seven thousand.18 (31) Any parish with a population greater than four hundred forty19 thousand.20 (32) Any parish with a population between three hundred forty21 thousand and three hundred fifty thousand.22 (33) Any municipality with a population between three thousand two23 hundred twenty-one and three thousand two hundred thirty.24 (34) Assumption, Ascension, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles,25 Lafourche, Iberville, West Baton Rouge, and Terrebonne.26 G. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the parishes of27 Lincoln, Grant, Bienville, Jackson, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine28 and Winn or to any municipalities contained in any of these parishes.29 SB NO. 499 SLS 12RS-667 REENGROSSED Page 6 of 7 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. H. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the parishes of1 Webster and Claiborne.2 I. Any parish with a population between ten thousand and ten thousand3 three hundred according to the most recent federal decennial census is not4 exempt from the provisions of this Section.5 The original instrument was prepared by Martha Hess. The following digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by Jeanne Johnston. DIGEST Riser (SB 499) Proposed law prohibits the State Bond Commission from selling or approving bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of any political subdivision required by the Constitution or laws to be sold or approved by the State Bond Commission, if the political subdivision has a notice of eligible judgment on file with the State Bond Commission, unless the political subdivision has obtained prior written approval from the judgment creditor or the notice is withdrawn as provided in proposed law. Proposed law defines "eligible judgment" as a judgment which has become final and nonappealable issued by a court of competent jurisdiction after the effective date of proposed law, against a political subdivision for amounts owed for work or services performed under a contractual obligation, which judgment is recorded in the mortgage records in the parish where the political subdivision is located. Proposed law defines "contractual obligation" as a voluntary written agreement between a political subdivision and any person or entity who contracts to provide goods, services, expertise, or work for, or on the behalf of, the political subdivision as an independent contractor, including but not limited to any professional service contract, consulting agreement, or procurement contract. Proposed law provides that the notice of eligible judgment filed with the State Bond Commission shall state the amount of the judgment indebtedness and shall include a copy of the recorded eligible judgment. The notice shall remain on file with the State Bond Commission until withdrawn. The notice shall be withdrawn by the judgment creditor promptly upon satisfaction of the judgment or by the State Bond Commission upon the petition of a political subdivision after a showing that the eligible judgment has been canceled by the recorder of mortgages in all applicable parishes or that the notice of judgment was improperly filed on a noneligible judgment. Proposed law prohibits the State Bond Commission from approving any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness by any political subdivision, special district, public trust, or other entity seeking to issue on behalf of a political subdivision which has a notice of eligible judgment on file with the State Bond Commission, unless the proposed issuer has obtained prior written approval from the judgment creditor described in the notice or the judgment is withdrawn as provided in proposed law. Proposed law provides that bonds, notes or certificates of indebtedness shall not be invalid because of any noncompliance with proposed law and shall be incontestable in the hands of bona fide purchasers or holders for value. The following parishes are exempted from the provisions of proposed law either specifically SB NO. 499 SLS 12RS-667 REENGROSSED Page 7 of 7 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. by place name or through use of U.S. Census data population parameters: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Baton Rouge, and Winn. The following municipalities are exempted from the provisions of proposed law through use of U.S. Census data population parameters: Central, La. -East Baton Rouge Parish Gretna, La. -Jefferson Parish Welsh, La. -Jefferson Davis Parish Caldwell Parish is specifically included in the provisions of proposed law through use of U.S. Census data population parameters. Effective August 1, 2012. (Adds R.S. 39:1405.5) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs to the original bill 1. Changes definition of "eligible judgment" to mean a judgment which has become final and nonappealable and removes reference to appeal bond. 2. Technical amendment. Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill 1. Makes technical corrections. 2. Specifically includes or excludes certain parishes and municipalities either specifically by place name or through use of U.S. Census data population parameters.