SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2014 SENATE BILL NO. 678 BY SENATOR GALLOT SPECIAL DISTRICTS. Creates the Louisiana Economic Development District as a political subdivision. (gov sig) AN ACT1 To enact Chapter 34 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised2 of R.S. 33:9301 through 9309, relative to economic and community development in3 Orleans Parish; to create the Louisiana Economic Development District, a political4 subdivision of the State of Louisiana; to provide for the boundaries of the district;5 to provide for the governance of the district; to provide for the authority, powers,6 duties, and function of the governing body; to allow for the levy and collection of7 taxes and special assessments within the district; to provide for the authority to create8 subdistricts within the district; to authorize the district to issue and sell bonds; to9 provide for the duration of the district; and to provide for related matters.10 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published.11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:12 Section 1. Chapter 34 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised13 of R.S. 33:9301 through 9309, is hereby enacted to read as follows:14 CHAPTER 34. LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT15 §9301. Title16 The provisions of this Chapter shall hereafter be known as the "Louisiana17 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Economic1 Development District Act".2 §9302. Louisiana Sports and Entertainment District; creation; territorial3 jurisdiction4 A. There is hereby created in the city of New Orleans, referred to in this5 Chapter as the "city", the Economic Development District, a body politic and6 corporate of the state, referred to in this Chapter as the "district", which shall7 be comprised of all the property within Orleans Parish, referred to in this8 Chapter as the "property".9 B. The district shall be a political subdivision of the state as defined in10 Article VI, Section 44 of the Constitution of Louisiana. Pursuant to Article VI,11 Sections 19 and 21 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the district is hereby12 granted all of the rights, powers, privileges and immunities accorded by law and13 the Constitution of Louisiana to political subdivisions of the state, subject to the14 limitations provided in this Chapter.15 §9033. Purpose16 The district is created to provide for cooperative economic and17 community development among the district, the city, the state and the owners18 of property in the district, to enhance the development of and improvement to19 the property within the area of the district, and to expand the entertainment20 and leisure activities within the district.21 §9034. Governance22 A. In order to provide for the orderly development of the district and23 effect the purposes of the district, the district shall be administered and24 governed by a board of commissioners, referred to in this Chapter as the25 "board," composed of those members duly appointed to and serving on the26 board of commissioners of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District,27 referred to in this Section as the "LSED."28 B. The members of the board shall serve without salary or per diem. The29 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. board may reimburse any member for reasonable, actual and necessary1 expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties pursuant to this2 Chapter.3 C. The board shall elect from among its members a president, a vice4 president, a secretary, and a treasurer, whose duties shall be those usual to such5 offices. At the option of the board, the offices of secretary and treasurer may be6 held by one person.7 D. The board shall meet in regular session once each month and shall8 also meet in special session as often as the president of the board convenes the9 board or upon the written request of three members. A majority of the10 members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.11 All such meetings shall be public meetings to the provisions of R.S. 42:5. The12 board shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall make them available for13 inspection through the board's secretary or secretary-treasurer, who shall also14 maintain the minute books and archives of the district. The monies, funds, and15 accounts of the district shall be in the official custody of the board.16 E. The domicile of the board shall be established by the board at a17 location within the district. The official journal of the district shall be the18 official journal of the LSED.19 §9305. Rights and powers20 The district, acting by and through its board, shall have and exercise all21 powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for the carrying out22 of its objects and purposes, including but not limited to the following in addition23 to the other rights and powers set out in this Chapter:24 (1) To sue and be sued.25 (2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.26 (3) To acquire by gift, grant, purchase, or otherwise all property,27 including rights of way; to hold and use any franchise or property, real,28 personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or29 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 4 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. desirable for carrying out the objects and purposes of the district.1 (4) To enter into contracts for the purchase, lease, acquisition,2 construction, and improvement of works and facilities necessary in connection3 with the purposes of the district, and to mortgage its properties and enter into4 leases and other agreements on terms the board approves.5 (5) To require and issue licenses with respect to its properties and6 facilities.7 (6) To regulate the imposition of fees and rentals charged by the district8 for its facilities and services rendered by it.9 (7) To appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties,10 and fix their compensation.11 (8) To enter into cooperative endeavor agreements with any other party,12 public or private, to accomplish the purposes of this Chapter.13 (9) To exercise any and all of the powers granted to an economic14 development district as if the district were an economic development district15 established pursuant to Part 2 of Chapter 27 of Title 33 of the Louisiana16 Revised Statutes of 1950, including but not limited to the powers of tax17 increment financing pursuant to R.S. 33:9038.33 and 33:9038.34 and the power18 to levy taxes within the district pursuant to R.S. 33:9038.39, provided that any19 such powers exercised by the district shall be subject to the provisions of Part20 2 of Chapter 27 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.21 §9306. Levy of taxes22 A. It is expressly provided that any taxes levied by the district, or any23 subdistrict created by the district, may exceed the limitation set forth by Article24 VI, Section 29(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana and shall be imposed,25 collected and enforced subject to the terms of the resolution imposing the tax26 and the provisions of Chapter 2 of Subtitle II of Chapter 47 of the Louisiana27 Revised Statutes of 1950.28 B. Any taxes or assessments of any type to be levied by the district, or29 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 5 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. any subdistrict created by the district, shall be levied only after the board has1 adopted an appropriate resolution giving notice of its intention to levy such2 taxes or assessments, which resolution shall include a general description of the3 taxes or assessments to be levied, and notice of this intention shall be published4 once a week for two weeks in the official journal of the district, the first5 publication to appear at least fourteen days before the public meeting of the6 board at which the board will meet in open and public session to hear any7 objections to the proposed taxes or assessments. The notice of intent so8 published shall state the date, time, and place of the public hearing. Such taxes9 or assessments may be levied only after the board has called a special election10 submitting the proposition for the levy of such taxes or assessments to the11 qualified electors of the district or subdistrict, as applicable, and the proposition12 has received the favorable vote of a majority of the electors voting in the13 election; however, in the event there are no qualified electors in the district or14 subdistrict, as applicable, as certified by the registrar of voters, no such election15 shall be required. The powers and rights conferred by this Section shall be in16 addition to the powers and rights conferred by any other general or special law.17 This Section does and shall be construed to provide a complete and additional18 method for the levy of any taxes or assessments. No election, proceeding, notice,19 or approval shall be required for the levy of such taxes or assessments except20 as provided herein.21 §9307. Creation of subdistricts22 A. The district may create subdistricts as provided in this Section. The23 district shall publish notice of its intent to create a subdistrict in the official24 journal of the district. At least ten days after publication of such notice in the25 official journal of the district, the board shall conduct a public hearing on the26 question of creating such subdistrict. Thereafter, the board may designate one27 or more areas within the boundaries of the district as a subdistrict of the28 district. Each subdistrict shall constitute a political subdivision of the state and29 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 6 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. shall be governed by the board.1 B. Each subdistrict shall have the same powers as the district and shall2 be given a name and designated as "Louisiana Economic Development District3 Subdistrict No. or such other suitable name as the board may designate.4 §9308. Bonds of the district5 A. The district, or any subdistrict created by the district, is hereby6 authorized and empowered to issue and sell from time to time bonds, notes,7 renewal notes, refunding bonds, interim certificates, certificates of indebtedness,8 certificates of participation, debentures, warrants, commercial paper, or other9 obligations or evidences of indebtedness to provide funds for and to fulfill and10 achieve its public purpose or corporate purposes, as set forth in this Chapter,11 including but not limited to the payment of all or a portion of the costs of a12 project, to provide amounts necessary for any corporate purposes, including13 necessary and incidental expenses in connection with the issuance of the14 obligations, the payment of principal and interest on the obligations of the15 district, the establishment of reserves to secure such obligations, and all other16 purposes and expenditures of the district incident to and necessary or17 convenient to carry out its public functions or corporate purposes, and any18 credit enhancement for said obligations.19 B. Except as may otherwise be provided by the board, all obligations20 issued by the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, shall be21 negotiable instruments and payable solely from the revenues of the district or22 subdistrict, as applicable, as determined by the board, or from any other23 sources whatsoever, that may be available to the district or subdistrict, as24 applicable, but shall not be secured by the full faith and credit of the state or the25 city.26 C. Obligations shall be authorized, issued, and sold by a resolution or27 resolutions of the board. Such bonds or obligations may be of such series, bear28 such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or29 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 7 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. rates, including variable, adjustable, or zero interest rates, be payable at such1 time or times, be in such denominations and in such form, carry such2 registration and exchangeability privileges, be payable at such place or places,3 be subject to such terms of redemption, and be entitled to such priorities on the4 income, revenue, and receipts of, or available to, the district or subdistrict, as5 applicable, as may be provided by the board in the resolution or resolutions6 providing for the issuance and sale of the bonds or obligations of the district.7 D. The obligations of the district, or any subdistrict created by the8 district, shall be signed by such officers of the board by either manual or9 facsimile signatures as shall be determined by resolution or resolutions of the10 board, and shall have impressed or imprinted thereon the seal of the district, or11 a facsimile thereof.12 E. Any obligations of the district, or any subdistrict created by the13 district, may be validly issued, sold, and delivered, notwithstanding that one or14 more of the officers of the board signing such obligations, or whose facsimile15 signature or signatures may be on the obligations, shall have ceased to be such16 officer of the board at the time such obligations shall actually have been17 delivered.18 F. Obligations of the district, or any subdistrict created by the district,19 may be sold at such price or prices, at public or private negotiated sale, in such20 manner and from time to time as may be determined by the district to be most21 beneficial, subject to approval of the State Bond Commission, and the district22 may pay all expenses, premiums, fees, or commissions, which it may deem23 necessary or advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof.24 G. The board may authorize the establishment of a fund or funds for the25 creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, or such26 other funds or reserves as the board may approve with respect to the financing27 and operation of any project funded with the proceeds of such bonds and as28 may be authorized by any bond resolution, trust agreement, indenture of trust29 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 8 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. or similar instrument or agreement pursuant to the provisions of which the1 issuance of bonds or other obligations of the district or subdistrict may be2 authorized.3 H. Any cost, obligation, or expense incurred for any of the purposes or4 powers of the district specified in this Chapter shall be a part of the project5 costs and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of bonds or6 other obligations issued by the district or subdistrict.7 I. For a period of thirty days from the date of publication of the8 resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds hereunder, any persons in interest9 shall have the right to contest the legality of the resolution and the legality of the10 bond issue for any cause, after which time no one shall have any cause or right11 of action to contest the legality of said resolution or of the bonds authorized12 thereby for any cause whatsoever. If no suit, action, or proceeding is begun13 contesting the validity of the bond issue within the thirty days herein14 prescribed, the authority to issue the bonds and to provide for the payment15 thereof, and the legality thereof and all of the provisions of the resolution16 authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall be conclusively presumed, and no17 court shall have authority to inquire into such matters.18 J. Neither the members of the board nor any person executing the bonds19 shall be personally liable for the bonds or be subject to any personal liability by20 reason of the issuance thereof. However, the limitation of liability provided for21 in this Subsection shall not apply to any gross negligence or criminal negligence22 on the part of any member of the board or person executing the bonds.23 K. All obligations authorized to be issued by the district, or any24 subdistrict created by the district, pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter,25 together with interest thereof, income therefrom, and gain upon the sale thereof26 shall be exempt from all state and local taxes.27 L. The state and all public officers, any parish, municipality, or other28 subdivision or instrumentality of the state, any political subdivision, any bank,29 SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 9 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. banker, trust company, savings bank and institution, building and loan1 association, savings and loan association, investment company or any person2 carrying on a banking or investment business, any insurance company or3 business, insurance association, and any person carrying on an insurance4 business, and any executor, administrator, curator, trustee, and other fiduciary,5 and any retirement system or pension fund may legally invest any funds6 belonging to them or within their control in any bonds or other obligations7 issued by the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, pursuant to the8 provisions of this Chapter, and such bonds or other obligations shall be9 authorized security for all public deposits. It is the purpose of this Subsection10 to authorize such persons, firms, corporations, associations, political11 subdivisions and officers, or other entities, public or private, to use any funds12 owned or controlled by them, including but not limited to sinking, insurance,13 investment, retirement, compensation, pension and trust funds, and funds held14 on deposit, for the purchase of any such bonds or other obligations of the15 district or subdistrict, and that any such bonds shall be authorized security for16 all public deposits. However, nothing contained in this Subsection with regard17 to legal investments or security for public deposits shall be construed as18 relieving any such person, firm, corporation, or other entity from any duty of19 exercising reasonable care in selecting securities. 20 §9309. Liberal construction21 This Chapter, being necessary for the welfare of the state, the city-parish22 and its residents, shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes thereof.23 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not24 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature25 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If26 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become27 effective on the day following such approval.28 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 10 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot. DIGEST Gallot (SB 678) Enacts the "Louisiana Economic Development District Act." Creates in the city of New Orleans, the Economic Development District, comprised of all the property within Orleans Parish. Provides that the district is political subdivision and granted all of the rights, powers, privileges and immunities accorded by law and the constitution to political subdivisions, subject to the limitations provided in proposed law. Provides that the district is created to provide for cooperative economic and community development among the district, the city, the state and the owners of property in the district, to enhance the development of and improvement to the property within the area of the district, and to expand the entertainment and leisure activities within the district. Provides that in order to provide for the orderly development of the district and effect the purposes of the district, the district shall be administered and governed by a board of commissioners, composed of those members duly appointed to and serving on the board of commissioners of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District ("LSED"). Provides that the board members shall serve without salary or per diem, but may reimburse any member for reasonable, actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties pursuant to proposed law. Provide that the board shall elect from among its members a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer, whose duties shall be those usual to such offices. At the option of the board, the offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by one person. Provides that the board shall meet in regular session once each month and shall also meet in special session as often as the president of the board convenes the board or upon the written request of three members. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All such meetings shall be public meetings to the provisions of R.S. 42:5. The board shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall make them available for inspection through the board's secretary or secretary-treasurer, who shall also maintain the minute books and archives of the district. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall be in the official custody of the board. Provides that the domicile of the board shall be established by the board at a location within the district and that the official journal of the district shall be the official journal of the LSED. Provides that the district, acting by and through its board, shall have and exercise all powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for the carrying out of its objects and purposes, including but not limited to the following in addition to the other rights and powers set out in proposed law: (1) To sue and be sued. (2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal. (3) To acquire by gift, grant, purchase, or otherwise all property, including rights of way; to hold and use any franchise or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or desirable for carrying out the objects and purposes of the district. (4) To enter into contracts for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction, and SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 11 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. improvement of works and facilities necessary in connection with the purposes of the district, and to mortgage its properties and enter into leases and other agreements on terms the board approves. (5) To require and issue licenses with respect to its properties and facilities. (6) To regulate the imposition of fees and rentals charged by the district for its facilities and services rendered by it. (7) To appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties, and fix their compensation. (8) To enter into cooperative endeavor agreements with any other party, public or private, to accomplish the purposes of proposed law. (9) To exercise any and all of the powers granted to an economic development district as if the district were an economic development district established pursuant to Part 2 of Chapter 27 of Title 33 of the LRS, including but not limited to the powers of tax increment financing pursuant to R.S. 33:9038.33 and 33:9038.34 and the power to levy taxes within the district pursuant to R.S. 33:9038.39, provided that any such powers exercised by the district shall be subject to the provisions of Part 2 of Chapter 27 of Title 33 of the LRS. Provides that it is expressly provided that any taxes levied by the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, may exceed the limitation set forth by Article VI, Section 29(A) of the constitution and shall be imposed, collected and enforced subject to the terms of the resolution imposing the tax and the provisions of Chapter 2 of Subtitle II of Chapter 47 of the LRS. Provides that any taxes or assessments of any type to be levied by the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, shall be levied only after the board has adopted an appropriate resolution giving notice of its intention to levy such taxes or assessments, which resolution shall include a general description of the taxes or assessments to be levied, and notice of this intention shall be published once a week for two weeks in the official journal of the district, the first publication to appear at least fourteen days before the public meeting of the board at which the board will meet in open and public session to hear any objections to the proposed taxes or assessments. The notice of intent so published shall state the date, time, and place of the public hearing. Such taxes or assessments may be levied only after the board has called a special election submitting the proposition for the levy of such taxes or assessments to the qualified electors of the district or subdistrict, as applicable, and the proposition has received the favorable vote of a majority of the electors voting in the election; however, in the event there are no qualified electors in the district or subdistrict, as applicable, as certified by the registrar of voters, no such election shall be required. The powers and rights conferred by proposed law shall be in addition to the powers and rights conferred by any other general or special law. Proposed law does and shall be construed to provide a complete and additional method for the levy of any taxes or assessments. No election, proceeding, notice, or approval shall be required for the levy of such taxes or assessments except as provided herein. Provides that the district may create subdistricts. The district shall publish notice of its intent to create a subdistrict in the official journal of the district. At least 10 days after publication of such notice in the official journal of the district, the board shall conduct a public hearing on the question of creating such subdistrict. Thereafter, the board may designate one or more areas within the boundaries of the district as a subdistrict of the district. Each subdistrict shall constitute a political subdivision of the state and shall be governed by the board. Provides that each subdistrict shall have the same powers as the district and shall be given a name and designated as "Louisiana Economic Development District Subdistrict No. or such other suitable name as the board may designate. Provides that the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, is hereby authorized and empowered to issue and sell from time to time bonds, notes, renewal notes, refunding bonds, interim certificates, certificates of indebtedness, certificates of participation, debentures, SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 12 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. warrants, commercial paper, or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness to provide funds for and to fulfill and achieve its public purpose or corporate purposes, as set forth in this Subpart, including but not limited to the payment of all or a portion of the costs of a project, to provide amounts necessary for any corporate purposes, including necessary and incidental expenses in connection with the issuance of the obligations, the payment of principal and interest on the obligations of the district, the establishment of reserves to secure such obligations, and all other purposes and expenditures of the district incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its public functions or corporate purposes, and any credit enhancement for said obligations. Provides that except as may otherwise be provided by the board, all obligations issued by the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, shall be negotiable instruments and payable solely from the revenues of the district or subdistrict, as applicable, as determined by the board, or from any other sources whatsoever, that may be available to the district or subdistrict, as applicable, but shall not be secured by the full faith and credit of the state or the city. Provides that obligations shall be authorized, issued, and sold by a resolution or resolutions of the board. Such bonds or obligations may be of such series, bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, including variable, adjustable, or zero interest rates, be payable at such time or times, be in such denominations and in such form, carry such registration and exchangeability privileges, be payable at such place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption, and be entitled to such priorities on the income, revenue, and receipts of, or available to, the district or subdistrict, as applicable, as may be provided by the board in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance and sale of the bonds or obligations of the district. Provides that the obligations of the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, shall be signed by such officers of the board by either manual or facsimile signatures as shall be determined by resolution or resolutions of the board, and shall have impressed or imprinted thereon the seal of the district, or a facsimile thereof. Provides that any obligations of the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, may be validly issued, sold, and delivered, notwithstanding that one or more of the officers of the board signing such obligations, or whose facsimile signature or signatures may be on the obligations, shall have ceased to be such officer of the board at the time such obligations shall actually have been delivered. Provides that obligations of the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, may be sold at such price or prices, at public or private negotiated sale, in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the district to be most beneficial, subject to approval of the State Bond Commission, and the district may pay all expenses, premiums, fees, or commissions, which it may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof. Provides that the board may authorize the establishment of a fund or funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, or such other funds or reserves as the board may approve with respect to the financing and operation of any project funded with the proceeds of such bonds and as may be authorized by any bond resolution, trust agreement, indenture of trust or similar instrument or agreement pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of bonds or other obligations of the district or subdistrict may be authorized. Provides that any cost, obligation, or expense incurred for any of the purposes or powers of the district specified in proposed law shall be a part of the project costs and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of bonds or other obligations issued by the district or subdistrict. SB NO. 678 SLS 14RS-1804 ORIGINAL Page 13 of 13 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Provides that for a period of 30 days from the date of publication of the resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds hereunder, any persons in interest shall have the right to contest the legality of the resolution and the legality of the bond issue for any cause, after which time no one shall have any cause or right of action to contest the legality of said resolution or of the bonds authorized thereby for any cause whatsoever. If no suit, action, or proceeding is begun contesting the validity of the bond issue within the thirty days herein prescribed, the authority to issue the bonds and to provide for the payment thereof, and the legality thereof and all of the provisions of the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall be conclusively presumed, and no court shall have authority to inquire into such matters. Provides that neither the members of the board nor any person executing the bonds shall be personally liable for the bonds or be subject to any personal liability by reason of the issuance thereof. However, this limitation of liability shall not apply to any gross negligence or criminal negligence on the part of any member of the board or person executing the bonds. Provides that all obligations authorized to be issued by the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, pursuant to proposed law, together with interest thereof, income therefrom, and gain upon the sale thereof shall be exempt from all state and local taxes. Provides that the state and all public officers, any parish, municipality, or other subdivision or instrumentality of the state, any political subdivision, any bank, banker, trust company, savings bank and institution, building and loan association, savings and loan association, investment company or any person carrying on a banking or investment business, any insurance company or business, insurance association, and any person carrying on an insurance business, and any executor, administrator, curator, trustee, and other fiduciary, and any retirement system or pension fund may legally invest any funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds or other obligations issued by the district, or any subdistrict created by the district, pursuant to proposed law, and such bonds or other obligations shall be authorized security for all public deposits. It is the purpose of this Subsection to authorize such persons, firms, corporations, associations, political subdivisions and officers, or other entities, public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them, including but not limited to sinking, insurance, investment, retirement, compensation, pension and trust funds, and funds held on deposit, for the purchase of any such bonds or other obligations of the district or subdistrict, and that any such bonds shall be authorized security for all public deposits. However, nothing contained in this provision with regard to legal investments or security for public deposits shall be construed as relieving any such person, firm, corporation, or other entity from any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities. Provides that proposed law, being necessary for the welfare of the state, the city-parish and its residents, shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes thereof. Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action. (Adds R.S. 33:9301-9309)