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)]
HB 694 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Abramson
Abstract: Provides for the sale and buy back of immovable property by the Orleans Parish School
Board.
Present law requires that local school boards make available to chartering groups any school
facilities that are vacant or slated to be vacant for lease or purchase up to fair market value. Relative
to the conversion of certain existing schools, present law provides that the facility and all property
within the existing school shall be made available to that chartering group and in exchange, the
chartering group shall pay a proportionate share of the local school board's bonded indebtedness. If
such facilities were constructed at no cost to the local school board, then such facilities including all
equipment, books, instructional materials, and furniture within such facilities shall be provided to
the charter school at no cost. Further provides that if a chartering group determines that a facility or
property that was purchased from the Orleans Parish School Board is no longer needed for an
educational purpose, the group shall first offer to sell the facility or property back to the Orleans
Parish School Board prior to seeking to dispose of it to any other person or entity.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally provides that:
(1)For Orleans Parish School Board, the requirement that it make available for purchase or lease
any immovable property that it owns and that is vacant or slated to be vacant applies to
improved and unimproved property.
(2)A chartering group shall offer right of first refusal to the school board to buy back such
purchased property including unimproved property.
(Amends R.S. 17:3982(B)(2))