RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
Act 445 (SB 50) 2015 Regular Session Murray
Present constitution prohibits the funds, credit, property, or things of value of the state or of
any political subdivision from being loaned, pledged, or donated to or for any person,
association, or corporation, public or private. Provides that the donation, loan, or pledge of
public credit is subject to Art. VII, §14 of the 1921 Constitution made statutory by the 1974
Constitution.
New law authorizes the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to adopt rules and
procedures to adjust, release, or extinguish any indebtedness of an individual's sewerage and
water bill.
New law requires that the rule limit the board's compromising authority to any of the
following:
(1)Instances of error on the part of the district such as equipment failure or process
failure, and in such instances, only to the extent the failure increased the customer's
indebtedness.
(2) Instances in which an employee of the board, or a person acting on behalf of the
board, fails to read a customer's water meter regardless of whether the board has
submitted an invoice to the customer for an amount owed during any such period.
(3) Instances of error not on the part of the customer due to unforeseen damage or an
extreme weather-related event or mandatory evacuation, and in such instances, only
to the extent the situation increased the customer's indebtedness.
(4) Instances where the customer is disproportionately impoverished or needy and
qualifies for an adjustment, release, or extinguishment pursuant to an established
social welfare program of the district.
Effective upon signature of the governor (July 1, 2015).
(Adds R.S. 33:4071(F))