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 225 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Hilferty
Abstract: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the Sewerage and Water Board of New
Orleans.
Present law (R.S. 33:4071) establishes the sewerage and water board (board) of the city of New
Orleans. Provides for the composition of the board, which includes the mayor of the city. Provides
for the powers and duties of the board.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present constitution prohibits the state and any political subdivision from loaning, pledging, or
donating its funds, credit, property, or things of value (Art. VII, Sec. 14). Provides exceptions.
Present constitution does not prevent a political subdivision from waiving charges for water if the
charges are the result of water lost due to damage to the water delivery infrastructure and that
damage is not the result of any act or failure to act by the customer.
Present law authorizes the board to adopt rules and procedures authorizing the adjusting, releasing,
or extinguishing of any indebtedness from a customer's sewerage and water bill in the following
cases:
(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.
Proposed law adds instances in which the board generates inaccurate invoices to such
failures.
(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. Proposed law adds improper
meter reading and failure to submit an invoice for two consecutive months to such instances.
(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. Proposed law retains present law.
(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. Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 33:4071(F)(1) and (2))