The original instrument was prepared by Jacob Wilson. The following digest, which
does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by Christine
Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 73 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Womack
Proposed law creates the "Community Sewerage System Infrastructure Sustainability Act" and
provides for legislative intent to develop a community sewerage system accountability process which
supports sewerage system infrastructure sustainability for the citizens of Louisiana.
Proposed law defines "community sewerage system" as any treatment works, whether publically or
privately owned, which serves multiple connections and consists of a collection or pumping and
transport system or a treatment facility. For the purposes of proposed law, "community sewerage
system" includes any local governing authority which operates a community sewerage system.
Proposed law provides that a community sewerage system shall submit a status verification from the
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), a status verification from the La. Department of
Health (LDH), and a sewer fiscal status verification from the legislative auditor if the community
sewerage system does any of the following:
(1)Seeks approval from the State Bond Commission to incur any additional debt not directly
related to the improvement and sustainability of the community sewerage system or a related
community water system.
(2)Receives from the division of administration, office of facility planning and control a
notification of a capital outlay appropriation.
(3)Seeks approval for a rate adjustment from the appropriate rate setting authority not directly
related to the improvement and sustainability of the community sewerage system or a related
community water system.
Proposed law provides that the application and verification requirements provided for in proposed
law do not apply to any application to the State Bond Commission seeking approval for the
following cash flow loans, dedicated tax or bond revenue streams, emergency financing as
determined by the State Bond Commission, and refinancing of existing debt.
Proposed law provides that, after consideration of the compliance and fiscal status verifications, the
State Bond Commission, the division of administration, and the rate setting authority may deny the
request of the community sewerage system.
Proposed law provides that the community sewerage system shall not be precluded from obtaining
funding, participating in the capital outlay program, or obtaining approval for a rate increase for the
purpose of improvement and sustainability of the community sewerage system or a related community water system based upon the compliance and fiscal status verifications provided in
accordance with proposed law.
Proposed law provides that not later than twenty days after receipt of a request from a community
sewerage system, DEQ and LDH shall each review its own records and provide a compliance status
verification, with a clear statement of compliance status, based upon criteria determined by that
department.
Proposed law provides that not later than twenty days after receipt of a request from a community
sewerage system, the legislative auditor shall review its records and provide a fiscal status
verification, with a clear statement of the system's level of financial sustainability, based upon
criteria determined by the auditor.
Proposed law provides that a compliance status verification provided by DEQ or LDH be on an
official certification form or on department letterhead and signed by qualified staff member.
Proposed law provides that a fiscal status verification provided by the legislative auditor be on
official letterhead and signed by a qualified member of the auditor's staff.
Proposed law prohibits a local governing authority that operates a community sewerage system from
expending any money raised through customer payments or from any other sewerage system revenue
for any item, debt payment, or public purpose other than the improvement and sustainability of the
community sewerage system. Proposed law shall not be construed to prohibit the payment of bonded
indebtedness secured by the sewerage system's revenue incurred prior to the effective date of
proposed law.
Proposed law provides that any community sewerage system indicated as not in regulatory
compliance, not financially sustainable, or using customer sewer payments in violation of proposed
law shall be subject to an oversight and accountability hearing before the Legislative Audit Advisory
Council or a hearing before the Fiscal Review Committee.
Proposed law provides that any community sewerage system indicated as not in regulatory
compliance, not financially sustainable, or using customer sewer payments in violation of proposed
law may be subject to a civil action for receivership or a criminal action for malfeasance in office.
Proposed law provides for rulemaking by DEQ and LDH.
Effective January 1, 2025.
(Adds R.S. 30:2075.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Changes time for DEQ, LDH, and the legislative auditor to generate their respective compliance reports from 10 days to 20 days.
2. Changes the DEQ reported verification status from state violation history to
enforcement action history.
3. Clarifies the meaning of "sustainability".
4. Provides that violating systems will be subject to certain oversight hearings and may
be subject to certain civil or criminal actions.