§4548.5. Powers of the authority

            A. The authority shall have all of the powers necessary to give effect to and carry out the purpose and provisions of this Chapter, including, in addition to all other powers granted by other provisions of this Chapter, the powers:

            (1) To sue and be sued.

            (2) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at its pleasure.

            (3) To adopt bylaws and rules for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business.

            (4) To maintain an office at such place as it may designate.

            (5) To make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions under this Chapter with any federal or state governmental agency, local political subdivision, public or private corporation, lending institution, or other entity or person, including but not limited to loan contracts for the acquisition, sale or lease, or sale-back or lease-back of property, issuances of bonds, payment of premiums, fees, or charges, and the purchase or guarantee of bonds, notes, loans, or other debt obligations of political subdivisions of the state, issuance and security of bonds for nonprofit organizations for economic development, and to avail itself of the provisions of Parts VII and XII of Chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

            (6) To accept, administer, and expend donations of movable or immovable property from any source; and receive, administer, and expend appropriations from the legislature and financial assistance, guarantees, insurance, or subsidies from the federal or state government or a private source.

            (7) To procure or provide for the procurement of insurance or reinsurance against any loss in connection with its property or operations, including but not limited to insurance, reinsurance or other guarantees from any federal or state governmental agency or private insurance company for the payment of any bonds issued by the authority, or bonds, notes, or any other obligations or evidences of indebtedness issued by the state or any political subdivision or by any lending institution or other entity or person, or insurance or reinsurance against loss with respect to loans to political subdivisions, including the power to pay premiums on such insurance or reinsurance.

            (8) To insure, coinsure, reinsure, or cause to be insured, coinsured, or reinsured loans to and bonds or obligations issued by any participating political subdivision for authorized projects and pay or receive premiums on such insurance, coinsurance, or reinsurance and establish reserves for losses and participate in the insurance, coinsurance, or reinsurance to political subdivisions of loans with the federal or state government or any private insurance company.

            (9) To borrow money and issue negotiable bonds, or other obligations on behalf of or for the benefit of or for any participating political subdivision, in the principal amounts and for the purposes authorized by law, and to provide for the rights of the owners of such bonds, notes, or other obligations, and to provide other financing assistance to participating political subdivisions.

            (10) To invest any funds held in reserve or sinking funds, or any monies not required for immediate use or disbursements at the discretion of the authority in any investments or securities in which monies of the state are authorized to be invested.

            (11) In connection with the issuance of bonds or obligations of the authority, to make and collect such rents, fees, and charges, including but not limited to, reimbursement of all costs of financing by the authority as the authority shall determine to be reasonable and required.

            (12) To accept any gifts or grants or loans of funds or financial or other aid in any form from the federal government or instrumentality thereof or from the state or from any other source and to comply, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, with the terms and conditions thereof.

            (13) To appoint an executive director to administer the affairs of the authority. The executive director shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the board of directors.

            (14) To purchase movable and immovable property, supplies, and devices in bulk on behalf of the participating political subdivisions.

            (15) To exercise the power of expropriation in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 19:1 et seq.

            (16) To avail itself of the provisions of R.S. 33:1321 et seq. and R.S. 33:9020 et seq.

            (17) To contract with professionals and to pay such professionals for services rendered.

            (18) To assist in the financing of any project to be constructed by a participating political subdivision and the purchase of any major equipment by a participating political subdivision, provided that any such project or purchase shall be in accordance with the state public bid law.

            (19) To exercise any and all powers possessed by any political subdivision necessary or convenient to effect the purposes of this Chapter.

            (20) To loan money to any political subdivision, state agency, or other eligible entity under any loan guaranty program of any department or agency of the United States, including the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Services Water and Waste Disposal Guaranteed Loan Program and Community Program Guaranteed Loan Program or any successor guaranty program.

            (21) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to contract to exercise powers of the authority and to enter into contracts which the authority deems necessary in carrying out the authority's powers.

            (22) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to contract with any political subdivision for the exercise by the authority of any of the authority's powers as set out in this Chapter.

            (23) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to contract or invest any funds, monies, or bond proceeds of the authority or of any political subdivision in such manner as shall be deemed by the authority to be prudent.

            B. The authority may enter into local service agreements with the participating political subdivisions through which such political subdivisions may agree to share in the costs of operating the authority and to pay such charges and fees as may be imposed by the authority.

            C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the powers of the authority pursuant to this Section shall extend to all parishes of the state. The authority may exercise these powers directly or through the establishment of a joint commission by entering into a local services agreement with a parish or municipality pursuant to R.S. 33:1321 et seq. The service area of the authority or a joint commission established in this manner shall be the state unless otherwise limited pursuant to the terms of the local services agreement.

            Acts 1991, No. 813, §1; Amended Acts 1997, No. 1151, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2003, No. 588, §1, eff. June 27, 2003; Acts 2023, No. 154, §1, eff. June 7, 2023.

NOTE: See Acts 2003, No. 588, §2, relative to intent and construction of Act.