§1123.116.  Privilege for utility assessments

A.  In addition to the privilege granted to an association on a condominium parcel for unpaid assessments provided in R.S. 9:1123.115, the association, provided that the association is in good faith regarding the management of the condominium property, shall have a separate privilege on the condominium parcel for that portion of the unpaid assessment which is assessed for the payment of water, sewerage, electrical, or natural gas utilities on behalf of the condominium parcel. This privilege shall be preserved in the same manner as privileges are preserved under R.S. 9:1123.115.

B.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, prior to institution of suit by a municipal or parish governing authority or other municipal or parish entity for payment of any tax or fee levied or assessed for providing water, sewerage, electrical, or natural gas services to a condominium property, the authority or entity shall notify the association of its intent to file suit.

C.  Upon notification of an intent to file suit for delinquent or past due taxes or fees due, the association shall provide the authority or entity a list of the individual condominium units for which taxes or fees for water, sewerage, electrical, or natural gas services are delinquent or past due.  The association shall notify each owner of a condominium unit at the last known address of the owner as reflected in the association records of the fact of institution of suit for payment of past due or delinquent taxes or fees due on the respective unit.

D.  If the condominium unit is abandoned property as defined in R.S. 33:4720.12(1), the municipal or parish governing authority may proceed with the sale of the property pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 13-A of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, relative to the sale of abandoned property.

E.(1)  If the condominium unit is determined to be abandoned or blighted housing property as defined in R.S. 33:4720.26(1), the unit may be adjudicated to the municipality or parish for nonpayment of such taxes or assessments.

(2)(a)  Abandoned or blighted condominium units which are adjudicated to a municipality or parish may be donated to a nonprofit organization pursuant to R.S. 33:4717.3 or as otherwise provided by law.

(b)  In making a donation of abandoned or blighted condominium units the municipality or parish shall offer the association first refusal of the units provided the association forms a nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) as a nonprofit organization and agrees to renovate and maintain the property until conveyed by the organization.

Acts 2003, No. 770, §1.