§1352. Duties of a fiscal administrator

            A.(1) A fiscal administrator shall perform such internal investigation of the financial affairs of the political subdivision as he considers necessary. He shall have access to all papers, books, records, documents, films, tapes, and other forms of recordation of the political subdivision or, as they relate to such political subdivision, of the state.

            (2) With regard to the reasonable certainty of failure to make a debt service payment, investigation may include written interrogatories directed to the persons or entities who assisted the political subdivision in issuing and marketing the bonds, the bond trustee, if any, representatives of the bond holders, and any other person or entity with an interest in insuring that the political subdivision makes timely payment of debt service payments.

            (3) The fiscal administrator, subject to state law, shall have authority to direct all fiscal operations of the political subdivision and to take whatever action he deems necessary to return the political subdivision to financial stability. Such authority shall include but not be limited to authority to take one or more of the following actions:

            (a) Amend, formulate, and execute the annual budget and supplemental budgets of the political subdivision.

            (b) Implement and maintain uniform budget guidelines and procedures for all departments.

            (c) Amend, formulate, and execute capital budgets, including authority to amend any borrowing authorization or finance or refinance any debt in accordance with law.

            (d) Review and approve or disapprove all contracts for goods or services.

            (e) Appoint, remove, supervise, and control all personnel.

            (f) Alter or eliminate the responsibilities of officials, officers, or employees of the political subdivision as required by the fiscal emergency.

            (g) Employ, retain, and supervise such managerial, professional, and clerical staff as are necessary to carry out the fiscal administrator's responsibilities.

            (h) Reorganize, consolidate, or abolish departments, commissions, authorities, boards, offices, or functions of the political subdivision.

            (i) Make any appropriation, contract, expenditure, or loan, create any new position, or fill any vacancy, or approve or disapprove any such action.

            (4) Upon the appointment of a fiscal administrator, the officers, officials, and employees of the political subdivision shall serve in an advisory capacity to the fiscal administrator. The fiscal administrator shall allow the officers, officials, and employees to serve their constituents and fulfill their duties by providing advice to the fiscal administrator on matters relating to the operation of the political subdivision. If a conflict arises, the fiscal administrator's decision shall prevail.

            B.(1) After his initial investigation, the fiscal administrator shall file a written report with the court, the governing authority of the political subdivision, the state treasurer, the attorney general, and the legislative auditor. This report shall be updated on at least a quarterly basis during the term of fiscal administration.

            (2) The report shall contain the following:

            (a) An estimate of the revenue and expenditures of the political subdivision for the remainder of its current fiscal year and the fiscal year following.

            (b) Amendments to the comprehensive budget of the political subdivisions adopted pursuant to R.S. 39:1309, or a proposed comprehensive budget if such budget has not been previously adopted, which will insure that payments of debt service are a priority budget item and that they will be timely made by the political subdivision during the remainder of the current fiscal year and the fiscal year following or such amendments which will insure having sufficient revenue to pay current expenditures, excluding civil judgments, or, in the case of a city, parish, or other local public school board, such amendments which will insure resolving its status as financially at risk as that status has been defined by rule by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

            (c) An estimate of the financial aid or new revenue which may be needed by the political subdivision if the fiscal administrator determines that revenues of the political subdivision are, or will be, insufficient to insure both timely payments of debt service as a priority over items in the budget, and a reduced, but adequate, funding level for other needs of the political subdivision or as is needed to have sufficient revenue to pay current expenditures, excluding civil judgments, or, in the case of a city, parish, or other local public school board, as is needed to resolve its status as financially at risk as that status has been defined by rule by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

            (d) A recommendation as to whether the political subdivision should be permitted to file a petition in a court of bankruptcy of the United States in order to provide for a readjustment of its debts.

            (e) A proposed three-year plan with the goal of establishing and maintaining financial stability for the political subdivision once fiscal administration is terminated.

            (3) The fiscal administrator shall file such other reports as required by the court.

            (4) Upon the termination of fiscal administration, the fiscal administrator shall submit a final plan for approval by the state treasurer, the attorney general, and the legislative auditor. The approved plan shall remain in place for three years and shall be subject to periodic review by the state treasurer, the attorney general, and the legislative auditor.

            C. In order to perform the investigation and reporting required of the fiscal administrator by this Chapter, the officers, officials, and employees of the political subdivision shall cooperate in providing any and all information required by the fiscal administrator in the performance of his statutorily required duties within three business days of the fiscal administrator's request. If the officer, official, or employee is unable to provide the information within the required time, then the officer, official, or employee shall send a written notice to the fiscal administrator within the three-business-day deadline explaining the reason the information is not forthcoming. If the officer, official, or employee fails to respond by the three- business-day deadline, or if the fiscal administrator fails to receive the requested information, then the attorney general or his designee shall file either or both of the following with the district court:

            (1) A writ of mandamus to compel the officer or official to perform the mandatory or ministerial duties correctly.

            (2) A motion for injunctive relief seeking to compel the officer, official, or employee to act or refrain from acting, pending final resolution of the issue.

            Acts 1990, No. 532, §1; Acts 2005, No. 7, §2, eff. May 27, 2005; Acts 2013, No. 336, §1; Acts 2020, No. 358, §1, eff. June 12, 2020.