PART X. THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC

FACILITIES AUTHORITY

§1487. Authorization of bonds

            A.(1) A public trust and public corporation organized and existing by, under, and pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana public trust law whose beneficiary is the state of Louisiana is authorized to issue bonds, notes, certificates, or other evidences of indebtedness, hereafter, "the bonds", pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana public trust law, being R.S. 9:2341 through 2347, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Additionally, any public trust, political subdivision, district, corporation, or instrumentality authorized to issue revenue bonds on behalf of the state is authorized to issue bonds on behalf of the department in accordance with the provisions of this Section and the constitutional and statutory provisions governing the issuance of bonds by such entities.

            (2) The revenue bonds may be issued in order to obtain funds for the relocation, planning, acquisition, construction, and equipping of a Joint Emergency Services Training Center in the parish of East Baton Rouge, a public safety complex, including without limitation a crime lab and the state fire marshal's project at Independence Park in the parish of East Baton Rouge, and troop or regional headquarters throughout the state, and to fund the cost of issuance, credit enhancements, or other obligations related to the issuance of such bonds.

            (3) The bonds and any necessary or proper ancillary instruments shall be secured by an irrevocable pledge and dedication of any reinstatement fee, handling fee, or other fees, rates, rentals, charges, grants, or other receipts or income derived by or in connection with an undertaking, facility, project, or any combination thereof, without a pledge of the full faith and credit of the state, hereinafter referred to as "revenues".

            (4) The bonds shall be entitled to such priorities on the revenues of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as provided in a loan agreement, trust indenture, or other instrument.

            B. In addition to the pledge of revenues to secure the bonds, the department may, in its discretion, further secure their payment by a mortgage upon the land or facilities acquired by or for the department with the proceeds of the sale of the bonds, with such mortgage subject to such provisions for the making and enforcement of such mortgage and the provisions to be contained therein as may be deemed fit by the department. However, in no event shall the bonds constitute a claim against any property or revenue of the department not specifically pledged or mortgaged for payment of such bonds.

            C.(1) When any bonds have been issued and secured as provided in this Section, neither the issuer of the bonds, the department, the state, nor any other entity may act to impair any obligation or contract for the benefit of the holders of the bonds or discontinue or decrease any fee, rate, or other revenue in anticipation of the collection of which the bonds have been issued until all of the bonds have been retired as to principal and interest or irrevocable provision otherwise made for their complete redemption and payment in principal, interest, and redemption premium, if any, and the complete payment of all amounts due under the trust agreement, or other instrument, pursuant to which the bonds are issued. There is hereby vested in the holders from time to time of such bonds a contract right in the provisions of this Paragraph.

            (2) Any pledge of revenues for the security of the bonds shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made and shall be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the state or the department whether or not such parties have notice thereof. Any trust agreement, or other instrument, by which a pledge is created need not be filed or recorded except in the official records of the department and of the State Bond Commission.

            (3) The deputy secretary, or the undersecretary, is hereby authorized on behalf of the department to execute loan agreements, reimbursement agreements, investment agreements, bond purchase agreements, and all such documents as may be necessary to carry out and comply with the provisions thereof and the provisions of this Section, and is further authorized to take any and all further actions and execute and deliver all other documents as it may deem to be necessary in connection with the issuance of any bonds, notes, certificates, reimbursement obligations, or other evidences of indebtedness referred to in this Section. The provisions of R.S. 9:2347(J) shall not apply to bonds or any contractual obligation, including the pledge of state funds, to be undertaken or incurred in connection therewith.

            (4) The department is authorized to create such funds and/or accounts for the deposit of the revenues or the proceeds of the bonds including state funds described above or other revenues and monies pledged in connection therewith or respect thereto.

            (5) The department and the issuer of the bonds are authorized to enter into any and all agreements or contracts, execute any and all instruments, and do and perform any and all acts necessary, convenient, or desirable for the issuance of the bonds or to carry out any power expressly given in this Section.

            D. Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any revenues received by the department that are pledged to the repayment of any bonds issued in accordance with this Section may be collected and disbursed in accordance with the documents pursuant to which such bonds were issued.

            Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 158, §1, eff. May 7, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 539, §1; Acts 2023, No. 252, §1, eff. June 12, 2023.