Louisiana Laws - Louisiana State Legislature

RS 17:72

§72. Baker School Board; election districts; compensation of members; exercise of powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities; operation of city of Baker municipal school system

A.(1) If a majority of the qualified electors of the East Baton Rouge Parish Consolidated School District No. 1, comprised of the parish of East Baton Rouge, voting on the question of the incurrence of debt and the issuance of bonds payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by law and/or the levy of a sales and use tax by or for the benefit of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, all or any portion thereof which may be funded into bonds for the purpose of addressing the condition of the physical facilities of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, shall fail to approve the issuance of such bonds and the imposition of any such taxes on or before July 18, 1998, the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker may call an election for the election of the members of the city of Baker School Board.

(2) In the event such an election is called for the election of the members of the city of Baker School Board, it shall be held at the time of the congressional primary election in 1998, or on a subsequent date authorized by law for the conduct of special elections for the election of candidates.

(3) In the event such an election is held at the time of the congressional primary election in 1998, each member of the city of Baker School Board shall be elected from a single-member district as created and adopted by the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker in accordance with Act No. 973 of the 1995 Regular Session.

(4)(a) However, in the event the districting plan adopted by the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker in accordance with Act No. 973 of 1995 is not "pre-cleared" in accordance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, then, in that event, the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker may develop a new districting plan to divide the city into single-member districts from each of which one member of the city of Baker School Board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn, in a manner such that each member of the board represents as nearly as possible the same number of persons, utilizing population figures from the latest decennial federal census, to be effective in time for the date of the congressional primary election in 1998 for the election of the members of the city of Baker School Board.

(b) Prior to the final adoption of such a new districting plan, as provided for in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker shall order a public hearing on the proposed new plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the city of Baker at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(5) In the event such an election is held at the time of the congressional primary election in 1998, the members of the city of Baker School Board so elected, and their successors in office, shall serve for four-year concurrent terms.

B.(1) If a majority of the qualified electors of the East Baton Rouge Parish Consolidated School District No. 1, comprised of the parish of East Baton Rouge, voting in any election held not later than July 18, 1998, on the question of the incurrence of debt and the issuance of bonds payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by law and/or the levy of a sales and use tax by or for the benefit of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, all or any portion thereof which may be funded into bonds for the purpose of addressing the condition of the physical facilities of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, shall approve the issuance of such bonds and the imposition of any such taxes, the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker may call an election for the election of the members of the city of Baker School Board at the time provided for in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

(2) In the event such an election is called for the election of the members of the city of Baker School Board, it shall be held at the time of the congressional primary election in 2002, or on a subsequent date authorized by law for the conduct of special elections for the election of candidates.

(3) In the event such an election is held at the time of the congressional primary election in 2002, each member of the city of Baker School Board shall be elected from a single-member district as created and adopted by the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker in accordance with Paragraph (4) of this Subsection.

(4)(a) On or before July 1, 2001, the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker may develop a new districting plan to divide the city into single-member districts from each of which one member of the city of Baker School Board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn, in a manner such that each member of the board represents as nearly as possible the same number of persons, utilizing population figures from the latest decennial federal census, to be effective in time for the date of the congressional primary election in 2002 for the election of the members of the city of Baker School Board.

(b) Prior to the final adoption of such a new districting plan, the municipal governing authority of the city of Baker shall order a public hearing on the proposed new plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the city of Baker at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(5) In the event such an election is held at the time of the congressional primary election in 2002, the members of the city of Baker School Board so elected, and their successors in office, shall serve for four-year concurrent terms.

C. Notwithstanding the date of the election of the members of any city of Baker School Board, and in the event that such an election is held, the president of the board shall be elected annually by the members of the board from among the membership of the board. He shall not be eligible to succeed himself, nor shall he be eligible for reelection as president for two years after the expiration of the term as president for which he was elected.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and notwithstanding the date of the election of the members of any city of Baker School Board, and in the event such an election is held, the members of the board shall receive the same remuneration as is now or may be hereafter provided by law for members of parish school boards for attendance at all meetings of the board and also for attendance at all meetings of committees on which they serve as members.

E. Notwithstanding the date of the election of the members of any city of Baker School Board, and in the event that such an election is held, no member shall hold or exercise any other office, position, or employment for profit under the school board. Whenever any member accepts any employment, office, or position in violation of this Subsection, his school board office shall thereby be vacated.

F. Notwithstanding the date of the election of the members of any city of Baker School Board, and in the event that such an election is held, vacancies on the board shall be filled as provided by law.

G.(1) Notwithstanding the date of the election of the members of any city of Baker School Board, and in the event that such an election is held, the board is hereby authorized to adopt rules and regulations, consistent with law, to effectuate this Section and to administer the duties, functions, and responsibilities of the board.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the board may borrow money in sums necessary to fund its budgeted expenditures for Fiscal Year 2002-2003. As evidence of these loans, the board may execute or cause to be executed notes or other evidences of indebtedness payable before the close of Fiscal Year 2003-2004 and pledge, as security therefor, their revenues for Fiscal Year 2002-2003, plus their revenues for Fiscal Year 2003-2004.

H.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and notwithstanding the date of any election of the members of a city of Baker School Board, and in the event such an election is held, any city of Baker municipal school system shall be initially established within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, for the purpose of operating public elementary and secondary schools within the city of Baker upon the occurrence of all of the following requirements:

(a)(i) In the absence of a mutual agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the city of Baker School Board as to whether the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, are owned by the city of Baker School Board, and, additionally, whether said school board is the owner of ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, the city of Baker School Board shall either invoke arbitration proceedings or file a motion for declaratory judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction on the question of whether the city of Baker School Board is the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and whether it is the owner of said school buses.

(ii) In the event the city of Baker School Board elects to invoke arbitration proceedings on the question of whether it is the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and whether it is the owner of the said school buses, such proceedings and any review or appellate proceedings thereon shall be subject to and conducted in accordance with Paragraph (J)(1) of this Section.

(iii) In the event the city of Baker School Board elects to file a motion for declaratory judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction on the question of whether it is the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and whether it is the owner of the said school buses, the judgment of said court, after the exhaustion of all applicable appellate review or, in the event such review is not sought, upon the expiration of the period of time in which said appellate review may be taken, as the case may be, shall determine the question of whether the city of Baker School Board is the owner of said facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon, and the said school buses.

(b)(i) In the event the city of Baker School Board is determined to be the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and in the event the said school board is determined to be the owner of ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, the city of Baker School Board shall owe no compensation to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for such facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the city of Baker, and the said school buses should a city of Baker municipal school system be established in accordance with Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection, except as provided for in Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph.

(ii) Any such determination or judgment shall only be effective and executory in the event, and only in the event, that any city of Baker municipal school system shall be established in accordance with Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection. Prior to the date on which a city of Baker municipal school system may be so established, and notwithstanding any determination or judgment recognizing any ownership interests of the city of Baker School Board in and to such facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and the said school buses, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall continue to exercise all of the powers, and discharge all of the duties, functions, and responsibilities delegated to it, and imposed upon it, by the laws of the state of Louisiana with respect to such facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon, and the said school buses.

(c) Regardless of whether the city of Baker School Board is determined to be the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and regardless of whether it is determined to be the owner of the ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, and in the event that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall have made or committed to make any renovation to and/or replacement of any public elementary and secondary school facilities, land acquisitions, and/or improvements to and/or replacements of any tangible property contained therein and thereon after June 1, 1997, and/or replacements of any such school buses after said date, as a result of any bond and tax elections held after June 1, 1997, the city of Baker School Board shall owe the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board such compensation, if any, as may be determined in accordance with the formulas contained in Subsection K of this Section should a city of Baker municipal school system be established in accordance with Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection; however, any such renovation to and/or replacement of any such facilities, land acquisitions, and/or improvements to and/or replacements of any tangible property contained therein and thereon made or committed to be made after June 1, 1997, and/or replacements of any such school buses after said date, as a result of any bond and tax election held after June 1, 1997, shall be paid for with, or payable from, the proceeds of any taxes levied or bonds issued by or on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board or the East Baton Rouge Parish Consolidated School District No. 1 as a result of any such bond and tax elections. Any such compensation, if any is due, shall be payable by the city of Baker School Board to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in accordance with Item (h)(i) or (ii) of this Paragraph.

(d) In the event the city of Baker School Board is determined not to be the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and the ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, the city of Baker School Board shall owe compensation to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for such facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon, and the said school buses should any city of Baker municipal school system be established in accordance with Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection. Any such compensation, if any is due, shall be determined in binding arbitration proceedings conducted in accordance with Paragraph (J)(2) of this Section and shall be payable by the city of Baker School Board to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in accordance with Item (i)(i) or (ii) of this Paragraph.

(e)(i) The city of Baker School Board shall obtain a final judgment, in the matter entitled "Clifford Eugene Davis, Jr., et al. and the United States of America versus East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.", Civil Action No. 56-1662-A, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, which, after the exhaustion of all applicable appellate review or, in the event such review is not sought, upon the expiration of the period in which said appellate review may be taken, as the case may be, and which shall be deemed a final judgment for the purposes of this Section, which final judgment shall permit the operation of a city of Baker municipal school system and the separation of the city of Baker municipal school system from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.

(ii) Item (i) of this Subparagraph shall only be applicable in the event that the matter entitled "Clifford Eugene Davis, Jr., et al. and the United States of America versus East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.", Civil Action No. 56-1662-A, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana shall not have been dismissed, closed, or otherwise resolved, and in the further event that there shall not have been entered therein a judgment declaring the East Baton Rouge Parish school system "unitary" or releasing said school system from judicial supervision.

(f) The city of Baker School Board shall levy and commence to collect the ad valorem tax provided for in the first paragraph of Article VIII, Section 13(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, or otherwise obtain sufficient funds in lieu thereof, as of the date of July first following the date on which a final judgment is obtained permitting the operation of a city of Baker municipal school system and the separation of the city of Baker municipal school system from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, or July first of the following year.

(g) The city of Baker School Board shall levy and commence to collect such additional ad valorem taxes as provided for in the third paragraph of Article VIII, Section 13(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, or otherwise obtain sufficient funds in lieu thereof, as of the date of July first following the date on which a final judgment is obtained permitting the operation of a city of Baker municipal school system and the separation of the city of Baker municipal school system from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, or July first of the following year, as may be applied to the funding of any operational plan approved by the court in connection with the proceedings required in Item (e)(i) of this Paragraph in the matter entitled "Clifford Eugene Davis, Jr., et al. and the United States of America versus East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.", Civil Action No. 56-1662-A in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

(h)(i) Regardless of whether the city of Baker School Board is determined to be the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and regardless of whether it is determined to be the owner of ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, and in the event that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall have made or committed to make any renovation to and/or replacement of any public elementary and secondary school facilities, land acquisitions, and/or improvements to and/or replacements of any tangible property contained therein and thereon, and/or the replacements of any such school buses after June 1, 1997, the same having been paid for with or to be paid for from the proceeds of any taxes levied or bonds issued by or on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board or the East Baton Rouge Parish Consolidated School District No. 1 as a result of any bond and tax election held after June 1, 1997, the city of Baker School Board shall levy, collect, and fund into bonds such further ad valorem taxes and/or sales and use taxes, or otherwise obtain sufficient funds in lieu thereof, not later than the date of July first following the date on which a final judgment is obtained permitting the operation of a city of Baker municipal school system and the separation of the city of Baker municipal school system from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, or July first of the following year, as may be required to compensate the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for any such renovation to and/or replacement of any such facilities, land acquisitions, and/or improvements to and/or replacements of any tangible property contained therein and thereon, and/or replacements of any such school buses after June 1, 1997, as a result of any bond and tax election held after June 1, 1997, by or on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board or the East Baton Rouge Parish Consolidated School District No. 1, if such compensation is due.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Item (i)(i) of this Paragraph, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board may agree, in its discretion, upon the request of the city of Baker School Board, to accept such compensation as may be due for any such renovation to and/or replacement of such facilities, land acquisitions, and/or improvements to and/or replacements of any tangible property contained therein and thereon, and/or the replacements of any such school buses made or acquired or to be made or acquired after June 1, 1997, as a result of any bond and tax election held after June 1, 1997, at any point in time within one year of the date following the date on which any city of Baker municipal school system may be established in accordance with Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection. In such case, the city of Baker School Board shall pay to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, in addition to the full amount of such compensation, an interest payment in the amount of six percent per annum on the unpaid principal balance until the full amount of such compensation shall be paid.

(i)(i) In the event it shall have been determined that the city of Baker School Board is not the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and in the event it is determined that it is not the owner of ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, the city of Baker School Board shall levy and fund into bonds such further ad valorem taxes and/or sales and use taxes, or otherwise obtain sufficient funds in lieu thereof, not later than the date of July first following the date on which a final judgment is obtained permitting the operation of a city of Baker municipal school system and the separation of the city of Baker municipal school system from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, or July first of the following year, as may be required to compensate the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and any said school buses.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Item (h)(i) of this Paragraph, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board may agree, in its discretion, upon the request of the city of Baker School Board, to accept such compensation as may be due for the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and any said school buses at any point in time within one year of the date following the date on which any city of Baker municipal school system may be established in accordance with Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection. In such case, the city of Baker School Board shall pay to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, in addition to the full amount of such compensation, an interest payment in the amount of six percent per annum on the unpaid principal balance until the full amount of such compensation shall be paid.

(2)(a) Upon the occurrence of all of the requirements set forth in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the city of Baker municipal school system shall be established for the purpose of operating public elementary and secondary schools within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, on the date of the July first following the date on which a final judgment is obtained permitting the actual operation of a city of Baker municipal school system and the separation of the city of Baker municipal school system from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, or July first of the following year.

(b) As of the date a city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the city of Baker School Board shall be responsible to provide for the education of the elementary and secondary school aged children residing within the city of Baker as its incorporated limits existed as of June 1, 1997. The city of Baker School Board shall thereafter exercise the powers delegated to, and the duties, functions, and responsibilities imposed upon parish and municipal school boards under the laws of the state of Louisiana and commence its initial school year of actual operation at the beginning of the school year immediately following the date on which the city of Baker municipal school system is established.

(c) Upon the date the city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall cease to provide for the education of the elementary and secondary school aged children residing within the city of Baker as its incorporated limits existed as of June 1, 1997.

(3) In the event that a city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection, the title and/or ownership of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, upon the request of the city of Baker School Board, shall be transferred to the city of Baker School Board prior to the commencement of the school year next following the date said municipal school system is established in accordance with the Compromise and Settlement Agreement entered into by the city of Baker, the state of Louisiana and its governor and attorney general, and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in "Clifford Eugene Davis Jr., et al. and United States Of America v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.", Civil Action No. 56-1662-A, United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

(4) In the event the incorporated limits of the city of Baker are expanded as a result of any annexation occurring after June 1, 1997, such annexation may only impair the rights or interests of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board if, and only if, the city of Baker School Board shall have moved for and obtained a judgment, in the matter entitled "Clifford Eugene Davis, Jr., et al. and the United States of America versus East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.", Civil Action No. 56-1662-A, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana which, after the exhaustion of all applicable appellate review or, in the event such review is not sought, upon the expiration of the period in which said appellate review may be taken, as the case may be, permitting the operation of any city of Baker municipal school system in all or any portion of any annexed area.

I. In the event a city of Baker municipal school system is not established in accordance with Subparagraph (H)(2)(a) of this Section, the city of Baker School Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Cease to exercise any powers or discharge or perform any duties, functions, and responsibilities delegated to and imposed upon parish and municipal school boards under the laws of the state of Louisiana.

(2) Cease to possess any ownership interests determined or declared to exist in its favor as a result of any agreement or proceedings referenced in Subparagraph (H)(1)(a) of this Section.

(3) Cease to exist as a political subdivision of this state.

J.(1) All of the following shall apply in regard to any arbitration invoked in accordance with the provisions of Item (H)(1)(a)(i) of this Section in order to determine whether the city of Baker School Board is the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and whether the city of Baker School Board is the owner of ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board:

(a) The arbitration shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association and shall be resolved in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act, Title 9 of the United States Code, and, except as is otherwise specified in this Subsection, the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.

(b) The sole issues to be decided in any such arbitration are whether the city of Baker School Board is the owner of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and whether the city of Baker School Board is the owner of ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. These issues shall be decided by the arbitrator in accordance with the substantive law of the state of Louisiana and after a consideration of the evidence submitted by the city of Baker School Board and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in the arbitration proceedings. The city of Baker School Board shall have the right to invoke arbitration on these issues by providing the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board with a written demand for such arbitration and by providing the American Arbitration Association with copies of the same in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.

(c) The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted before one neutral arbitrator who shall be an attorney at law actively engaged in the practice of law in the state of Louisiana who shall be appointed in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.

(d) The arbitration proceedings shall take place in East Baton Rouge Parish and the arbitrator shall select the exact location, date, and time of the hearing and all prehearing procedures.

(e) Limited civil discovery shall be permitted for production of documents, the use of interrogatories, and the taking of depositions for a period of time of ninety days after the appointment of the arbitrator. All discovery shall be conducted in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, except that the arbitrator shall have the authority to shorten and set all time limits in connection with such discovery at a preliminary conference and all issues regarding compliance with discovery shall be decided by the arbitrator.

(f) The decision of the arbitrator shall be in writing and shall specify the detailed factual and legal bases for his determination. If the determination of the arbitrator is that the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same limits existed as of June 1, 1997, and/or that ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board are owned by the city of Baker School Board, the determination of the arbitrator shall only have effect and be executory in accordance with Item (H)(1)(b)(ii) of this Section.

(g)(i) Judgment on the determination of the arbitrator shall be entered in the matter entitled "Clifford Eugene Davis, Jr. et al. and the United States of America versus East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.", Civil Action. No. 56-1662-A, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

(ii) As to any such determination, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board or the city of Baker School Board may, within the time period set forth in 9 U.S.C. 12, move in the matter entitled "Clifford Eugene Davis, Jr. et al. and the United States of America versus East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.", Civil Action No. 56-1662-A, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana that the determination of the arbitrator be vacated based on any of the grounds set forth in 9 U.S.C. 10 or modified or corrected based on any of the grounds set forth in 9 U.S.C. 11.

(iii) In addition to the rights to vacate, modify, or correct the determination set forth in Item (ii) of this Subparagraph, the determination of the arbitrator may be appealed within that same time period in the same judicial proceedings provided in Item (ii) of this Subparagraph based on any error of applicable law the effect of which materially affects the resolution of the ultimate issues of ownership of the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same limits existed as of June 1, 1997, and the ownership of the said school buses.

(h) All fees and expenses of the arbitration shall be borne equally by the city of Baker School Board and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, except that the said parties shall each bear and be responsible for the expenses and costs of their own respective attorneys, consultants, experts, witnesses, and the preparation and presentation of their own respective proofs.

(2) All of the following shall apply in regard to any arbitration invoked in accordance with the provisions of Subparagraph (H)(1)(d) of this Section in order to determine the amount of compensation, if any, the city of Baker School Board shall owe to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property located therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and the ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in the event the city of Baker School Board is determined not to be the owner of such school facilities, land, and the tangible property located therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and the said school buses:

(b) The sole issues to be decided in the arbitration are the amount of compensation, if any, the city of Baker School Board shall owe to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for the public elementary and secondary school facilities, land, and the tangible property located therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and the amount it shall owe to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for ten sixty-passenger school buses of equal quality, age, and condition to those owned and operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. These issues shall be decided by the arbitrator in accordance with the substantive law of the state of Louisiana and after a consideration of the evidence submitted by the city of Baker School Board and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in the arbitration proceedings. Either the city of Baker School Board or the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall have the right to invoke arbitration on these issues by providing the other with a written demand for such arbitration and by providing the American Arbitration Association with copies of the same in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.

(d) The arbitration proceedings shall take place in East Baton Rouge Parish and the arbitrator shall select the exact location, date, and time of the hearing and all prehearing proceedings.

(f) The decision of the arbitrator shall be in writing and shall specify detailed factual and legal bases for the determination.

(h) All fees and expenses of the arbitration shall be borne equally by the city of Baker School Board and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, except that the city of Baker School Board and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall each bear and be responsible for the expenses and costs of their own respective attorneys, experts, witnesses, and the preparation and presentation of their own respective proofs.

K.(1) In the event the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall have made or committed to make any renovation to and/or replacement of any public elementary and secondary school facilities, land acquisitions, and/or improvements to and/or replacements of any tangible property contained therein and thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and/or replacements of any school buses from the proceeds of any taxes levied, or bonds issued by the East Baton Rouge Parish Consolidated School District No. 1 and/or by or on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board as a result of any bond and tax election referenced in this Section after June 1, 1997, and in the further event that any city of Baker School Board shall establish a city of Baker municipal school system in accordance with Subparagraph (H)(2)(a) of this Section, a determination shall be made as to whether compensation is owed by either said school board to the other.

(2) In making this determination provided for in this Subsection, the following formulas shall be used:

(a) From the actual cost including the corresponding costs of the issuance of the bonds, of any renovation to and/or replacement of any public elementary and secondary school facilities, land acquisitions, and/or improvements to and/or replacements of any tangible property contained therein or thereon within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as the same existed as of June 1, 1997, and/or replacements of any school buses (the "Baker Improvements") paid from the proceeds of bonds referenced in this Subsection which are secured by ad valorem taxes, there shall be deducted (i) an amount equal to the total debt service which has been paid on any ad valorem tax secured bonds referenced in this Subsection multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the taxable assessed valuation of the city of Baker as of June 1, 1997, and the denominator of which is the taxable assessed valuation of the parish of East Baton Rouge as of the same date (the "Assessed Valuation Ratio") and (ii) an amount equal to the total remaining debt service to be paid on any ad valorem tax secured bonds referenced in this Subsection, which have been issued, multiplied by the Assessed Valuation Ratio and present valued to the date of acquisition (which date shall be the date on which a city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with Subparagraph (H)(2)(a) of this Section) by the city of Baker School Board of the Baker Improvements at the rate or rates of interest payable on the ad valorem tax secured bonds referenced in this Subsection. If the remainder resulting from the calculation is positive, such remainder shall represent compensation payable by the city of Baker School Board to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. If the remainder resulting from the calculation is negative, such remainder shall represent compensation payable by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to the city of Baker School Board.

(b) From the actual cost, including the corresponding costs of the issuance of the bonds, of the Baker Improvements paid from the proceeds of bonds referenced in this Subsection secured by sales and use taxes there shall be deducted (i) an amount equal to the total debt service which has been paid on any sales tax secured bonds referenced in this Subsection multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the annual sales and use tax collections on one cent for calendar year 1997 within the incorporated limits of the city of Baker as of June 1, 1997, and the denominator of which is the annual sales and use tax collections on one cent for calendar year 1997 in the parish of East Baton Rouge (the "Sales Tax Ratio") and (ii) an amount equal to the total remaining debt service to be paid on any sales tax secured bonds referenced in this Subsection, which have been issued, multiplied by the Sales Tax Ratio and present valued to the date of acquisition (which date shall be the date on which a city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with Subparagraph (H)(2)(a) of this Section) by the city of Baker School Board of the Baker Improvements at the rate or rates of interest payable on the sales tax secured bonds referenced in this Subsection. If the remainder resulting from the calculation is positive, such remainder shall represent compensation payable by the city of Baker School Board to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. If the remainder resulting from the calculation is negative, such remainder shall represent compensation payable by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to the city of Baker School Board.

(c) From the actual cost of the Baker Improvements paid from cash proceeds of taxes referenced in this Subsection there shall be deducted an amount equal to the actual cost paid from such cash proceeds multiplied by the Sales Tax Ratio. The remainder resulting from the above calculation shall represent compensation payable by the city of Baker School Board to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.

L.(1) Nothing contained in this Section shall impair the parishwide levy and collection, within the East Baton Rouge Parish Consolidated School District No. 1, comprised of the parish of East Baton Rouge, of any ad valorem tax securing any bonds referenced in this Section as long as such bonds, or bonds to refund such bonds, remain outstanding.

(2) Nothing contained in this Section shall impair the parishwide levy and collection, within the parish of East Baton Rouge, of any sales and use tax by or on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board securing in whole or part any bonds referenced in this Section as long as such bonds, or bonds to refund such bonds, remain outstanding.

Acts 1995, No. 973, §1, eff. Nov. 23, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1434, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 49, §1, eff. April 18, 2002.