§600.111.  Mortgage foreclosure counseling

A.(1)  The corporation may establish a program to provide free mortgage foreclosure counseling and education to homeowners who have defaulted or are in danger of defaulting on the mortgages on their homes.

(2)  If the corporation establishes such a program, the corporation may work with the office of financial institutions and the office of financial institutions shall cooperate with the corporation to effectuate the purposes of this Section.

(3)  The corporation may enter into an agreement with any public, private, or nonprofit entity to carry out any part of the mortgage foreclosure counseling and education program.

(4)  The program may include a central toll-free telephone number that homeowners may call to receive mortgage foreclosure counseling and education.

(5)  The corporation may award grants for the training of counselors who will provide mortgage foreclosure counseling and education from funds appropriated by the legislature for that purpose or any other funding available for that purpose.

(6)  The corporation may establish standards for the certification of counselors who will provide mortgage foreclosure counseling and education.

B.  The program shall be funded through self-generated funds of the corporation; however, the corporation may solicit contributions and grants from the private sector, nonprofit entities, and the federal government to assist in carrying out the purposes of this Section.

C.  The corporation shall annually submit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs and the House Committee on Commerce on the operation of the mortgage foreclosure counseling and education program and shall include a summary of the mortgage foreclosure rates and trends in the state of Louisiana and the United States of America.

Acts 2011, No. 408, §1, eff. July 5, 2011.