§ 17:3394.3 — Authority of board to execute agreements related to the finance of capital

Louisiana § 17:3394.3

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 17: Credit Union Law

Text

§3394.3. Authority of board to execute agreements related to the finance of capital
improvements and enhancements; nonprofit corporation; administration and
management of projects
A.(1) Projects contained in this Section may, at the direction of the board, be funded
through the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness or through financing
programs provided by the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and
Community Development Authority, pursuant to R.S. 33:4548.1 et seq., or a public trust duly
organized pursuant to R.S. 9:2341 et seq., having for its beneficiary the state, with the
approval of the State Bond Commission.
(2) Bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness may be issued as serial bonds
or as term bonds and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, not
exceeding thirty years from their respective dates, bear interest at such rate or rates, including
variable, adjustable, or zero interest rates, be payable at such time or times, be in such
denominations, be sold at such price or prices, at public or private negotiated sale, after
advertisement as is provided for in R.S. 39:1426 et seq., be in such form, carry such
registration and exchangeability privileges, be payable at such place or places, be subject to
such terms of redemption, as may be provided in the indenture, trust agreement, or resolution
relating to such bonds. Bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness may be sold in such
manner and from time to time as may be determined by the issuer and the board to be most
beneficial, subject to approval of the State Bond Commission.
(3) Projects contained in this Section shall not be required to be included in the
annual comprehensive capital budget nor obtain legislative approval as provided in R.S.
39:112(G).
(4) Construction projects contained in this Section shall be managed and
administered by a corporation established for such purposes, regardless of the source of
revenues used to fund such construction projects. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Chapter to the contrary, the corporation shall adhere to the following requirements with
respect to any project it undertakes pursuant to this Section:
(a) The corporation shall disclose on the board's internet homepage and make
available consistent with the Public Records Law its property interest and that of any party
contracting with the corporation in connection with a project.
(b) The corporation shall disclose on the board's internet homepage and make
available consistent with the Public Records Law its responsibilities and those of any party
contracting with the corporation in the development of a project.
(c) The corporation shall disclose on the board's internet homepage and make
available consistent with the Public Records Law its responsibilities and those of any party
contracting with the corporation with respect to the financing of a project.
(d) The corporation shall disclose the contracts it enters into in connection with a
project on the board's internet homepage and make the contracts available consistent with
the Public Records Law.
(e) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or his
designee shall be provided reasonable notice of and all materials relating to and be allowed
to attend and participate in all meetings of the corporation's board of directors and of any
committee thereof charged with the procurement, management, or oversight of a project.
(f)(i) Each board member of the corporation and each member of his immediate
family who derives any thing of economic value directly, through any transaction involving
the corporation or who derives any thing of economic value of which he may be reasonably
expected to know through a person which has bid on or entered into or is in any way
financially interested in any contract, subcontract, or any transaction under the supervision
or jurisdiction of the corporation shall disclose the following substantially in accordance with
the Code of Governmental Ethics: the amount of income or value of any thing of economic
value derived; the nature of the business activity; the name and address of filer and name of
and relationship to the board member, if applicable; and the name and business address of
the legal entity, if applicable.
(ii) The corporation shall adopt and maintain a policy on conflicts of interest, which
shall include provisions requiring the corporation's board of directors and committee
members to make appropriate disclosures of any actual or potential conflicts of interest and
requiring, following disclosure of a conflict, the member who discloses such a conflict to
physically leave any meetings for the duration of any discussion concerning the matter
disclosed, to abstain from voting on any issues relating to the matter disclosed, and to refrain
from any discussion designed to influence or otherwise participating in any decision-making
process relating to the matter disclosed.
(g) Prior to beginning construction or management of any project in excess of fifty
thousand dollars of total installed costs, the corporation or the board shall hold a public
meeting in accordance with the Open Meetings Law. The corporation or the board shall
consider any public input provided at such public meeting prior to beginning construction
or selecting any contractor. The minutes of all meetings of the corporation shall be published
on the board's internet homepage and made available consistent with the Public Records
Law.
(h) For any project in excess of fifty thousand dollars of total installed costs, the
corporation shall issue a request for qualifications or request for proposals to select
contractors for any project. The procedures for issuing such a request shall be consistent
with procurement through competitive sealed bid or competitive negotiation and include the
following provisions:
(i) The corporation shall establish and use public announcement procedures for
solicitation of letters of interest from qualified contractors. Such public announcement
procedures shall include a requirement for advertisement on the board's internet home page
and in a newspaper of general circulation in the parish or municipality where the project is
situated. The corporation shall include a deadline for submission of letters of interest within
any such public announcement. All such notices shall be posted no less than twenty days
prior to selecting a contractor for a project.
(ii) The corporation shall provide a request for qualifications package or request for
proposals package to any contractor who submits a letter of interest. All required
information shall be identified in the package and in the standard response forms.
(i) The corporation shall require interested contractors to include the following items
in their responses to the request for qualifications package or request for proposals package:
(i) Financial disclosure statements, substantially in accordance with R.S. 42:1114,
by which a contractor or his immediate family who derives any thing of economic value,
directly, through any transaction involving the board or the corporation or who derives any
thing of economic value of which he may be reasonably expected to know through a person
which has bid on or entered into or is in any way financially interested in any contract,
subcontract, or any transaction involving the board or the corporation shall disclose the
following: the amount of income or value of any thing of economic value derived; the nature
of the business activity; the name and address, and relationship to the contractor, if
applicable; and the name and business address of the legal entity, if applicable.
(ii) Proposed responsibilities of interested contractors in the development of the
project.
(iii) Proposed responsibilities with respect to the financing of the project.
(iv) Statements of qualification concerning the experience and resources of the
prospective contractor.
(j) The corporation shall evaluate and grade all responses. Alternatively, an advisory
committee authorized by a cooperative endeavor agreement with the state of Louisiana may
evaluate and grade all responses. The corporation shall develop and make public its selection
criteria for selecting a contractor on a project. The corporation shall consider the following
nonexclusive list of factors as part of its selection process:
(i) Professional training and experience of key personnel in general and as related
to the project described in the request for qualifications.
(ii) Capacity for timely completion of the work.
(iii) Past performance on projects of a similar nature to the project described in the
request for qualifications.
(iv) Any criteria that apply to project-specific needs.
(v) Cost of services. The corporation is not required to select the lowest cost
submission, but it shall consider the cost of services as one of the various factors in
evaluating the responses.
(k) After reviewing all submissions made in response to the request for qualifications
or request for proposals, selecting a qualified contractor, and obtaining approval in writing
for the letting of the contract from the board, the corporation shall submit letters to the
selected proposing parties notifying them of their selection and begin contract negotiations.
The corporation shall also submit letters with a statement identifying the selected proposing
party to all parties who submitted responses but were not selected. The corporation shall
make available for inspection, by any party who submitted a response, scoring sheets or other
materials utilized in selecting the selected proposing parties, which sheets or materials shall
include the criteria outlined in Subparagraph (j) of this Paragraph, subject to protections of
information provided in Subparagraph (l) of this Paragraph.
(l) The corporation shall make at least one copy of each response to its request for
qualifications or proposals available consistent with the Public Records Law. All documents
submitted to the corporation that are made available to the public shall be provided in a form
that protects against the disclosure of any of the following that have been marked
"CONFIDENTIAL" by the submitting party:
(i) Proprietary or trade secret information of a submitting party pertaining to any
code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process.
(ii) Financial records of a submitting party.
(iii) Specific cost estimates produced and submitted by a submitting party.
(m) Information protected from disclosure by Subparagraph (l) of this Paragraph may
be disclosed as agreed to by the submitting party and the corporation.
(n) The corporation shall continuously review and monitor the status of and
contractor performance for each project that the corporation undertakes. The corporation
shall make available on the board's internet homepage and consistent with the Public Records
Law annual reports explaining contractor performance for each project that it has undertaken
or completed during the previous year, listing those projects that are expected to be solicited
for bid within the next year, listing those projects that are in progress, listing those projects
removed from consideration during the prior year, identifying all contractors for each project
completed or in progress, and accounting for all funds expended on each project. Each
annual report shall be completed, made available for public inspection, and submitted to the
Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget by April thirtieth in the calendar year following
the calendar year that is the subject of the annual report. Each annual report and all books
and records of the corporation directly pertaining to the expenditure of project funds,
including but not limited to all design and construction contracts, change orders, and pay
applications, shall be maintained for a minimum of three years following final completion
of the project and shall be subject to audit by internal or external auditors selected by the
board.
(o) All records that are public records pursuant to this Paragraph may be maintained
in an electronic format.
(5) The board shall exercise its authority granted pursuant to R.S. 17:3361, et seq.,
as may be necessary to provide for the completion of the projects enumerated in this Section.
The board may grant leases of property under its supervision to a nonprofit corporation or
to an entity authorized to issue bonds as set forth in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for the
purpose of financing such projects, and the sum total amount to be financed therefor shall
equal no more than the total value of all projects listed herein, plus an amount equal to fifteen
percent of such total, together with other requirements including but not limited to costs of
issuance, capitalized interest, if any, credit enhancement and related costs. Notwithstanding
any provision of R.S. 17:3361, et seq., to the contrary, the term of any lease agreement made
for purposes of this Part shall not exceed thirty years. No monies shall be appropriated for
the purposes set forth in this Part for the projects set forth in Subsection B of this Section
until July 1, 2008. No monies shall be appropriated for the purposes set forth in this Part for
the projects set forth in Subsection C of this Section until July 1, 2015.
(6) Debt service payment obligations relating to all projects financed in accordance
with this Section and for bonds issued on behalf of nonprofit corporations for facilities
operated by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and payable from state
appropriations shall not exceed forty-three million nine hundred thousand dollars per year.
B. For the purposes of this Part, the following projects and the projects set forth in
Subsections C and D of this Section shall comprise the entirety of public facilities and
projects to be financed under the authorities of this Part and R.S. 17:3361 et seq. with respect
to these projects. The dollar value listed, plus an amount equal to fifteen percent, together
with other requirements including but not limited to costs of issuance, capitalized interest,
if any, credit enhancement and related costs, is the maximum amount that may be financed
for each of the following projects:
(1) LOUISIANA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
(a) Evangeline Campus, St. Martin Region 4 $8,000,000
Replacement of campus buildings on campus-owned land across
the street from existing location.
(b) Huey P. Long Campus, Winnfield Region 6 $10,000,000
Replace and relocate facilities to more accessible location on
college-owned land.
(c) Northwest Louisiana Campus, Minden Region 7 $14,000,000
Expand campus in location on college-owned land.
(d) Young Memorial Campus, Morgan City Region 3 $5,200,000
Construct buildings needed for non-marine programs.
(e) Florida Parishes Campus, Greensburg Region 9 $8,000,000
Acquisition of eight-acre site and construction of facilities.
(f) Westside Campus, Plaquemine Region 2 $3,000,000
Replacement of buildings and relocation of campus.
(g) Gulf Area Campus, Abbeville Region 4 $6,000,000
Restoration of current facilities.
(h) Shelby M. Jackson Campus, Ferriday Region 6 $4,500,000
Repair and replacement of facilities on college-owned land.
(i) Sidney N. Collier Campus, New Orleans Region 1 $11,900,000
Relocation of campus, acquire land and buildings.
(2) COMMUNITY COLLEGES
(a) L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, Houma $21,300,000
Construction of classroom lab and office building; water survival
training facility at LAMPI and construction of marine/welding
transportation building.
(b) Sowela Technical Community College, Lake Charles $13,000,000
Acquire adjacent land and construction of classroom and
student facilities.
(c) River Parishes Community College, Sorrento $17,000,000
Acquire land and facilities and construction of additional facilities.
(d) Delgado Community College, New Orleans
Issac Delgado Hall $786,800
Restore existing building.
Student Services $2,618,350
Restore existing building.
Maritime and Industrial Training Center $6,425,000
Relocate from City Park to New Orleans East.
Learning Resources Center $4,114,165
Demolition and construction.
(e) Elaine P. Nunez Community College, Chalmette
Arts and Sciences Building $97,187
Restore existing building.
Allied Health Building $707,362
Restore existing building.
Physical Activity Center $737,225
Restore existing building.
Shop Building-B $971,757
Restore existing building.
Stewart Administration Building $1,716,914
Add second floor to existing building.
Classroom Building A $981,671
Restore existing building.
(3) Statewide Student and Financial Information System $10,000,000
(4) The amounts set forth in this Subsection are estimates and the funding for any
project may be increased to meet any contingencies by an amount not to exceed fifteen
percent of the amounts set forth in the Subsection.
C. The projects set forth in Subsections B and D of this Section and the following
projects shall comprise the entirety of public facilities and projects to be financed under the
authorities of this Part and R.S. 17:3361 et seq., with respect to these projects. Each project
set forth below shall require a no less than twelve percent private match. No project shall be
financed until all private funds are available for that project. The dollar value listed for each
project, plus an amount equal to fifteen percent, together with other requirements including
but not limited to costs of issuance, capitalized interest, if any, credit enhancement and
related costs, is the maximum amount that may be financed for each of the following
projects:
(1) WORKFORCE AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
(a) Baton Rouge Community College,
East Baton Rouge Parish
New Workforce Training Center $8,100,000
(b) Baton Rouge Community College,
Smiley Heights Campus
East Baton Rouge Parish
Technology Center $10,200,000
(c) Bossier Parish Community College,
Bossier City Campus, Bossier Parish
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM) Building $18,500,000
(d) Capital Area Technical College, Baton
Rouge Campus, East Baton Rouge Parish
Welding Center and Campus Renovations $6,930,000
(e) Central Louisiana Technical Community College,
Alexandria Campus, Rapides Parish
Workforce Industrial Training Campus $19,000,000
(f) Delgado Community College, Charity School
of Nursing, Orleans Parish
New Nursing and Allied Training Building $34,000,000
(g) Delgado Community College, River City Campus,
West Bank, Jefferson Parish
Training Center for Transportation, Maritime,
Engineering$14,000,000
(h) Delgado Community College, New Orleans
Orleans Parish
Center for Hospitality and Culinary $9,000,000
(i) Delgado Community College, Westbank Campus,
Orleans Parish
Advanced Technology Center $12,000,000
(j) Delgado Community College, Capital Projects for
Advanced Workforce Training $7,200,000
(k) Delgado Community College,
Avondale, Jefferson Parish
Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence $10,000,000
(l) Louisiana Delta Community College,
Winnsboro, Franklin Parish
Technology and Career Program Training Center $4,590,000
(m) Louisiana Delta Community College,
Jonesboro, Jackson Parish
Welding, Vehicle Operation and Industrial
Training Center $2,700,000
(n) Louisiana Delta Community College,
Ruston, Lincoln Parish
Nursing, Welding, Workforce Training Campus $8,100,000
(o) Louisiana Delta Community College,
Monroe, Ouachita Parish
Technology Center $7,200,000
(p) Louisiana Delta Community College,
Tallulah, Madison Parish
Upgrade/Advanced Workforce Training Campus $2,500,000
(q) Northshore Technical Community College,
Lacombe, St. Tammany Parish
Training Center for Industrial Technologies $9,000,000
(r) Northshore Technical Community College,
Livingston Parish
Community College Workforce Training Center $5,130,000
(s) Northwest Louisiana Technical College,
Minden Campus, Webster Parish
Workforce Development Center $2,250,000
(t) River Parishes Community College,
Gonzales, Ascension Parish
Center for Advance Technology $8,100,000
(u) South Central Louisiana Technical College,
River Parishes Campus, Reserve,
St. John the Baptist Parish
New PTech Building $3,888,000
(v) South Central Louisiana Technical College,
River Parishes Campus, Reserve, St. John the Baptist Parish
Center for Advancement of Technical Education
Building $3,712,500
(w) South Central Louisiana Technical College,
Young Memorial Campus, Morgan City,
St. Mary Parish
Marine Operations and Industrial Safety
Training Center $3,330,000
(x) South Louisiana Community College,
Lafayette Campus, Lafayette Parish
Allied Health and Science Training
Program Building $15,000,000
(y) SOWELA Technical Community College,
Main Campus, Calcasieu Parish $9,000,000
(2) STUDENT SERVICES, COUNSELING AND ADVISING
(a) L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College,
Schriever, Terrebonne Parish
One Stop Shop for All Student Activities $4,500,000
(b) Nunez Community College,
Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish
Student Testing and Career Counseling Center $6,480,000
(c) SOWELA Technical Community College,
Main Campus, Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish
One Stop Shop for Student Programs and Services $7,200,000
(3) Repealed by Acts 2015, No. 418, §2, eff. July 1, 2015.
(4) The amounts set forth in this Subsection are estimates and the funding for any
project may be increased to meet any contingencies by an amount not to exceed fifteen
percent of the amounts set forth in this Subsection.
D.(1) The projects set forth in this Subsection may, at the discretion of the board, be
financed in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A of this Section. The board shall
determine the dollar amount reasonably necessary to complete each project, and such amount
shall constitute the value of the project for purposes of Paragraph (A)(5) of this Section.
(2) Any project financed pursuant to this Subsection shall require a match of not less
than twelve percent of the total project cost. No project shall be financed until the match
requirement has been satisfied. The fair market value of donated property may be utilized as
the source of matching funds. Authorized projects shall include the following:
(a) Northshore Technical Community College-Hammond Area Campus.
(b) River Parishes Community College-Donaldsonville Campus.
(c) SOWELA Technical Community College-Lamar Salter Campus.
(d) Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College-Shreveport Campus.
(e) Louisiana Delta Community College-Bastrop Campus.
(f) Central Louisiana Technical Community College-Rod Brady Campus.
(g) Central Louisiana Technical Community College-Ward H. Nash Avoyelles
Campus.
(h) South Louisiana Community College-T.H. Harris Opelousas Campus.
(3) The board shall periodically complete a facilities needs assessment to determine
the condition of its facilities and its strategic priorities for facilities improvements and
maintenance. The board may amend the list of projects to include any project it deems
necessary or advisable to address facility needs or facilitate economic development.
(4) The board may direct or authorize the execution of facilities-related projects,
including but not limited to projects authorized pursuant to R.S. 39:128, to be administered
through the corporation.
(5) The scope of the projects may include the development, acquisition, purchase,
construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of facilities, including providing
equipment, furnishings, fixtures, and other expenditures incidental or necessary in connection
to the projects.

Legislative History

Acts 2007, No. 391, §1, eff. June 30, 2007; Acts 2008, No. 220, §7, eff. June 14, 2008; Acts 2013, No. 360, §1, eff. June 17, 2013; Acts 2015, No. 418, §§1, 2, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 511, §1, eff. June 16, 2016; Acts 2019, No. 287, §1; Acts 2025, No. 35, §1, eff. July 1, 2025.