§ 39:91 — Deepwater Horizon Economic Damages Collection Fund

Louisiana § 39:91

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 39: Procurement and Contract

Text

§91. Deepwater Horizon Economic Damages Collection Fund
A.(1) There shall be established in the state treasury as a special permanent trust fund
named the Deepwater Horizon Economic Damages Collection Fund. After allocation of
money to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as provided in Article VII, Section 9(B)
of the Constitution of Louisiana, the treasurer shall deposit in and credit to the Fiscal Year
2015-2016 Deficit Elimination Fund as created in Subsection D of this Section, the first two
hundred million dollars of the proceeds of the settlement, judgment, or final disposition of
the state's economic damages claims asserted in State of Louisiana v. BP Exploration &
Production, et al., MDL NO. 2179 (E.D.LA. pending) (hereinafter "DWH litigation") to
recover economic damages sustained by the state from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and
oil spill that occurred on or about April 20, 2010, at the MC 252 site in the Gulf of Mexico.
(2) All settlement proceeds received on behalf of the state shall be reported to the
Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.
B. All economic damages proceeds from the DWH litigation in excess of the first
two hundred million dollars deposited in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Deficit Elimination
Fund shall be deposited by the treasurer as follows:
(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary including the provisions of
Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this Subsection, and Subsection C of this Section, in Fiscal
Year 2018-2019, the annual payment of fifty-three million three hundred thirty-three
thousand three hundred thirty-three dollars to the state general fund.
(2) For Fiscal Year 2019-2020, forty-five percent of each such receipt of economic
damages proceeds to the Budget Stabilization Fund until that fund reaches the amount
statutorily mandated by R.S. 39:94.
(3) For Fiscal Year 2019-2020, forty-five percent of each such receipt of economic
damages proceeds to the Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly provided for in R.S. 46:2691
until an amount not to exceed seven hundred million dollars has been deposited into such
fund.
(4) For Fiscal Year 2019-2020, ten percent of each such receipt of economic
damages proceeds to the Health Trust Fund provided for in R.S. 46:2731 until an amount not
to exceed thirty million dollars has been deposited into such fund.
(5) Beginning July 1, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter through and including
Fiscal Year 2034, in such amounts as remain after payment of amounts due on bonds and
related expenses as provided in the documents pursuant to which bonds were issued under
the provisions of this Section, the state treasurer shall immediately transfer the annual
payments of fifty-three million three hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three
dollars to the Construction Subfund of the Transportation Trust Fund. The economic damage
proceeds shall be used, and the bonds issued by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this
Section shall be issued, after paying the costs associated with the issuance of the bonds,
solely and exclusively for the following projects and in the following amounts:
(a) For Fiscal Years 2021-2026, $25,000,000
per year for Phase Two of the LA 1 Improvement
Project between Golden Meadow, La. and
Leeville, La. $150,000,000
(b) LA 415 Bridge at the Intracoastal Canal $125,000,000
(c) I-49 South $150,000,000
(d) LA Highway 3241 from I-12 to Bush, La. $50,000,000
(e) I-49 North Inter-City Connector in Caddo Parish $100,000,000
(f) Acquisition of a New Cameron Parish Ferry $20,000,000
(g) On-System Bridge Program for the
replacement and rehabilitation program
for highway bridges on any federal-aid
system over waterways, other topographical
barriers, other highways, and railroads and
for replacement and rehabilitation of highway
bridges on state highways that are ineligible
for federal highway funding assistance $40,000,000
(h) Sugarhouse Road Extension/Eddie Williams
Boulevard to LA 43 Highway 1, Phase I and II $19,000,000
(i) Acquisition of Two Cranes for the Port of
New Orleans $20,000,000
(j) Hooper Road Widening from LA 3034 to LA 37 $15,000,000
(6) The dollar value listed, plus an amount equal to ten 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.
(7) The economic damage payments shall not be used by the Department of
Transportation and Development for any project that is to be funded through Grant
Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds.
(8) 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).
C. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, and as a grant of power in
addition to any other general or special law, the State Bond Commission, hereinafter referred
to as the "commission", on behalf of the Department of Transportation and Development,
hereinafter referred to as the "department", may issue bonds, notes, certificates, or other
evidences of indebtedness, hereinafter collectively referred to as the "bonds", for the purpose
of funding the projects listed in Paragraph (B)(5) of this Section, and may pledge the
economic proceeds received by the state from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill litigation for
the payment of the principal and interest of such bonds. The commission is further
authorized, in its discretion, to pledge all or any part of any gift, grant, donation, or other sum
of money, aid, or assistance from the United States, the state, or any political subdivision
thereof, unless otherwise restricted by the terms thereof, all or any part of the proceeds of
bonds, credit agreements, instruments, or any other money of the commission, from whatever
source derived, for the further securing of the payment of the principal and interest of the
bonds. Any bonds issued pursuant to the provisions hereof shall constitute revenue bonds
under Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and such bonds shall be
payable solely from an irrevocable pledge and dedication of the economic damage proceeds
received by the state from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill damages beginning in Fiscal Year
2021 and through Fiscal Year 2034, 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".
D.(1) The Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Deficit Elimination Fund, hereinafter referred to
as the "fund", is hereby created in the state treasury. After allocation of money to the Bond
Security and Redemption Fund as provided in Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution
of Louisiana, the treasurer shall deposit in and credit to the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Deficit
Elimination Fund the first two hundred million dollars of the proceeds of the settlement,
judgment, or final disposition of the state's economic damages claims asserted in the DWH
litigation to recover economic damages sustained by the state from the Deepwater Horizon
explosion and oil spill that occurred on or about April 20, 2010, at the MC 252 site in the
Gulf of Mexico.
(2) All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Deficit
Elimination Fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. The monies in the
fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general
fund, and interest earned on the investment of monies shall be credited to the fund.
(3) Monies in the fund shall be appropriated and used solely to provide a source of
funds to eliminate all or a portion of the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 budgetary deficit.
(4) This fund shall only be comprised of noncoastal restoration monies.
E. In accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 9(A)(6) of the
Constitution of Louisiana, there is hereby established a special fund for the purpose of
providing for the securitization of any bonds which may be issued pursuant to the provisions
of this Section which shall include requirements for reserves and credit enhancement devices,
all as may be provided in any resolution, trust agreement, indenture, or other instrument
pursuant to which such bonds were issued. The fund shall be administered by a trustee as
designated by the State Bond Commission. The source of monies for the fund shall be the
economic damage proceeds received by the state from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
damages beginning in Fiscal Year 2021 and through Fiscal Year 2034, pursuant to this
Section. All revenues received from the economic damages as are necessary to provide for
all requirements associated with the bonds as provided in this Section shall be classified and
set aside in a separately identifiable fund or account outside of the state treasury but
maintained by the state treasury and such revenues shall be assigned and pledged to the
trustee under the documents pursuant to which the bonds were issued for the benefit of the
holders of the bonds. Only after satisfaction of all requirements of this Section shall any
monies received by the state from the Deepwater Horizon economic damages be available
for any other purposes, and specifically for the purposes provided for in this Section.
F. Bonds issued under the provisions of this Section shall not be deemed to
constitute a pledge of the full faith and credit of the state or of any governmental unit thereof.
All such bonds shall contain a statement on their face substantially to the effect that neither
the full faith and credit of the state nor the full faith and credit of any public entity of the state
are pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on such bonds. The issuance
of bonds under the provisions of this Section shall not directly, indirectly, or contingently
obligate the state or any governmental unit of the state to levy any taxes whatsoever therefor
or to make any appropriation for their payment.
G. Bonds shall be authorized by a resolution of the commission and shall be of such
series, bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates,
including but not limited to fixed, variable, or zero rates, be payable at such time or times,
be in such denominations, be in such form, carry such registration and exchangeability
privilege, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, be subject to
such terms of redemption prior to maturity at such price or prices as determined by the
commission, and be entitled to such priority on the revenues as such resolution or resolutions
may provide.
H. Bonds shall be sold by the commission at public sale by competitive bid or
negotiated private sale and at such price as the commission may determine to be in the best
interest of the commission and the state.
I. Except for the provisions of R.S. 39:1367, the issuance of the bonds shall not be
subject to any limitations, requirements, or conditions contained in any other law, and bonds
may be issued without obtaining the consent of any political subdivision of the state or of any
agency, commission, or instrumentality of the state. The bonds shall be issued in compliance
with the provisions of this Section.
J. For a period of thirty days after the date of publication of a notice of intent to issue
bonds in the official journal of the commission authorizing the issuance of bonds hereunder,
any person in interest shall have the right to contest the legality of the resolution and the
legality of the bond issue for any cause, but after that time no one shall have any cause or
right of action to contest the legality of the resolution or of the bonds or the security therefor
for any cause whatsoever. If no suit, action, or proceeding is begun contesting the validity
of the resolution, the bonds or the security therefor within the thirty days herein prescribed,
the authority to issue the bonds and to provide for the payment thereof, the legality thereof,
and all of the provisions of the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall be
conclusively presumed to be legal and shall be incontestable. Any notice of intent so
published shall set forth in reasonable detail the purpose of the bonds, the security therefor,
and the parameters of amount, duration, and interest rates. Any suit to determine the validity
of bonds issued by the commission shall be brought only in accordance with the provisions
of R.S. 13:5121 et seq.
K. All bonds issued pursuant to this Section shall have all the qualities of negotiable
instruments under the commercial laws of the state.
L. Any pledge of the revenues or other monies made by the commission shall be
valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made. The revenues or monies so pledged
and thereafter received by the commission shall immediately 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 commission irrespective of whether 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 commission.
M. Neither the members of the commission nor any person executing the bonds shall
be personally liable for the bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by
reason of the issuance thereof.
N. Bonds of the commission, their transfer, and the income thereof shall at all times
be exempt from all taxation by the state or any political subdivision thereof, and may or may
not be exempt for federal income tax purposes. The bonds issued pursuant to this Section
shall be and are hereby declared to be legal and authorized investments for banks, savings
banks, trust companies, building and loan associations, insurance companies, fiduciaries,
trustees, and guardians. Such bonds shall be eligible to secure the deposit of any and all
public funds of the state and any and all public funds of municipalities, parishes, school
districts, or other political corporations or subdivisions of the state. Such bonds shall be
lawful and sufficient security for said deposits to the extent of their value. When any bonds
shall have been issued pursuant to this Section, neither the legislature, 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 the fees, taxes, rates, or other revenues pledged to the payment of
the bonds authorized hereunder or permit to be discontinued or decreased said revenues in
anticipation of the collection of which such bonds have been issued, or in any way make any
change in the allocation and dedication of any fee, rate, or other revenues which would
diminish the amount of the revenues to be received by the commission, until all such bonds
shall have been retired as to principal and interest, and there is hereby vested in the holders
from time to time of such bonds a contract right in the provisions of this Section.
O. The commission may provide by resolution for the issuance of refunding bonds
pursuant to R.S. 39:1444 et seq.
P. The holders of any bonds issued hereunder shall have such rights and remedies
as may be provided in the resolution or trust agreement authorizing the issuance of the bonds,
including but not by way of limitation, appointment of a trustee for the bondholders, and any
other available civil action to compel compliance with the terms and provisions of the bonds
and the resolution or trust agreement.
Q. Subject to the agreements with the holders of bonds, all proceeds of bonds and
all revenues pledged under a resolution or trust agreement authorizing or securing such bonds
shall be deposited and held in trust in a fund or funds separate and apart from all other funds
of the state treasury or of the department. Subject to the resolution or trust agreement, the
trustee shall hold the same for the benefit of the holders of the bonds for the application and
disposition thereof solely to the respective uses and purposes provided in such resolution or
trust agreement.
R. The commission is authorized to employ all professionals it deems necessary in
the issuance of the bonds.
S. The commission is 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.
T. Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any revenues
deposited in the bond fund 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.
NOTE: See Acts 2018, No. 612, and Acts 2019, No. 404, providing for the
effects of the conversion of certain dedicated funds to special statutorily
dedicated fund accounts.

Legislative History

Acts 2014, No. 646, §3, eff. July 1, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 396, §1; Acts 2016, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 3, §1, eff. March 3, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 601, §2, eff. June 17, 2016; Acts 2018, No. 612, §12, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2018, 2 nd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 362, §§1, 2, eff. June 11, 2019, §11, eff. July 1, 2019, §12, see Act for special eff. date; Acts 2019, No. 404, §1, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2019, No. 443, §1, eff. June 25, 2019, and §3 eff. July 1, 2020.