RS 2031 - Donations or assistance for pollution sources
A. It is declared to be the public policy of the state to expedite the investigation, testing, containment, cleanup, and abatement of pollution sources, and to that end the secretary is authorized to accept and receive grants, donations, or other forms of assistance from private sources which are provided to the state for those purposes and dedicated to a specific designated pollution source. Such grants, donations, or monetary assistance shall be deposited in accordance with R.S. 30:2015 and R.S. 30:2205, unless their terms and conditions require otherwise, as contemplated by Article VII, Section 9(A)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
B. Any private monies received by the secretary under this Section conditioned upon their being escrowed or not being deposited in the state treasury shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account within the state. Such monies shall be expended by the secretary for services and activities at the designated pollution source consistent with this Section and the terms and conditions of their grant or donation and shall not be considered public funds under R.S. 39:1482.
C. The secretary shall be exempt from the provisions of R.S. 39:1481-1526 in the expenditure of private grants for procurement of services in accordance with the terms and conditions of such grants; however, the attorney general shall approve as to legal effect any contracts for services. The secretary shall incur no liability to any person in the expenditure of grants for procurement of services, except to the donor for acts or omissions in violation of the express terms and conditions of the grant or donation as accepted.
D. The grant, donation, or provision of assistance by any private source for the purposes contemplated by this Section shall not be construed as creating any liability or responsibility or presumption thereof for the designated pollution source against the donor or grantor. In the event that any penalties or damages are assessed against a donor or grantor on a designated pollution source, the secretary may take into consideration the amount donated in assessing penalties and damages.
E. Where any grant or donation is offered to the secretary as part of a proposed settlement of a suit or claim for penalties, acceptance shall be conditioned upon approval of the secretary in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 30:2050.25.
Acts 1983, No. 97, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 1984; Acts 1989, No. 392, §1, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1995, No. 947, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1996.