A. A governing authority may incur debt and issue bonds, and it may levy taxes in the manner provided in this Subpart and pursuant to Article VI, Sections 30 and 32 of the Constitution of Louisiana or any other constitutional or statutory authority.

            B. In order to obtain the necessary funds to carry out its purposes, duties, and responsibilities, and in order to acquire, construct, equip, maintain, and operate a youth center and related services and programs in the parish, a governing authority may incur debt and issue general obligation bonds within the limitations prescribed by La. Const. Art. VI, § 33, and other applicable constitutional or statutory authority, but only when authorized by a majority of the electors who vote thereon in an election held for that purpose.

            C.(1)(a) A governing authority may levy a special annual tax not to exceed one mill for a period of not more than twenty years for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, equipping, operating, maintaining, and managing a youth center and providing rehabilitative programs within a structured environment for children who enter the juvenile justice system or who are children in need of care or supervision, for preventative programs, or for making payments pursuant to a lease or lease-purchase contract pursuant to this Subpart by a two-thirds vote of total membership of the governing authority, without voter approval, but only after a public hearing is held. In addition, a governing authority may also levy an additional tax not to exceed two mills for a period of not more than twenty years for such purposes by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of the governing authority, but only after a public hearing is held and when authorized by a majority of the electors who vote thereon in an election held for that purpose.

            (b) For purposes of this Paragraph, preventative programs include early childhood care and educational programming and infrastructure, and programs that address adverse childhood experiences as well as any related services and support for parents with the goal of ensuring children do not enter the juvenile justice system in the future.

            (2) In addition to the tax authorized by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish may levy an additional one-mill tax and use the proceeds of that tax for the purposes described in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The tax herein authorized shall be levied and collected only after the question of its imposition has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified voters of Terrebonne Parish voting thereon in an election for the purpose and conducted in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. The authority granted by this Paragraph shall be effective upon the governing authority’s withdrawal from the participation agreement entered into with St. James Parish pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 15:1098.7.

            D. The taxing authority provided for in this Section shall not apply to any governing authority with jurisdiction over a youth center located in the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Beauregard, Bienville, Caddo, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Franklin, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, LaSalle, Madison, Orleans, Rapides, Richland, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Vermilion, Vernon, and West Carroll.

            E.(1) The taxing authority provided for in this Section shall apply to any governing authority with jurisdiction over a youth center located in the parishes of East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana provided that any tax to be levied pursuant to this Section is authorized by a majority of the electors who vote thereon in an election held for that purpose.

            (2) No later than September first of each year, every parish subject to the provisions of this Subsection shall submit an annual report to the office of juvenile justice that provides an accounting of the monies distributed pursuant to Subsection C of this Section.

            Acts 1991, No. 147, §2, eff. July 2, 1991; Acts 1995, No. 28, §1; Acts 1995, No. 781, §1; Acts 2022, No. 627, §1.