The authority shall have all the powers necessary to give effect to and carry out the purposes and provisions of this Chapter, including, in addition to all other powers granted by other provisions of this Chapter, the powers to:

            (1) Sue and be sued in its own name and in the name of any subsidiary corporation or entity which may be created pursuant to Paragraph (19) of this Section.

            (2) Have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure.

            (3) Adopt bylaws for the internal organization and government of the Authority.

            (4) Adopt, promulgate, and amend rules and regulations for the administration of the Chapter in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (La. Rev. Stat. 49:950 et seq.), provided that such regulations shall require fair, impartial, uniform, and equitable treatment of all lending institutions and shall establish objective standards and criteria to control and govern access to and allocation of services and functions authorized by this Chapter.

            (5) Make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions under this Chapter with any federal or state governmental agency, public or private corporation, lending institution, or other entity or person.

            (6) Accept, administer, and expend donations of movable or immovable property from any source, and receive, administer, and expend appropriations from the legislature and financial assistance, guarantees, insurance or subsidies from the federal or state government.

            (7) Subject to the rights of holders of bonds of the Authority, to renegotiate, refinance or foreclose on any mortgage, security interest or lien; or commence any action to protect or enforce any right or benefit conferred upon the Authority by any law, mortgage, security interest, lien, contract or other agreement; and bid for and purchase property at any foreclosure or at any other sale or otherwise acquire or take possession of any property; and in any such event, the Authority may complete, administer, pay the principal of and interest on any obligation incurred in connection with such property, dispose of and otherwise deal with such property in such manner as may be necessary or desirable to protect the interest of the Authority or of holders of its bonds therein.

            (8) Procure or provide for the procurement of insurance or reinsurance against any loss in connection with its property or operations, including but not limited to insurance, reinsurance, or other guarantees from any federal or state governmental agency or private insurance company for the payment of any bonds issued by the Authority, or bonds, notes or any other obligations or evidences of indebtedness issued or made by any subsidiary corporation or entity created pursuant to Paragraph (19) of this Section or by any lending institution or other entity or person, or insurance or reinsurance against loss with respect to agricultural loans, mortgages or mortgage loans, or any other type of loans, including the power to pay premiums on such insurance or reinsurance.

            (9) Insure, co-insure, reinsure, or cause to be insured, co-insured, or reinsured, agricultural loans, mortgage loans or mortgages, or any other type of loans and pay or receive premiums on such insurance, co-insurance, or reinsurance, and establish reserves for losses, and participate in the insurance, co-insurance, or reinsurance of agricultural loans, mortgage loans or mortgages, or any other type of loans with the federal or state government or any private insurance company.

            (10) Undertake and carry out or authorize the completion of studies and analyses of agricultural conditions and needs within the state and needs relating to the promotion of agricultural exports and ways of meeting such needs, and make such studies and analyses available to the public and to the agricultural industry, and to engage in research or disseminate information on agriculture and agricultural exports.

            (11) Accept federal, state, or private financial or technical assistance and comply with any conditions for such assistance, provided such conditions are not in conflict with the intent of this Chapter.

            (12) Establish and collect fees and charges in connection with its loans, deposits, insurance commitments, and services, including but not limited to, reimbursement of costs of issuing bonds, origination and servicing fees, and insurance premiums.

            (13) Make and guarantee agricultural loans and purchase or sell agricultural loans.

            (14) Acquire or contract to acquire from any person, firm, corporation, municipality, federal or state agency, by grant, purchase, or otherwise, movable or immovable property or any interest therein; own, hold, clear, improve, lease, construct, or rehabilitate, and sell, invest, assign, exchange, transfer, convey, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or encumber the same, subject to the rights of holders of the bonds of the Authority, at public or private sale, in compliance with public bidding requirements set forth in Part II of Chapter 10 of Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

            (15) Borrow money, issue bonds, and provide for the rights of the lenders or holders thereof and purchase, discount, sell, negotiate and guarantee, insure, coinsure and reinsure notes, drafts, checks, bills of exchange, acceptances, bankers acceptances, cable transfers, letters of credit and other evidence of indebtedness.

            (16) Subject to the rights of holders of the bonds of the Authority, consent to any modification with respect to the rate of interest, time, payment of any installment of principal or interest, security, or any other term or condition of any loan, contract, mortgage, mortgage loan, or commitment therefor or agreement of any kind to which the Authority is a party or beneficiary.

            (17) Maintain an office at such place or places as the Authority shall determine.

            (18) Serve as the beneficiary of any public trust heretofore or hereafter created pursuant to the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 9:2341 et seq.

            (19) With the prior approval of the House and Senate committees on agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and rural development, to create such subsidiary corporations or entities as may be necessary to make agricultural loans, borrow money for agricultural loans, insure or reinsure agricultural loans, or issue bonds in the international financial market.

            (20) Issue revenue bonds for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, and equipping buildings and related facilities for use by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in connection with the promotion and assistance of agriculture and forestry within this state. The bonds shall be authorized and issued by one or more resolutions adopted by a majority vote of the members of the authority and shall be payable solely from the income and revenues as set forth in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds.

            (21) Notwithstanding any other law, supervise and utilize public employees, equipment, and material in carrying out public work, including public work in furtherance of Formosan termite suppression.

            (22) Foster and support the development and enhancement of processing raw agricultural products in this state by participating in cooperative endeavors involving loans and loan guarantees to private business enterprises, nonprofit institutions and organizations, the state and political subdivisions thereof, the federal government, and other organizations or persons concerned with the development or enhancement of agricultural plants in this state. The authority shall participate only in cooperative endeavors which involve the creation of a significant number of new jobs in relation to the amount of participation by the authority.

            (23) Establish, administer, and supervise programs to promote the purchase of Louisiana agricultural products.

            (24) Establish, administer, and supervise programs to promote agricultural workforce development within the state.

            (25) Acquire fuel through purchase at fair market prices and to sell, deliver, or transfer acquired fuel to any person, firm, corporation, municipality, or federal or state agency for emergency purposes related to a natural disaster, provided that such fuel is not reasonably available for acquisition by such person, firm, corporation, municipality, or federal or state agency from private sector sources.

            Added by Acts 1983, No. 96, §1, eff. July 23, 1983. Acts 1987, No. 856, §1, eff. July 20, 1987; Acts 1999, No. 18, §1, eff. May 21, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 116, §1, eff. May 28, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 230, §1, eff. June 5, 2003; Acts 2008, No. 117, §1; Acts 2009, No. 510, §1, eff. July 10, 2009; Acts 2011, No. 330, §1, eff. June 29, 2011; Acts 2015, No. 5, §1; Acts 2020, 2^nd Ex. Sess., No. 23, §1, eff. Oct. 28, 2020; Acts 2022, No. 111, §1, eff. May 25, 2022.