A.  All public funds received by and in the hands of sheriffs, pending their transmission to the various public bodies for whose accounts they are collected, shall be deposited in interest bearing accounts by the sheriff daily, whenever practicable, with a bank domiciled in the parish where the funds are collected.  The total amount of interest earned may be accrued, at interest, and distributed annually to the taxing authorities no later than five days following the tax sale of real property and be prorated in the same proportion as the amount of taxes collected for each authority bears to the total amount of taxes assessed on the tax roll.  The total amount of interest earned shall be allocated and distributed to all taxing authorities except that no proration or distribution shall be made for state game licenses.

B.  The provisions of this Section shall not prevent sheriffs from investing public funds, pending their transmission to the various public bodies for whose accounts they are collected, in certificates of deposit or other investments permitted by law.  Interest earnings from said investments shall be distributed to the individual taxing authorities in the manner set forth hereinabove.

Acts 1985, No. 543, §1.