As used in this Part, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

            (1) “Bond” or “bonds” means any bonds, notes, warrants, certificates of indebtedness, certificates of participation or other written contracts, agreements, or instruments evidencing the obligation of a governmental entity to repay borrowed money, regardless of the designation thereof.

            (2) “Costs of issuance” means all items of expense related to the authorization, sale and issuance of bonds, including but not limited to printing costs, costs of preparation and reproduction of documents, filing and recording fees, fees and charges of any fiduciary, legal fees and charges of any counsels necessary in connection with the issuance of bonds, costs of preparation, printing, and distribution of official statements or other disclosure documents, fees and disbursements of consultants and professionals in connection with the issuance of bonds, costs of credit ratings, fees and charges for preparation, execution, transportation, and safekeeping of bonds, costs and expenses of refunding, underwriters discount or placement fees, costs of any credit enhancement, costs of any financial products agreement, and any other cost, charge, or fee in connection with the issuance of bonds.

            (3) “Credit enhancement” means any letter of credit, insurance policy, surety bond, standby bond purchase agreement, reserve fund surety bond, or similar facility as used for the purpose of enhancing the security or credit quality of bonds.

            (4) “Financial products agreement” means an interest rate swap, cap, collar, floor, other hedging agreement, arrangement, or security, however denominated, entered into by a governmental entity not for investment purposes but with respect to a series of bonds for the purpose of reducing or otherwise managing the risk of interest rate changes, or effectively converting a governmental entity’s interest rate exposure, in whole or in part, from a fixed rate exposure to a variable rate exposure, or from a variable rate exposure to a fixed rate exposure.

            (5) “Governing authority” means the elected or appointed body that exercises the legislative functions of a parish, municipality, school board, school district, or other political subdivision, including:

            (a) A sheriff in the case of a law enforcement district.

            (b) An assessor in the case of an assessment district.

            (c) A district attorney in the case of a judicial enforcement district.

            (6) “Governmental entity” means any parish, municipality, school board, school district, or other political subdivision of the state, other than the city of New Orleans and its agencies, boards, authorities, and commissions, and other than the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. However, any other discrete political subdivision coterminous with or wholly within the city of New Orleans created by the Constitution of Louisiana, the legislature, or the Home Rule Charter of the city of New Orleans or by the New Orleans City Council, shall be a governmental entity within the meaning of this Part and may utilize the authority provided in this Part through its governing authority.

            (7) “State” means the state of Louisiana.

            (8) “Total assessed value” means the assessed valuation of all property, including both homestead-exempt property, which shall be included on the assessment roll for the purposes of total assessed value, and nonexempt property as shown on the most recent assessment of the parish in which the governmental entity is located.

            Acts 2018, No. 569, §1, eff. July 1, 2018.