A.(1) To facilitate the collection of taxes, interest, penalties, and fees due to the Department of Revenue under any provision of this Title, the secretary is authorized to enter into contracts with collection contractors for the purpose of debt collection on behalf of the secretary, pursuant to the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 39:1481 et seq.

            (2) The secretary may only enter into such contracts after the requirements of Subsection B of this Section are met.

            (3) The criteria to be considered in selecting collection contractors are as follows:

            (a) Fees charged.

            (b) Organizational structure.

            (c) Governmental accounts experience.

            (d) Computer capabilities including the ability to generate reports and formatting.

            (e) Collection methodology.

            (f) Financial stability.

            (g) Personnel resources.

            B. Once an obligation has become collectible by distraint and sale, as provided in this Chapter, the secretary shall send a notice to the taxpayer at the address given in the last report filed by said taxpayer, or to any address obtainable from any private entity which will provide such address free of charge or from any federal, state, or local government entity, including but not limited to the United States Postal Service or from United States Postal Service certified software informing him of the following:

            (1) That his obligation is a final judgment.

            (2) All the actions the secretary is authorized to take in order to collect the debt.

            (3) That if the debt is not paid within sixty days of the date of the notice, a collection fee not to exceed twenty-five percent of the total liability will be charged to the account.

            C. The tax debtor shall pay the full amount of any additional charge for the collection of any taxes, interest, penalties, or fees. If an account is referred to a collection contractor, the additional charge shall be paid to the collection contractor.

            D. The secretary shall provide information to collection contractors concerning the accounts of individual debtors only to the extent necessary for the collection contractor to fulfill his contractual obligation. The information furnished by the secretary shall be considered confidential and privileged by the collection contractor and members of his staff, to the same extent as provided by La. Rev. Stat. 47:1508. Collection contractors may not take any action which exceeds the authority of the secretary and must follow fair debt collection practices as described in Sections 1692 through 1693r of Title 15 of the United States Code.

            E. Prior to entering into any contract authorized pursuant to this Section, the secretary shall require a performance bond, cash, or securities from the collection contractor in an amount not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars.

            F. With the approval of the secretary, the collection contractor may file suit, at his expense, in the name of the secretary in the courts of this state for the purpose of collecting tax debt.

            G.(1) The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to affect in any manner any rights and remedies available to a tax debtor under this Chapter.

            (2) In the case of a spouse who qualifies for liability relief under the innocent spouse provisions in La. Rev. Stat. 47:101(B)(7)and 1584, the provisions of this Section shall not apply.

            H. For purposes of this Section, “collection contractor” means the attorney general or one or more private persons, companies, associations, or corporations who provide debt collection services inside the state.

            I. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, the attorney general shall have a right of first refusal for all accounts the secretary decides to send to a collection contractor. A list of such accounts shall be compiled by the secretary and forwarded to the attorney general for the exercise of his right of first refusal. The right of first refusal shall be exercised within thirty days of the date of mailing or electronic transmission of the list. If the attorney general fails to exercise his right of first refusal within thirty days, the secretary may send the accounts to any collection contractor meeting the requirements of Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section. When the attorney general accepts an account for collection, the collection fee shall not exceed fifteen percent of the total liability. If the attorney general refuses to accept an account, then the secretary may send the accounts to any collection contractor meeting the requirements of Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section.

            Acts 2001, No. 763, §1, eff. June 25, 2001; Acts 2005, No. 295, §1, eff. June 29, 2005.