A.  Each assessor shall execute his bond in favor of the governor of the state for the sum of three thousand dollars for each representative of his parish in the legislature, with solvent sureties, who shall be bound in solido with each other, and with their principal, but each surety may bind himself for a limited sum, not less than two hundred dollars, provided the aggregate of said limited sums shall not be less than three thousand dollars for each representative of the parish in the legislature, but no bond shall exceed ten thousand dollars.

B.  The Orleans Parish assessor shall execute his bond in favor of the governor for the sum of five thousand dollars, with solvent sureties, who shall be bound in solido with each other and with their principals, but each surety may bind himself for a limited sum of not less than five hundred dollars, provided that the aggregate of these sums shall be five thousand dollars.

C.  All bonds shall be recorded in the office of the recorder of mortgage records of the parish in which each respective assessor exercises his functions, and in all other parishes in which the principal owns real estate, and shall operate as a legal mortgage upon all of the real estate of the principal therein.

D.  The secretary of state shall not recognize any assessor until his bond and oath of office are filed in the secretary of state’s office, and his bond recorded in the mortgage office of the parish for which he is elected.

E.  In case any assessor fails, refuses, or neglects to give bond and security, as required, within thirty days after date of his appointment, his office shall be deemed vacant and such vacancy shall be filled by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate if the Senate be in session; if not, then the appointment shall continue until the adjournment of the next meeting of the legislature, or until his successor is appointed and qualified, but such an appointment shall not exonerate the assessor failing to qualify from any liabilities incurred by him.

F.  The recorders of the several parishes of the state are authorized to cancel all bonds and mortgages registered against the assessors and their securities upon the production of a certificate from the secretary of state of the faithful performance of their duties as assessors, for which performance the bonds or mortgages, as the case may be, were given.  But no judgment of any court of this state shall have the effect of giving a discharge to or canceling the bonds or mortgages registered against assessors in their said capacities, unless the certificates of the secretary of state releasing the assessors from the obligation of such bond or mortgages are first obtained and prolonged in the court.

Acts 2001, No. 74, §1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2006, No. 622, §8, eff. Dec. 11, 2006.