§3712. Copies as prima facie proof; judicial notice of municipal and parochial ordinances

A.(1) Certified copies of books, records, papers, or other documents of the state of Louisiana and its departments, boards, and agencies, and of its political subdivisions and their departments, boards, and agencies, and which are made self-authenticating under Chapter 9 of the Louisiana Code of Evidence, shall be prima facie proof of the existence and contents of the originals and of any act, transactions, or occurrence or event as a memorandum of which said books, records, papers, or documents were kept or made.

(2) Audio or video recordings or electronic images of the proceedings of either house of the Louisiana Legislature or one of its committees which are made self-authenticating under Chapter 9 of the Louisiana Code of Evidence shall be prima facie proof of the existence and contents of the respective proceeding contained on the recording or image.

B. All courts of record in the state shall take judicial cognizance of the municipal ordinances and parochial ordinances which may be enacted by governing authority of any town, city, municipality, or parish within their respective jurisdictions whenever certified copies of such ordinances have been filed with the clerk of said court. The clerk shall keep a record of such ordinances filed with him. It shall not be necessary to file more than one copy of any ordinance with the clerk in order that judicial cognizance be taken thereof. Such certified copies may be filed with the various clerks of court either by the proper custodian of the ordinances of respective town, city, municipality or parish, or any lawful officer of the court.

Amended by Acts 1958, No. 316, §1; Acts 1988, No. 515, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 2006, No. 826, §2.