§154.2. Crescent City Connection; Geaux Pass accounts and deposits; tolls; Geaux Pass Transition Fund; disposition

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 9:154 or any other provision of law to the contrary, the provisions of this Section shall apply to account balances and toll tag deposits for all Geaux Pass accounts with the primary designation of the Crescent City Connection Bridge that have had no activity on Louisiana Highway 1 since July 1, 2012, and all tolls paid to cross the Crescent City Connection Bridge for the period beginning January 1, 2013, and continuing through March 5, 2013.

B. On July 1, 2013, any monetary funds remaining in any Geaux Pass account, any monetary funds remaining for toll tag deposits for all Geaux Pass accounts with the primary designation of the Crescent City Connection Bridge that have had no activity on Louisiana Highway 1 on or after July 1, 2012, and any monetary funds paid as a toll to cross the Crescent City Connection Bridge from January 1, 2013, through March 5, 2013, and which monetary funds have not been claimed by any person as of June 15, 2013, shall be deemed abandoned funds for the purposes of treatment as unclaimed property in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

C. Funds that are deemed abandoned funds pursuant to this Section shall be immediately reported and transferred from the Department of Transportation and Development to the state treasurer in his capacity as administrator of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. The state treasurer shall deposit these funds into the Geaux Pass Transition Fund as provided in this Section, and shall through June 30, 2014, provide for the return of such funds to their owners in accordance with the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. The state treasurer shall further provide for the payment of all unexpended and unencumbered funds remaining in the Geaux Pass Transition Fund on June 30, 2014, in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

D.(1) There is hereby created the Geaux Pass Transition Fund as a special fund in the state treasury, hereinafter referred to as the "fund". The source of monies for the fund shall be the monies transferred from the Department of Transportation and Development to the state treasurer in his capacity as administrator of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

(2) After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, an amount equal to that deposited into the state treasury from the foregoing sources shall be deposited in and credited to the fund. The monies in the fund shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as the state general fund, and interest earnings shall be deposited into the fund.

(3) All unexpended and unencumbered monies remaining in the fund on June 30, 2014, shall be appropriated as follows:

(a) An amount not to exceed thirty percent of the monies in the fund shall be appropriated to the Department of Transportation and Development for operational and maintenance costs for the New Orleans ferries, formerly operated by its Crescent City Connection Division.

(b) The balance of the monies in the fund as of June 30, 2014, shall be appropriated to the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission for lighting of the eastbank and westbank approaches to the Crescent City Connection Bridge, including General DeGaulle and the Westbank Expressway approach through ground level, improvements to ingress and egress points, lighting, maintenance, grass cutting, and landscaping of the Westbank Expressway and its connecting arteries.

(c) The state treasurer shall be relieved of all liability which may arise with respect to such distribution of funds.

E. All data associated with funds transferred to the state treasurer pursuant to this Section shall be provided to the Unclaimed Property Division in an electronic format as designated by such division.

F. For the purposes of this Section, holder requirements under R.S. 9:159 shall be deemed waived and the Department of Transportation and Development shall be deemed a holder in good faith pursuant to provisions of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

G. The state treasurer in his capacity as administrator of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act may establish policies and procedures as necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

H. All books, papers, and records transferred to the state treasurer pursuant to this Section or as a result of Act No. 247 of the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature shall be retained for a period of no less than five years following such transfer.

I. The provisions of this Section shall supersede and control to the extent of conflict with any other provision of law.

Acts 2013, No. 247, §1, eff. June 12, 2013.