Expropriating authorities must give the owner specified appraisal and compensation information, make a compensation offer, and send required notices before expropriation steps.
§2.2. Expropriation by expropriating authorities referred to in R.S. 19:2 A. Before exercising the rights of expropriation provided by R.S. 19:2, any expropriating authority referred to in R.S. 19:2 shall comply with the following: (1) Provide the owner whose property is to be taken with the following information from its appraisal or evaluation as to the amount of compensation due the owner for the full extent of his loss: (a) The name, address, and qualifications of the person or persons preparing the appraisal or evaluation. (b) The amount of compensation estimated in the appraisal or evaluation. (c) A description of the methodology used in the appraisal or evaluation. (2) Offer to compensate the owner a specific amount not less than the lowest appraisal or evaluation. B. Not more than thirty days after making an offer to acquire an interest in property, if no agreement has been reached with the property owner, each expropriating authority identified in R.S. 19.2, other than the state or its political corporations or subdivisions, shall provide to the property owner a notice that includes all of the following: (1) A statement that the property owner is entitled to receive just compensation for the property to be acquired to the fullest extent allowed by law. (2) A statement that the property may be expropriated only by an authority authorized by law to do so. (3) A statement that the property owner is entitled to receive from the expropriating authority a written appraisal or evaluation of the amount of compensation due. (4) A statement identifying the website of the expropriating authority where the property owner can read the expropriation statutes upon which the expropriating authority relies or a copy of the expropriation statutes upon which the expropriating authority relies. (5) A statement offering to provide upon request of the property owner a copy of the expropriation statutes upon which the expropriating authority relies. (6) A statement identifying an agency responsible for regulating the expropriating authority, including the name, website, and telephone number of the agency. (7) A statement that the property owner may hire an agent or attorney to negotiate with the expropriating authority and an attorney to represent the property owner in any legal proceedings involving the expropriation. C. In addition to the requirements of Subsection A of this Section, each expropriating authority other than the state or its political corporations or subdivisions shall, at least thirty days prior to the filing of a petition for expropriation, send a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner at his last known address setting forth in detail or attaching the following: (1) The basis on which the expropriating authority exercises its power. (2) The purpose, terms, and conditions of the proposed acquisition. (3) The compensation to be paid for the rights sought to be acquired. (4) A complete copy of all appraisals of, or including, the subject property previously obtained by the expropriating authority. (5) A plat of survey signed by a Louisiana licensed surveyor illustrating the proposed location and boundary of the proposed acquisition, and any temporary servitude or work spaces. If the expropriating authority is unable to obtain access to the property for formal surveying, a plat that fairly identifies the proposed boundary and servitude may be utilized. (6) A description and proposed location of any proposed above-ground facilities to be located on the property. (7) A statement by the entity of considerations for the proposed route or area to be acquired. D. Prior to exercising the rights of expropriation provided by R.S. 19:2, the state or any of its departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies, or instrumentalities, except the Department of Transportation and Development, and except political subdivisions, but specifically including levee districts and their boards, shall, upon request of the owner whose property is to be taken, provide the owner with the results of tests by the Louisiana Geological Survey that show whether or not sand or gravel is present in the property. The test shall be done at no cost to the property owner. Acts 1988, No. 636, §1; Acts 1991, No. 1030, §1; Acts 2012, No. 702, §1; Acts 2016, No. 108, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.