SB 40: "An Act relating to the establishment of the Kuskokwim Port Authority; and providing for an effective date."
00 SENATE BILL NO. 40 01 "An Act relating to the establishment of the Kuskokwim Port Authority; and providing 02 for an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 05 to read: 06 FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) The Alaska State Legislature finds that 07 (1) certain communities and residents on the Kuskokwim River desire the 08 establishment of a port authority to provide an organization for economic development, 09 transportation system infrastructure development, natural resource marketing, and promotion 10 of efficient energy development and distribution; 11 (2) since many of the communities in the region are not organized 12 municipalities, those communities cannot form a port authority under the Municipal Port 13 Authority Act (AS 29.35.600 - 29.35.730); 14 (3) it is in the best interest of the state to establish a state port authority for the
01 Kuskokwim River region of the state to promote economic self-sufficiency in the region. 02 (b) The purpose of this Act is to establish the Kuskokwim Port Authority to provide 03 an organization that residents and communities in the region encompassing portions of the 04 Kuskokwim River may use to finance and manage transportation, energy, and economic 05 development infrastructure projects that will improve economic conditions in the region and 06 promote resource development and visitor industry opportunities in the region. 07 * Sec. 2. AS 30 is amended by adding a new chapter to read: 08 Chapter 21. Kuskokwim Port Authority. 09 Article 1. Creation and Organization. 10 Sec. 30.21.010. Kuskokwim Port Authority. (a) The Kuskokwim Port 11 Authority is established as a public corporation of the state. The corporation is an 12 instrumentality of the state in the Department of Commerce, Community, and 13 Economic Development but has a legal existence independent of and separate from the 14 state and has continuing succession until its existence is terminated by law. 15 (b) The powers of the authority are vested in the board of directors of the 16 authority. 17 (c) The purpose of the authority is to improve, establish, and develop facilities 18 and operations to provide transportation, energy, regional waste disposal, and other 19 infrastructure services and economic development in the operating area of the 20 authority. 21 Sec. 30.21.020. Board of directors. (a) The board of directors of the 22 authority consists of nine voting members. 23 (b) The governor shall appoint seven persons to serve on the board. The 24 governor shall solicit nominations for persons to be appointed to the board from 25 private persons and public and private entities, including the Kuskokwim Corporation, 26 Calista Corporation, the Kuskokwim Native Association, the Association of Village 27 Council Presidents, Inc., the City of Napakiak, the City of Bethel, and the Crooked 28 Creek Traditional Village Council. The appointed members of the board shall be 29 officers, directors, or employees of private entities that have a physical presence 30 within the area of operation of the authority. 31 (c) The commissioner of commerce, community, and economic development
01 and the commissioner of transportation and public facilities are voting members of the 02 board. Each commissioner may designate a person to serve on the board in the 03 commissioner's absence. 04 (d) The appointed members of the board serve for staggered terms of three 05 years. The terms of the appointed members begin on January 1. 06 Sec. 30.21.030. Removal and replacement of appointed members. The 07 appointed members of the board serve at the pleasure of the governor. A person 08 appointed to fill a vacancy on the board shall serve for the balance of the unexpired 09 term. 10 Sec. 30.21.040. Per diem and travel expenses. A member of the board may 11 receive per diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under 12 AS 39.20.180. 13 Sec. 30.21.050. Meetings. (a) The board shall hold at least four regular 14 meetings each year. The board shall set the schedule and locations for meetings of the 15 board. 16 (b) The board may hold special meetings at the call of the chair or at the 17 request of three members of the board. 18 Sec. 30.21.060. Officers and quorum. (a) The board shall elect a chair and a 19 vice-chair from among its members. 20 (b) The board shall elect a secretary, who need not be a member of the board. 21 The secretary serves at the pleasure of the board. 22 (c) Five members of the board constitute a quorum. Action may be taken and 23 motions and resolutions adopted by the board at a meeting by the affirmative vote of at 24 least five members. Members may not vote by proxy. A vacancy in the membership 25 of the board does not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the powers and 26 perform all the duties of the board. 27 (d) Members may participate in meetings of the board by electronic means. 28 Sec. 30.21.070. Staff; legal advisor. (a) The board shall employ officers and 29 employees as necessary for the efficient operation of the authority. 30 (b) The board may employ executive, administrative, and fiscal officers and 31 employees as the board considers necessary for the efficient management of the
01 authority. 02 (c) The attorney general is the legal counsel for the authority. The attorney 03 general shall advise the authority in legal matters and represent the authority in suits. 04 Sec. 30.21.080. Operating area of the authority. The authority is authorized 05 to operate within the contiguous area enclosed by 06 (1) a line that is at all points 10 miles inland of the mean high water 07 line of the shore that is generally the northern bank of the main channel of the 08 Kuskokwim River from a point that is 10 miles inland of the mean high water line of 09 the shore that is generally the northern bank of the main channel of the Kuskokwim 10 River at the City of Napakiak to a point that is 10 miles inland of the mean high water 11 line of the shore that is generally the northern bank of the main channel of the 12 Kuskokwim River at the Canoe Village site; a line from a point that is 10 miles inland 13 of the mean high water line of the shore that is generally the northern bank of the main 14 channel of the Kuskokwim River at the Canoe Village site to a point that is 10 miles 15 inland of the mean high water line of the shore that is generally the southern bank of 16 the main channel of the Kuskokwim River at the Canoe Village site; a line that is at all 17 points 10 miles inland of the mean high water line of the shore that is generally the 18 southern bank of the main channel of the Kuskokwim River from a point that is 10 19 miles inland of the mean high water line of the shore that is generally the southern 20 bank of the main channel of the Kuskokwim River at the Canoe Village site to a point 21 that is 10 miles inland of the mean high water line of the shore that is generally the 22 southern bank of the main channel of the Kuskokwim River opposite of the City of 23 Napakiak; a line from a point that is 10 miles inland of the mean high water line of the 24 shore that is generally the southern bank of the main channel of the Kuskokwim River 25 opposite of the City of Napakiak to a point that is 10 miles inland of the mean high 26 water line of the shore that is generally the northern bank of the main channel of the 27 Kuskokwim River at the City of Napakiak; 28 (2) a corridor extending 10 miles on both sides of the centerline of the 29 road from the Canoe Village site to the village of Crooked Creek and then to the 30 community of Donlin Creek; and 31 (3) a 10-mile radius around the community of Donlin Creek.
01 Sec. 30.21.090. Regulations. The board may adopt regulations under 02 AS 44.62 to carry out its functions and the purposes of this chapter, including rules to 03 safeguard property owned by the authority and to protect employees and persons using 04 the authority's property or services. 05 Article 2. Powers and Duties. 06 Sec. 30.21.100. Powers and duties of authority. (a) In addition to other 07 powers granted in this chapter, the authority may 08 (1) sue and be sued; 09 (2) adopt and alter an official seal; 10 (3) maintain an office in the state; 11 (4) acquire, hold, use, and dispose of its money, subject to 12 appropriation by the legislature; 13 (5) acquire, hold, use, lease, rent, construct, and dispose of property for 14 its purposes; 15 (6) issue revenue bonds under AS 30.21.200 - 30.21.320 to provide 16 financing for projects; 17 (7) enter into agreements to provide transportation, energy, regional 18 waste disposal, marketing, facilities and services, and to provide coordinated training 19 in association with authority facilities and operations; 20 (8) enter into contracts or other transactions with a federal, state, 21 municipal, or other agency, or instrumentality, private organization, or person 22 consistent with the exercise of the powers of the authority under this chapter; 23 (9) charge and collect those rents, rates, fees, or other charges that are 24 necessary to pay for capital, maintenance, and operating costs of the services and 25 facilities and operations of the authority, for the establishment of reserves to secure 26 payment of bonds or notes or interest on bonds or notes, and for repairs, 27 improvements, storage, and care of personal property made or furnished by the 28 authority in connection with the facilities and operations of the authority; 29 (10) accept money, gifts, loans, or grants from a federal, state, 30 municipal, or other agency or instrumentality, private organization, or other person; 31 and
01 (11) do all acts necessary to carry out this chapter that are not 02 expressly prohibited by law. 03 (b) The authority shall 04 (1) operate, manage, plan, improve, market, construct, and maintain 05 the facilities and operations of the authority; and 06 (2) adopt and enforce 07 (A) bylaws of the authority; 08 (B) regulations for the conduct of its business and for the use of 09 its facilities, operations, and services; 10 (C) personnel rules necessary to establish a system of personnel 11 administration. 12 (c) The resources of the authority may not be used to finance or influence 13 political activities. 14 Sec. 30.21.110. Public nature of authority activities. The planning, 15 construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of a facility or operation, 16 whether by the authority separately or jointly with a federal, state, or municipal agency 17 or a private entity, and the exercise of other powers granted to the authority are public 18 and governmental functions exercised for a public purpose and matters of public 19 necessity. Land and other property and privileges acquired and used by or on behalf 20 of the authority for the purposes enumerated in this chapter are acquired and used for 21 public and governmental purposes and as a matter of public necessity. 22 Sec. 30.21.120. Acquisition of land and easements. Within the operating 23 area of the authority, the authority may acquire by purchase, gift, grant, or exchange 24 land in fee simple or easements, either temporary or permanent, that the authority 25 considers necessary for present or future public use authorized under this chapter. By 26 the same means, the authority may obtain material, including clay, gravel, sand, 27 timber, rock, or other material, and the land necessary to obtain the material. When 28 the authority declares that it is in the best public interest of the state to do so, the 29 authority may acquire by purchase, gift, grant, or exchange land or an interest in land 30 for the purpose of exchanging the land or interest in land for land or an interest in land 31 that the authority is authorized by law to acquire.
01 Sec. 30.21.130. Indemnification. (a) If the person acted in good faith on 02 behalf of the authority and within the scope of the person's official duties or powers, 03 the authority may defend and indemnify a current or former member of the board, 04 employee, or agent of the authority against all costs, expenses, judgments, and 05 liabilities, including attorney fees, incurred by or imposed upon that person in 06 connection with a civil or criminal action in which the person is involved by affiliation 07 with the authority. 08 (b) The authority may purchase insurance to protect and hold personally 09 harmless its board members, employees, and agents from an action, claim, or 10 proceeding arising out of the performance, purported performance, or failure of 11 performance, in good faith, of duties for, or employment with, the authority and to 12 hold them harmless from expenses connected with the defense, settlement, or 13 monetary judgments from that action, claim, or proceeding. The purchase of 14 insurance is discretionary with the board, and insurance is not considered to be 15 compensation to the insured person. 16 Sec. 30.21.140. Insurance. Except as provided in AS 30.21.130(b), the 17 authority shall protect its assets, services, and employees by purchasing insurance or 18 providing for certain self-insurance retentions. The authority shall also maintain 19 casualty, property, and other insurance in amounts reasonably calculated to cover 20 potential claims against the authority or state for bodily injury, death, or disability and 21 property damage that may arise from or be related to authority operations and 22 activities. 23 Sec. 30.21.150. Fidelity bond. The authority shall obtain a fidelity bond in an 24 amount determined by the board for members of the board and for each executive 25 officer responsible for accounts and finances. A bond must be in effect during the 26 entire tenure in office of the bonded person. 27 Article 3. Revenue Bonds and Notes. 28 Sec. 30.21.200. Bonds and notes of the authority. (a) The authority, by 29 resolution, may issue revenue bonds and bond anticipation notes in order to finance 30 projects under this chapter. Before issuing bonds for a project under this chapter, the 31 authority must find, on the basis of all information reasonably available to the
01 authority, that 02 (1) the project and its development under this chapter will be 03 economically advantageous to the state and the region and the general public welfare 04 and will contribute to the economic growth of the state and the region within which 05 the authority operates; 06 (2) the project is financially sound and can be expected to produce 07 revenue adequate to repay the bonds with which it is financed; and 08 (3) the scope of the project is sufficient to provide a reasonable 09 expectation of a benefit to the region and the economy of the state. 10 (b) The principal and interest on the revenue bonds or bond anticipation notes 11 authorized and issued under (a) of this section are payable from authority funds. Bond 12 anticipation notes may be payable from the proceeds of the sale of bonds or from the 13 proceeds of the sale of other bond anticipation notes or, in the event bond or bond 14 anticipation note proceeds are not available, the notes may be paid from other funds or 15 assets of the authority. 16 (c) Bonds or bond anticipation notes may be additionally secured by a pledge 17 of a grant or contribution from the federal government, or a corporation, association, 18 institution, or person, or a pledge of money, income, or revenue of the authority from 19 any source. 20 (d) Bonds or bond anticipation notes of the authority may be issued in one or 21 more series and shall be dated, bear interest at the rate or rates a year or within the 22 maximum rate, be in the denomination, be in the form, carry the conversion or 23 registration provisions, have the rank or priority, be executed in the manner and form, 24 be payable at the times, from the sources, and in the medium of payment and place or 25 places within or outside the state, be subject to authentication by a trustee or fiscal 26 agent, and be subject to the terms of redemption with or without premium, as the 27 resolution of the authority may provide. Bond anticipation notes shall mature at the 28 time or times that are determined by the authority. Bonds shall mature at a time not 29 exceeding a number of years from their date that is determined by the authority. 30 Before the preparation of bonds or bond anticipation notes, the authority may issue 31 interim receipts or temporary bonds or bond anticipation notes exchangeable for bonds
01 or bond anticipation notes when these bonds or bond anticipation notes have been 02 executed and are available for delivery. 03 (e) Bonds or bond anticipation notes may be sold in the manner and on the 04 terms the authority determines. 05 (f) If an officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature appears on a 06 bond or note ceases to be an officer before the delivery of the bond or note, the 07 signature or facsimile is valid to the same extent as if the officer had remained in 08 office until delivery. 09 Sec. 30.21.210. Covenants. In a resolution of the authority authorizing or 10 relating to the issuance of bonds or bond anticipation notes, the authority has power by 11 provisions in the resolution that will constitute covenants of the authority and 12 contracts with the holders of the bonds or bond anticipation notes to 13 (1) pledge to a payment or purpose all or a part of its revenue to which 14 its right then exists or may thereafter come into existence, and the money derived from 15 the revenue, and the proceeds of bonds or notes; 16 (2) covenant as to the use and disposition of payments of principal or 17 interest received by the authority on loans or other investments held by the authority; 18 (3) covenant as to establishment of reserves or sinking funds and the 19 making of provision for and the regulation and disposition of the reserves or sinking 20 funds; 21 (4) covenant with respect to or against limitations on a right to sell or 22 otherwise dispose of property of any kind; 23 (5) covenant as to bonds and notes to be issued, and their limitations, 24 terms, and conditions, and as to the custody, application, and disposition of the 25 proceeds of the bonds and notes; 26 (6) covenant as to the issuance of additional bonds or notes, or as to 27 limitations on the issuance of additional bonds or notes and the incurring of other 28 debts; 29 (7) covenant as to the payment of the principal of or interest on the 30 bonds or notes, as to the sources and methods of the payment, as to the rank or priority 31 of the bonds or notes with respect to a lien or security, or as to the acceleration of the
01 maturity of the bonds or notes; 02 (8) provide for the replacement of lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated 03 bonds or notes; 04 (9) covenant as to the redemption of bonds or notes and privileges of 05 their exchange for other bonds or notes of the authority; 06 (10) covenant to create or authorize the creation of special funds of 07 money to be held in pledge or otherwise for operating expenses, payment or 08 redemption of bonds or notes, reserves, or other purposes; 09 (11) establish the procedure, if any, by which the terms of a contract or 10 covenant with or for the benefit of the holders of bonds or notes may be amended or 11 abrogated, the amount of bonds or notes the holders of which must consent to 12 amendment or abrogation, and the manner in which the consent may be given; 13 (12) covenant as to the custody of property or investments, their 14 safekeeping and insurance, and the use and disposition of insurance money; 15 (13) agree with a corporate trustee that may be a trust company or 16 bank having the powers of a trust company within or outside the state as to the 17 pledging or assigning of revenue or funds to which or in which the authority has rights 18 or an interest; the agreement may further provide for other rights and remedies 19 exercisable by the trustee as may be proper for the protection of the holders of a bond 20 or note of the authority and not otherwise in violation of law and may provide for the 21 restriction of the rights of an individual holder of bonds or notes of the authority; 22 (14) appoint and provide for the duties and obligations of a paying 23 agent or paying agents or other fiduciaries as the resolution may provide within or 24 outside the state; 25 (15) limit the rights of the holders of a bond or note to enforce a pledge 26 or covenant securing the bonds or notes; 27 (16) make covenants other than and in addition to the covenants 28 expressly authorized in this section of like or different character, and to make 29 covenants to do or refrain from doing acts and things as may be necessary or 30 convenient and desirable in order to better secure bonds or notes or that, in the 31 absolute discretion of the authority, will tend to make bonds or notes more marketable,
01 notwithstanding that the covenants, acts, or things may not be enumerated in this 02 section. 03 Sec. 30.21.220. Limitations of issuance of bonds. (a) The authority may 04 issue bonds in an amount greater than $10,000,000 to assist in the financing of a 05 capital improvement under this chapter only with the prior approval of the legislature 06 by law. 07 (b) This section does not apply to the issuance by the authority of refunding 08 bonds under AS 30.21.290. 09 Sec. 30.21.230. Independent financial advisor. In negotiating the sale of 10 bonds or bond anticipation notes to an underwriter, the authority may retain a financial 11 advisor. A financial advisor retained under this section must be independent from the 12 underwriter. 13 Sec. 30.21.240. Validity of pledge. (a) The pledge of assets or revenue of the 14 authority to the payment of the principal of or interest on an obligation of the authority 15 is valid and binding from the time the pledge is made, and the assets or revenue 16 become immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without physical delivery or 17 further act. The lien of a pledge is valid and binding against all parties having claims 18 in tort, contract, or otherwise against the authority, irrespective of whether those 19 parties have notice of the lien of the pledge. 20 (b) This section does not prohibit the authority from selling assets subject to a 21 pledge, except that a sale may be restricted by the trust agreement or resolution 22 providing for the issuance of the obligations. 23 Sec. 30.21.250. Capital reserve funds. (a) For the purpose of securing one 24 or more issues of its obligations, the authority may establish one or more special 25 funds, called "capital reserve funds," and shall pay into those capital reserve funds (1) 26 money appropriated and made available by the state for the purpose of those funds, (2) 27 proceeds of the sale of its obligations, to the extent provided in the resolution or 28 resolutions of the authority authorizing their issuance, and (3) other money that may 29 be made available to the authority for the purpose of those funds from another source. 30 All money held in a capital reserve fund, except as provided in this section, shall, 31 subject to appropriation, be used as required solely for the payment of the principal of
01 obligations or of the sinking fund payments with respect to those obligations, the 02 purchase or redemption of obligations, the payment of interest on obligations, or the 03 payment of a redemption premium required to be paid when those obligations are 04 redeemed before maturity. However, money in a fund may not be withdrawn from 05 that fund at any time in an amount that would reduce the amount of that fund to less 06 than the capital reserve requirement set out in (b) of this section, except for the 07 purpose of making, with respect to those obligations, payment, when due, of principal, 08 interest, redemption premiums, and the sinking fund payments for the payment of 09 which other money of the authority is not available. Income or interest earned by, or 10 increment to, a capital reserve fund due to the investment of the fund or other amounts 11 in it may be transferred by the authority to other funds or accounts of the authority to 12 the extent that the transfer does not reduce the amount of the capital reserve fund 13 below the capital reserve fund requirement. 14 (b) If the authority decides to issue obligations secured by a capital reserve 15 fund, the obligations may not be issued if the amount in the capital reserve fund is less 16 than a percent, not exceeding 10 percent, of the principal amount of all of those 17 obligations secured by that capital reserve fund then to be issued and then outstanding 18 in accordance with their terms, as may be established by resolution of the authority, 19 called the "capital reserve fund requirement," unless the authority, at the time of 20 issuance of the obligations, deposits in the capital reserve fund from the proceeds of 21 the obligations to be issued or from other sources an amount that, together with the 22 amount then in the fund, will not be less than the capital reserve fund requirement. 23 (c) In computing the amount of a capital reserve fund for the purpose of this 24 section, securities in which all or a portion of the funds are invested shall be valued at 25 par or, if purchased at less than par, at amortized costs as the term is defined by 26 resolution of the authority authorizing the issue of the obligations or by some other 27 reasonable method established by the authority by resolution. Valuation on a 28 particular date must include the amount of interest earned or accrued to that date. 29 (d) To assure the continued operation and solvency of the authority for the 30 carrying out of its corporate purposes, provision is made in (a) of this section for the 31 accumulation in capital reserve funds of an amount equal to their capital reserve fund
01 requirement. 02 (e) This section does not create a debt or liability of the state. 03 Sec. 30.21.260. Remedies. A holder of obligations issued under the 04 provisions of this chapter, and a trustee under a trust agreement or resolution 05 authorizing the issuance of the obligations, except as restricted by a trust agreement or 06 resolution, either at law or in equity, may enforce all rights granted hereunder or under 07 the trust agreement or resolution, or under another contract executed by the authority 08 under this chapter, and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required 09 by this chapter or by the trust agreement or resolution to be performed by the authority 10 or by an officer of the authority. 11 Sec. 30.21.270. Negotiable instruments. All obligations are negotiable 12 instruments under the laws of this state, subject only to applicable provisions for 13 registration. 14 Sec. 30.21.280. Obligations eligible for investment. Obligations issued 15 under the provisions of this chapter are securities in which all public officers and 16 public bodies of the state and its political subdivisions, all insurance companies, trust 17 companies, banking associations, investment companies, executors, administrators, 18 trustees, and other fiduciaries may properly and legally invest funds, including capital 19 in their control or belonging to them. These obligations may be deposited with a state 20 or municipal officer of an agency or political subdivision of the state for a purpose for 21 which the deposit of bonds, notes, or obligations of the state is authorized by law. 22 Sec. 30.21.290. Refunding bonds. (a) The authority may provide for the 23 issuance of refunding bonds for the purpose of refunding an obligation then 24 outstanding that has been issued under the provisions of this chapter, including the 25 payment of redemption premium on them and interest accrued or to accrue to the date 26 of redemption of the obligations. The issuance of the bonds, the maturities and other 27 details of them, the rights of the holders of them, and the rights, duties, and obligations 28 of the authority in respect of them are governed by the provisions of this chapter that 29 relate to the issuance of obligations insofar as those provisions may be appropriate. 30 (b) Refunding bonds may be sold or exchanged for outstanding bonds issued 31 under this chapter, and, if sold, the proceeds may be applied, subject to appropriation
01 and in addition to another authorized purpose, to the purchase, redemption, or payment 02 of the outstanding obligations. Pending the application of the proceeds of refunding 03 bonds, with any other available funds, to the payment of the principal of, accrued 04 interest on, and redemption premium on the obligations being refunded, and, if so 05 provided or permitted in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the refunding bonds 06 or in the trust agreement securing them, to the payment of any interest on the 07 refunding bonds and expenses in connection with the refunding, the proceeds may be 08 invested in direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and the interest on 09 which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States that mature or that will be 10 subject to redemption, at the option of the holders of them, not later than the respective 11 dates when the proceeds, together with the interest accruing on them, will be required 12 for the purposes intended. 13 Sec. 30.21.300. Credit of state not pledged. (a) Obligations issued under 14 the provisions of this chapter do not constitute a debt, liability, or obligation of the 15 state or of a political subdivision of the state or a pledge of the faith and credit of the 16 state or of a political subdivision of the state but are payable solely from the revenue 17 or assets of the authority. Each obligation issued under this chapter must contain on 18 its face a statement that the authority is not obligated to pay the obligation or the 19 interest on the obligation except from the revenue or assets of the authority and that 20 neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state or of a political 21 subdivision of the state is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on 22 the obligation. 23 (b) Expenses incurred by the authority in carrying out the provisions of this 24 chapter are payable from funds provided under this chapter, and liability may not be 25 incurred by the authority in excess of these funds. 26 Sec. 30.21.310. Officers not liable. A member or other officer of the 27 authority is not subject to personal liability or accountability by reason of having 28 executed or issued an obligation. 29 Sec. 30.21.320. Tax exemption. All obligations issued under this chapter are 30 declared to be issued by a body corporate and public of the state and for an essential 31 public and governmental purpose, and the obligations, and the interest and income on
01 and from the obligations, and all fees, charges, funds, revenue, income, and other 02 money pledged or available to pay or secure the payment of the obligations, or interest 03 on the obligations, are exempt from state taxation except for transfer, inheritance, and 04 estate taxes. 05 Article 4. Fiscal Procedures. 06 Sec. 30.21.350. Authority program and financial plan. (a) The authority 07 shall assure the development of a system of results-based operation designed to 08 increase efficiency and effectiveness of facilities, operations, programs, and services 09 of the authority. Toward that end, the authority shall, on an annual basis, identify 10 results-based measures that have been used to work toward achievement of the 11 mission statement and desired results issued by the legislature and of other goals of the 12 authority, and set out the results as measured. The authority shall also prepare a public 13 report that shall be published by January 2 of each year. The report must 14 (1) identify the mission of the authority; 15 (2) identify the goals and objectives the authority will use to achieve 16 the legislature's mission and desired results; 17 (3) include written, defined methods of measuring results that apply to 18 the responsibilities, products, and services of the authority; 19 (4) identify surveys or other methods of gathering user-group opinions 20 that have been used by the authority to identify ways to improve its programs; 21 (5) identify methods of measuring performance when the mission 22 statement and desired results of the authority involve cooperation with other public or 23 private agencies and make recommendations to eliminate duplication of government 24 functions and waste; 25 (6) include the budget requested to carry out the authority's proposed 26 plans in the succeeding fiscal year, including information reflecting the expenditures 27 during the last fiscal year, the expenditures authorized for the current fiscal year, the 28 expenditures proposed for the succeeding fiscal year, an explanation of the services to 29 be provided, the total number of positions for all persons employed or under contract 30 by the agency for personal services, including those rendered for capital improvement 31 projects, the need for the services, and the cost of the services;
01 (7) include a report of receipts of the authority during the last fiscal 02 year, an estimate of receipts during the current fiscal year, and an estimate of receipts 03 for the succeeding fiscal year; 04 (8) identify legislation required to implement the proposed programs 05 and financial plans; 06 (9) include an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of 07 specific alternatives to existing or proposed activities or administrative methods of the 08 authority. 09 (b) The report prepared under (a) of this section must describe the relationship 10 of the services provided by the authority to those services provided by other 11 government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. 12 (c) All goals and objectives, plans, programs, estimates, budgets, and other 13 documents forwarded to the governor by the authority under this section are public 14 information on and after the date they are forwarded. 15 Sec. 30.21.360. Program execution. The authority has power to administer 16 its programs and is responsible for the proper management of its facilities and 17 operations. 18 Sec. 30.21.370. Annual report. By January 2 of each year, the authority shall 19 prepare a concise report describing the operations, income, and expenditures for the 20 preceding fiscal year. The report must contain information substantially similar to that 21 required by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K. The 22 report must also include financial statements audited by an independent outside 23 auditor. 24 Sec. 30.21.380. Annual audit. The authority shall have a certified audit of its 25 financial records prepared annually by an independent certified public accountant. 26 Article 5. General Provisions. 27 Sec. 30.21.400. Authority employees. Employees of the authority are not 28 employees of the state. 29 Sec. 30.21.410. Application of existing laws. (a) Except as provided under 30 this chapter, or unless those provisions of law conflict with the provisions of this 31 chapter, the authority is subject to those provisions of law generally applicable to
01 public corporations of the state and to 02 (1) AS 40.25; 03 (2) AS 44.62.310 and 44.62.312. 04 (b) The provisions of AS 37.07 (Executive Budget Act) 05 (1) apply to the operating and capital budgets of the authority; 06 (2) do not apply to activities of the authority under this chapter that 07 relate to the authority's borrowing of money as provided in this chapter, including the 08 issuing of its obligations or evidence of that borrowing and the repayment of the debt 09 obligation. 10 (c) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, the following laws 11 do not apply to the operations of the authority: 12 (1) AS 36.30, except as provided in that chapter; 13 (2) AS 39. 14 Sec. 30.21.490. Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context requires 15 otherwise, 16 (1) "authority" means the Kuskokwim Port Authority; 17 (2) "board" means the board of directors of the authority; 18 (3) "bonds" means the bonds issued by the authority under this 19 chapter; 20 (4) "capital improvement" means a project for the construction, 21 rehabilitation, rebuilding, enlarging, or improving of a facility or operation, as 22 determined by the authority to be necessary or desirable for efficient management of 23 the facility or operation by the authority and to best serve the public; 24 (5) "facility or operation" means a facility or operation necessary for 25 the authority to carry out its mission. 26 Sec. 30.21.495. Short title. This chapter may be cited as the Kuskokwim Port 27 Authority Act. 28 * Sec. 3. AS 30.15.010 is amended to read: 29 Sec. 30.15.010. State grants for port facilities construction. To the extent 30 funds are appropriated by the legislature, or from the proceeds from the sale of bonds, 31 the state may make grants to municipalities and regional port authorities to finance a
01 portion of the cost of constructing local, regional, or state port facilities. The state 02 shall participate only in those projects approved by the governor on recommendation 03 of the commissioner. 04 * Sec. 4. AS 30.15.020 is amended to read: 05 Sec. 30.15.020. Criteria for establishing eligibility. (a) Before a grant may 06 be awarded under this chapter, the commissioner shall determine that 07 (1) the grant is for a feasible project; 08 (2) the project is endorsed by resolution of the board of directors of 09 the regional port authority or of the governing body of the sponsoring municipality 10 on its own behalf, or on behalf of a service area in an organized borough if a service 11 area is established to finance and construct port facilities and operate and maintain 12 them once constructed; and 13 (3) the regional port authority or the municipality can clearly 14 demonstrate its ability to finance the local share of project costs. 15 (b) A grant may not be awarded under this chapter for a port facility 16 development project until a study of its feasibility is conducted and submitted with the 17 application for the grant. The project also must be justifiable on the basis of public 18 convenience and necessity. The study shall be conducted by consultants, engineers, or 19 other technical experts, who may be officers or employees of the regional port 20 authority or the municipality [IN] making application for a grant. 21 * Sec. 5. AS 30.15.030 is amended to read: 22 Sec. 30.15.030. Limitation on grants. Grants to municipalities for the 23 development of port facilities may not exceed 24 (1) 90 percent of project costs for municipalities under 5,000 25 population; 26 (2) 80 percent of project costs for municipalities 5,000 population and 27 over. 28 * Sec. 6. AS 30.15.070 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 29 (5) "regional port authority" includes the Kuskokwim Port Authority 30 authorized under AS 30.21. 31 * Sec. 7. AS 36.30.015(e) is amended to read:
01 (e) The board of directors of the Alaska Railroad Corporation, the board of 02 directors of the Kuskokwim Port Authority, and the board of directors of the 03 Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation shall adopt procedures to govern the 04 procurement of supplies, services, professional services, and construction. The 05 procedures must be substantially equivalent to the procedures prescribed in this 06 chapter and in regulations adopted under this chapter. Notwithstanding the other 07 provisions of this subsection, the Alaska Railroad Corporation, the Kuskokwim Port 08 Authority, and the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation shall comply with 09 AS 36.30.170(b), and, when the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 10 authorizes the Alaska Railroad Corporation to perform construction work instead of 11 the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, the Alaska Railroad 12 Corporation shall use competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals 13 under AS 36.30.100 - 36.30.270 to procure the supplies, services, professional 14 services, and construction services necessary for the work and, to ensure the state 15 obtains the lowest cost for the project, may submit a bid or proposal for the work. 16 * Sec. 8. AS 36.30.050(c) is amended to read: 17 (c) The lists may be used by the chief procurement officer or an agency when 18 issuing invitations to bid or requests for proposals under this chapter. The lists may be 19 used by the legislative council, the court system, the Kuskokwim Port Authority, 20 and the Alaska Railroad Corporation. 21 * Sec. 9. AS 36.30.990(1) is amended to read: 22 (1) "agency" 23 (A) means a department, institution, board, commission, 24 division, authority, public corporation, the Alaska Pioneers' Home, the Alaska 25 Veterans' Home, or other administrative unit of the executive branch of state 26 government; 27 (B) does not include 28 (i) the University of Alaska; 29 (ii) the Alaska Railroad Corporation; 30 (iii) the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation; 31 (iv) a regional Native housing authority created under
01 AS 18.55.996 or a regional electrical authority created under 02 AS 18.57.020; 03 (v) the Department of Transportation and Public 04 Facilities, in regard to the repair, maintenance, and reconstruction of 05 vessels, docking facilities, and passenger and vehicle transfer facilities 06 of the Alaska marine highway system; 07 (vi) the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation; 08 (vii) the Alaska State Pension Investment Board; 09 (viii) the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute; 10 (ix) the Kuskokwim Port Authority; 11 * Sec. 10. AS 37.05 is amended by adding a new section to article 1 to read: 12 Sec. 37.05.055. Delegation to the Kuskokwim Port Authority. The 13 commissioner of administration may delegate the performance of the functions under 14 this chapter as they relate to the Kuskokwim Port Authority to the authority and set the 15 criteria and guidelines that shall be followed. 16 * Sec. 11. AS 39.50.200(b) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 17 (58) board of directors of the Kuskokwim Port Authority 18 (AS 30.21.020). 19 * Sec. 12. AS 39.52.960(2) is amended to read: 20 (2) "agency" means a department, the office of the governor, or an 21 entity in the executive branch, including but not limited to the University of Alaska, 22 public or quasi-public corporations, boards or commissions, [AND] the Alaska 23 Railroad Corporation, and the Kuskokwim Port Authority; 24 * Sec. 13. AS 39.52.960(4) is amended to read: 25 (4) "board or commission" means a board, commission, authority, or 26 board of directors of a public or quasi-public corporation, established by statute in the 27 executive branch, including the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Kuskokwim 28 Port Authority, but excluding members of a negotiated regulation making committee 29 under AS 44.62.710 - 44.62.800; 30 * Sec. 14. AS 39.52.960(12) is amended to read: 31 (12) "instrumentality of the state" means a state agency or
01 administrative unit, whether in the legislative, judicial, or executive branch, including 02 such entities as the University of Alaska, the Alaska Railroad Corporation, the 03 Kuskokwim Port Authority, and any public or quasi-public corporations, boards, or 04 commissions; the term includes municipalities; 05 * Sec. 15. AS 44.42.020(a) is amended to read: 06 (a) The department shall 07 (1) plan, design, construct, and maintain all state modes of 08 transportation and transportation facilities and all docks, floats, breakwaters, buildings, 09 and similar facilities; 10 (2) study existing transportation modes and facilities in the state to 11 determine how they might be improved or whether they should continue to be 12 maintained; 13 (3) study alternative means of improving transportation in the state 14 with regard to the economic costs of each alternative and its environmental and social 15 effects; 16 (4) develop a comprehensive, long-range intermodal transportation 17 plan for the state; 18 (5) study alternatives to existing modes of transportation in urban areas 19 and develop plans to improve urban transportation; 20 (6) cooperate and coordinate with and enter into agreements with 21 federal, state, and local government agencies and private organizations and persons in 22 exercising its powers and duties; 23 (7) manage, operate, and maintain state transportation facilities and all 24 docks, floats, breakwaters, and buildings, including all state highways, vessels, 25 railroads, pipelines, and airports [,] and aviation facilities other than ports and port 26 related transportation facilities and operations managed, operated, and 27 maintained by the Kuskokwim Port Authority under AS 30.21; 28 (8) study alternative means of transportation in the state, considering 29 the economic, social, and environmental effects of each alternative; 30 (9) coordinate and develop state and regional transportation systems, 31 considering deletions, additions, and the absence of alterations;
01 (10) develop facility program plans for transportation and state 02 buildings, docks, and breakwaters required to implement the duties set out in this 03 section, including but not limited to functional performance criteria and schedules for 04 completion; 05 (11) supervise and maintain all state automotive and mechanical 06 equipment, aircraft, and vessels, except vessels and aircraft used by the Department of 07 Fish and Game or the Department of Public Safety; for state vehicles maintained by 08 the department, the department shall annually evaluate the cost, efficiency, and 09 commercial availability of natural gas for automotive purposes, and the purpose for 10 which the vehicles are intended to be used, and convert or purchase vehicles to utilize 11 natural gas whenever practicable; the department may participate in joint ventures 12 with public or private partners that will foster the availability of natural gas for all 13 automotive fuel consumers; 14 (12) supervise aeronautics inside the state, under AS 02.10; 15 (13) complete and maintain a current inventory of public facilities, 16 including a projection of the serviceability of the facilities and projections of 17 replacements and additions to facilities needed to provide the level of services 18 programmed by the various user agencies, for municipalities with populations of less 19 than 12,000 and for unincorporated communities, and perform those duties on a 20 cooperative basis with larger municipalities; 21 (14) adopt energy performance standards for public facilities of the 22 state, the construction of which begins after July 1, 1980; the standards shall be based 23 on thermal and lighting energy standards established by the American Society of 24 Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers as adapted for application in 25 high latitude, cold climate environs; 26 (15) provide planning assistance, including but not limited to energy 27 audits and related technical services, to school districts and regional educational 28 attendance areas to develop and implement 29 (A) standards for the design, construction, and operation of 30 rural educational facilities; and 31 (B) energy conservation measures for rural educational
01 facilities; 02 (16) implement the safety and financial responsibility requirements for 03 air carriers under AS 02.40; 04 (17) inspect weights and measures. 05 * Sec. 16. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 06 read: 07 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. Within one year from the first meeting of the 08 board of directors of the Kuskokwim Port Authority, the board shall prepare and publish a 09 development plan for promoting economic self-sufficiency in the region in which the 10 authority operates. The development plan must include a description of the transportation, 11 energy, regional waste disposal, and tourism infrastructure needs of the region that are 12 necessary to promote regional economic self-sufficiency. The plan must also identify 13 opportunities for private resource development in the region, training programs that are 14 necessary to take advantage of current and future economic opportunities in the region, 15 tourism marketing strategies for the region, and sources of funding for operations and projects 16 of the authority. 17 * Sec. 17. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 18 read: 19 INITIAL APPOINTMENTS. Notwithstanding AS 30.21.020, as added by sec. 2 of 20 this Act, and AS 39.05.055, the governor shall appoint the initial appointed members of the 21 board of directors of the Kuskokwim Port Authority to terms as follows: 22 (1) two members to terms of one year; 23 (2) two members to terms of two years; 24 (3) three members to terms of three years. 25 * Sec. 18. This Act takes effect July 1, 2005.