CSSB 227(STA): "An Act relating to the Public Facilities Financing Corporation; authorizing an advisory vote on whether the legislature should appropriate $1,500,000,000 from the constitutional budget reserve fund to capitalize the build Alaska fund; and providing for an effective date."
00CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 227(STA) 01 "An Act relating to the Public Facilities Financing Corporation; authorizing an 02 advisory vote on whether the legislature should appropriate $1,500,000,000 from 03 the constitutional budget reserve fund to capitalize the build Alaska fund; and 04 providing for an effective date." 05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 06 * Section 1. FINDINGS. The legislature finds that 07 (1) there is an urgent need for deferred maintenance to existing public facilities 08 in the state and for new public facilities throughout the state; 09 (2) the establishment of the Public Facilities Financing Corporation 10 (AS 35.45.010) will provide an affordable and effective means of financing deferred 11 maintenance and new construction of these facilities. 12 * Sec. 2. AS 35 is amended by adding new sections to read: 13 Chapter 45. Public Facilities Financing Corporation. 14 Sec. 35.45.010. Public Facilities Financing Corporation. The Public
01 Facilities Financing Corporation is created as a public corporation of the state in the 02 Department of Revenue. The corporation is an instrumentality of the state but has a 03 legal existence independent of and separate from the state and has continuing 04 succession until its existence is terminated by law. The corporation is subject to 05 AS 37.07 (Executive Budget Act). 06 Sec. 35.45.020. Board of directors. The corporation is governed by a board 07 of five directors, consisting of the commissioner of revenue, the commissioner of 08 transportation and public facilities, the commissioner of education, the executive 09 director of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and the executive director of the 10 Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. 11 Sec. 35.45.030. Officers and quorum. (a) The board of directors shall elect 12 one of their number as chair. The board shall elect a secretary and a treasurer who 13 need not be directors. The same person may be elected to serve both as secretary and 14 treasurer. The powers of the corporation are vested in the board of directors, and three 15 directors of the corporation constitute a quorum. Action may be taken and motions 16 and resolutions adopted by the corporation at any meeting by the affirmative vote of 17 at least three directors. A vacancy in the directorship of the corporation does not 18 impair the right of a quorum to exercise all of the powers and perform all of the duties 19 of the corporation. 20 (b) The corporation may employ an executive director but may not employ any 21 other staff. The executive director is in the exempt service under AS 39.25.110. 22 Sec. 35.45.040. Powers of the corporation. The corporation may 23 (1) sue and be sued; 24 (2) adopt and alter an official seal; 25 (3) make and enforce bylaws and regulations for the conduct of its 26 business and for the use of its services and facilities; 27 (4) maintain one office at any place in the state; 28 (5) subject to other provisions of this chapter, acquire, hold, use, and 29 dispose of its income, revenue, funds, and money; 30 (6) acquire, rent, lease, hold, use, and dispose of property for its 31 purposes;
01 (7) subject to AS 35.45.070, issue revenue bonds or notes and provide 02 for and secure payment of the revenue bonds or notes, provide for the rights of their 03 holders, and purchase, hold, and dispose of any of its revenue bonds or notes; 04 (8) fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect fees and 05 charges for the use of its services or facilities; 06 (9) accept gifts or grants from the United States, or from any 07 governmental unit or person, carry out the terms or provisions or make agreements 08 with respect to the gifts or grants, and do all things necessary, useful, desirable, or 09 convenient in connection with procuring, accepting, or disposing of the gifts or grants; 10 (10) do anything authorized by this chapter through its officers, agents, 11 or employee, or by contracts with a person; 12 (11) make, enter into, and enforce all contracts necessary, convenient, 13 or desirable for the purposes of the corporation or pertaining to a purchase or sale of 14 bonds or other investments, or the performance of its duties and execution of any of 15 its powers under this chapter; 16 (12) purchase or hold bonds at prices and in a manner the corporation 17 considers advisable; 18 (13) adopt and amend regulations by motion, by resolution, or in 19 another manner permitted under the bylaws of the corporation; 20 (14) procure insurance against any losses in connection with its 21 property, operations, or assets in amounts and from insurers it considers desirable, or 22 obtain bond insurance or other credit enhancement with the reimbursement, security, 23 interest, remedy, and other provisions the corporation may determine; 24 (15) to the extent permitted under its contracts with the holders of 25 bonds or notes of the corporation, consent to modification of the rate of interest, time 26 and payment of installment of principal or interest, security, or any other term of a 27 bond or note, contract, or agreement of any kind to which the corporation is a party; 28 and 29 (16) do all acts and things necessary, convenient, or desirable to carry 30 out the powers expressly granted or necessarily implied in this chapter. 31 Sec. 35.45.050. Issuance of bonds and notes. (a) Subject to AS 35.45.070,
01 the corporation may issue its bonds or notes in principal amounts sufficient to provide 02 funds for acquisition, construction, repair, major maintenance, and renovation of public 03 facilities or school facilities that are projects approved under AS 14.11.015(a). 04 (b) Bonds or notes may be issued for a facility under (a) of this section only 05 when 06 (1) the project and the amount of the project cost to be borne by the 07 corporation, if any, is authorized by law; 08 (2) the commissioner of administration has certified that a computerized 09 maintenance management plan is in place for the facility; and 10 (3) the commissioner of transportation and public facilities has certified 11 that 12 (A) the facility is designed in accordance with the energy 13 performance standards adopted under AS 44.42.020(a); 14 (B) the designer and constructor of the facility have certified 15 that the facility will be designed and constructed in accordance with the energy 16 performance standards adopted under AS 44.42.020(a); or 17 (C) if construction of the facility began before July 1, 1980, the 18 facility meets or, upon completion of the project, will meet the energy 19 performance standards that are substantially equivalent to those adopted under 20 AS 44.42.020(a). 21 (c) The corporation may issue its bonds or notes in principal amounts that it 22 considers necessary to provide funds for 23 (1) payment, funding, or refunding of the principal of, or interest or 24 redemption premiums on, bonds or notes issued by it, whether the bonds or notes or 25 interest to be funded or refunded have become due; 26 (2) the establishment or increase of reserves to secure or pay bonds or 27 notes or interest on bonds or notes and all other costs or expenses of the corporation 28 incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes and powers; 29 (3) capitalized interest for any expected construction or improvement 30 period and for up to one year after that period ends. 31 (d) Bonds may be authorized only by resolution of the corporation and shall
01 be dated and mature as the resolution may provide, except that a bond may not mature 02 more than 25 years from the date of its issue. Bonds shall bear interest at rates, be in 03 the denominations, be in the form, either coupon or registered, carry the registration 04 privileges, be executed in the manner, be payable in the medium of payment, at the 05 place or places, and be subject to the terms of redemption that the resolution or a 06 subsequent resolution may provide. Bonds or notes may be sold at a public or private 07 sale. 08 (e) Bonds issued by the corporation are payable only from revenue and other 09 funds of the corporation, as provided in the resolution authorizing issuance of the 10 bonds, excluding the build Alaska fund and any income of the fund. Bonds are 11 payable from revenue generated by projects financed with bonds, lease rents, or 12 installment purchase payments received by the corporation. Unless the use of the 13 money is restricted by the terms of the grant, appropriation, or agreement, bonds are 14 payable from money received by the corporation under a grant, appropriation, or other 15 agreement with the state. Except for money in the build Alaska fund and income of 16 the fund, the corporation may pledge its assets to secure bonds, including proceeds of 17 its bonds, revenue, and rights under any lease, installment sale, or other agreement or 18 arrangement. 19 (f) For the purpose of securing the financing for projects through the issuance 20 of bonds by the corporation, the state or a department or an agency of the state may 21 buy or lease property or facilities from the corporation, sell or lease property or 22 facilities to the corporation, or enter into other agreements or arrangements with the 23 corporation. The installment purchase, rental, or other payment provisions, term, 24 interest, payment, prepayment, security, default, remedy, and other terms or provisions 25 may be specified in the installment sale, purchase, lease, or other agreement or 26 arrangement between the corporation and the state or a department or an agency of the 27 state. This subsection provides a complete, additional, and alternative method for 28 performing the acts authorized by this subsection, and a sale or lease of property or 29 facilities of the state to the corporation, a purchase or lease of property or facilities 30 from the corporation, and other agreements or arrangements with the corporation, need 31 not comply with the requirements of any other law.
01 (g) Neither bonds issued by the corporation, nor leases, installment sales, or 02 other agreements or arrangements entered into by the state or a department or an 03 agency of the state securing or providing the source of payment for the bonds are 04 obligations for which the full faith and credit of the state is pledged. No person has 05 a claim or lien on any money of the state for the repayment of any obligation of the 06 corporation. The legislature may appropriate money to pay the leases, installment 07 sales, or other agreements or arrangements entered into by the state or a department 08 or an agency of the state with the corporation; however, the legislature is under no 09 obligation to appropriate money for these purposes or to make payments on any bonds 10 or other obligations of the corporation. The bonds of the corporation shall recite in 11 substance that they are not a debt or liability of the state or a political subdivision of 12 the state, except the corporation, that bondholders have no claim or lien on any money 13 of the state, except money appropriated by the state for the purpose of paying the 14 leases, installment sales, or other agreements or arrangements entered into by the state 15 or a department or an agency of the state with the corporation, that the state is not 16 obligated to appropriate money for these purposes or to pay the bonds, and that 17 issuance of bonds by the corporation does not directly, indirectly, or contingently 18 obligate the state or a political subdivision of the state to apply money from, levy, or 19 pledge any form of taxation to the payment of the bonds. 20 Sec. 35.45.060. Trust indentures and trust agreements. (a) In the 21 discretion of the corporation, an issue of bonds may be secured by a trust indenture 22 or trust agreement between the corporation and a corporate trustee, including a trust 23 company, bank, or national banking association, with corporate trust powers, located 24 inside or outside the state, or by a secured loan agreement or other instrument or under 25 a resolution giving powers to a corporate trustee by means of which the corporation 26 may 27 (1) make and enter into any and all the covenants and agreements with 28 the trustee or the holders of the bonds that the corporation may determine to be 29 necessary or desirable, including, without limitation, covenants, provisions, limitations, 30 and agreements as to 31 (A) the application, investment, deposit, use, and disposition of
01 the proceeds of bonds of the corporation or of money or other property of the 02 corporation, excluding the build Alaska fund and income from the fund; 03 (B) the terms and conditions upon which additional bonds of the 04 corporation may be issued; and 05 (C) the vesting in a trustee of rights, powers, duties, funds, or 06 property in trust for the benefit of bondholders, including the right to enforce 07 payment, performance, and all other rights of the corporation or of the 08 bondholders, under an agreement of the corporation; 09 (2) pledge, mortgage, or assign money, agreements, property, or other 10 rights or assets of the corporation either presently in hand or to be received in the 11 future, or both, but excluding the build Alaska fund and income from the fund; and 12 (3) provide for other matters of like or different character that in any 13 way affect the security or protection of the bonds. 14 (b) For the purpose of securing one or more issues of its bonds, the 15 corporation may establish one or more special funds, called "public facility reserve 16 funds," and shall pay into the reserve funds the proceeds of the sale of its bonds and 17 other money that may be made available to the corporation for the purposes of those 18 reserve funds from another source. The reserve funds shall be established only if the 19 corporation determines that the establishment would enhance the marketability of the 20 bonds. Money held in a reserve fund, except as provided in this section, shall be used 21 as required solely for (1) the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds or of 22 the sinking fund payments with respect to those bonds, (2) the purchase or redemption 23 of bonds, or (3) the payment of a redemption premium required to be paid when those 24 bonds are redeemed before maturity. However, money in a reserve fund may not be 25 withdrawn from it at any time in an amount that would reduce the amount of that 26 reserve fund to less than the public facilities reserve fund requirement under (c) of this 27 section except for the purpose of making, with respect to those bonds, payment, when 28 due, of principal, interest, redemption premiums, and the sinking fund payments for 29 the payment of which other money of the corporation is not available. Income or 30 interest earned by, or increment to, a reserve fund, due to the investment of the reserve 31 fund or other amounts in it, may be transferred by the corporation to other funds or
01 accounts of the corporation to the extent that the transfer does not reduce the amount 02 of the reserve fund below the public facilities reserve fund requirement under (c) of 03 this section. 04 (c) If the corporation decides to issue bonds secured by a public facilities 05 reserve fund, the bonds may not be issued if the amount in the reserve fund is less 06 than an amount that may be established by resolution of the corporation, called the 07 "public facilities reserve fund requirement," unless the corporation, at the time of 08 issuance of the obligations, deposits in the reserve fund from the proceeds of the 09 obligations to be issued or from other sources, an amount that, together with the 10 amount then in the reserve fund, is not less than the public facilities reserve fund 11 requirement. 12 (d) In computing the amount of a public facilities reserve fund for the purpose 13 of this section, securities in which all or a portion of the funds are invested shall be 14 valued by a reasonable method established by the corporation by resolution. Valuation 15 on a particular date shall include the amount of any interest earned or accrued to that 16 date. 17 (e) The chair of the corporation shall annually, not later than January 2, make 18 and deliver to the governor and the legislature a certificate stating the amount, if any, 19 required to restore a public facilities reserve fund to the public facilities reserve fund 20 requirement. That amount may be appropriated by the state for deposit by the 21 corporation in the proper reserve fund. Nothing in this subsection creates a debt or 22 liability of the state. 23 (f) If the corporation decides to covenant to issue bonds secured by a public 24 facilities reserve fund, the bonds may not be issued until 10 days after the corporation 25 has mailed notification to the state bond committee and the Legislative Budget and 26 Audit Committee by certified mail of its intention to establish a public facilities 27 reserve fund to secure the bond issue. The notification must include the amount of the 28 reserve fund to be established and the amount of bonds proposed to be issued. The 29 notification must be accompanied by an estimate by the corporation of the need to 30 withdraw money from the reserve fund during the term of the bond issue, the amount 31 that it may be necessary to withdraw, and the time at which withdrawals are estimated
01 to be needed. The corporation shall annually prepare a revised estimate, considering 02 the same factors, and a statement of all withdrawals that have occurred from the date 03 of issuance of the bonds to the end of the calendar year. The revised estimate and 04 statement shall be submitted to the state bond committee and the Legislative Budget 05 and Audit Committee by January 30 of the year following preparation of the revised 06 estimate. 07 Sec. 35.45.070. Bonding limitations. The total amount of bonds of the 08 corporation that may be outstanding at any time may not exceed $2,000,000,000, 09 excluding bonds for which money or securities in the amount necessary to redeem the 10 principal of and interest on the bonds, and to pay any redemption premium on the 11 bonds, has been deposited in trust for that purpose. 12 Sec. 35.45.080. Nonliability on bonds. A member of the board of directors 13 or an employee of the corporation or a person executing bonds of the corporation is 14 not personally liable on the bonds or subject to personal liability or accountability as 15 a result of the issuance of the bonds. 16 Sec. 35.45.090. Exemption from taxation. All bonds of the corporation are 17 declared to be issued by a political subdivision of the state and for an essential public 18 and governmental purpose, and the bonds, the interest on them, the income from them, 19 the transfer of the bonds, and all assets, income, and receipts pledged to pay or secure 20 the payment of the bonds, or the interest on them, shall at all times be exempt from 21 taxation by or under the authority of the state, except for inheritance and estate taxes 22 and taxes on transfers by or in contemplation of death. 23 Sec. 35.45.100. Pledge of the state. (a) The state pledges to and agrees with 24 the holders of bonds issued under this chapter that the state will not limit or alter the 25 rights and powers vested in the corporation by this chapter to fulfill the terms of a 26 contract made by the corporation with the holders, and that the state will not in any 27 way impair the rights and remedies of the holders until the bonds, together with the 28 interest on them with interest on unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and 29 expenses in connection with an action or proceeding by or on behalf of the holders, 30 are fully met and discharged. The corporation is authorized to use this pledge and 31 agreement of the state in agreements involving holders of bonds of the corporation.
01 (b) It is the intention of the legislature that a pledge made with respect of 02 bonds shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made, that the money and 03 property so pledged and thereafter received by the corporation shall immediately be 04 subject to the lien of the pledge without physical delivery or further act, and that the 05 lien of the pledge shall be valid and binding against all parties having claims of any 06 kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the corporation, irrespective of whether the 07 parties have notice. The resolution, trust agreement, or another instrument by which 08 a pledge is created need not be recorded nor filed under the provisions of the Uniform 09 Commercial Code to be valid, binding, or effective against the parties. 10 (c) The pledge of the state is limited to the express provisions of (a) of this 11 section and is not a guarantee, surety, promise, undertaking, or assurance of repayment 12 or performance of any obligation of the corporation. 13 Sec. 35.45.110. Build Alaska fund. (a) The build Alaska fund is established 14 in the corporation. The build Alaska fund consists of appropriations made to it. The 15 build Alaska fund shall be invested by the Department of Revenue as agent of the 16 corporation. Income from investments shall be deposited into the general fund. 17 (b) The build Alaska fund and income of the fund may not be pledged or used 18 to pay the principal or interest due on bonds issued by the corporation or to pay any 19 obligations of the state or a state department or agency that secure payment of any 20 bonds of the corporation. 21 (c) Money in the build Alaska fund may be used only in accordance with an 22 appropriation. Money may be appropriated from the fund 23 (1) to pay costs of issuing bonds of the corporation or the costs of any 24 guaranty, insurance, or other credit enhancement for the bonds; 25 (2) for acquisition, construction, repair, major maintenance, or 26 renovation of public facilities or school facilities that are projects approved under 27 AS 14.11.015(a). 28 Sec. 35.45.120. Annual audit. The corporation shall have its financial records 29 audited annually by a certified public accountant. The legislative auditor may 30 prescribe the form and content of the financial records of the corporation and may 31 have access to the records at any time.
01 Sec. 35.45.130. Annual report. Before March 1 of each year, the corporation 02 shall submit to the governor a comprehensive report describing operations, income, and 03 expenditures for the preceding 12-month period. The corporation shall notify the 04 legislature that the report is available. 05 Sec. 35.45.140. Regulations. The corporation may adopt regulations necessary 06 to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Except for AS 44.62.310 and 44.62.312 07 regarding public meetings, AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act) does not apply 08 to regulations adopted by the corporation. The corporation shall make available to 09 members of the public copies of the regulations it adopts. Within 45 days after its 10 adoption, the chair of the board shall the submit regulation to the chair of the 11 Administrative Regulation Review Committee (AS 24.20.400). 12 Sec. 35.45.900. Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context requires 13 otherwise, 14 (1) "bonds" means revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the 15 corporation issued under this chapter; 16 (2) "corporation" means the Public Facilities Financing Corporation 17 established under AS 35.45.010; 18 (3) "public facility" means a building or other structure that serves a 19 public purpose and is constructed or maintained in whole or in part with state money, 20 and includes highways and facilities and vessels of the Alaska marine highway system. 21 * Sec. 3. AS 36.30.850(b) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 22 (38) contracts of the Public Facilities Financing Corporation 23 (AS 35.45.010). 24 * Sec. 4. AS 39.25.110 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 25 (33) the executive director of the Public Facilities Financing 26 Corporation. 27 * Sec. 5. AS 39.50.200(b) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 28 (56) Public Facilities Financing Corporation (AS 35.45.010). 29 * Sec. 6. The lieutenant governor shall place before the qualified voters of the state at the 30 next general election a question advisory to the legislature of whether the legislature should 31 appropriate $1,500,000,000 from the constitutional budget reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17,
01 Constitution of the State of Alaska) to capitalize the build Alaska fund (AS 35.45.110). The 02 question shall appear on the ballot in the following form: 03 Q U E S T I O N 04 Shall the Legislature of the State of Alaska appropriate $1,500,000,000 from 05 the constitutional budget reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17, Constitution of the State 06 of Alaska) to capitalize the build Alaska fund (AS 35.45.110)? 07 Yes [ ] No [ ] 08 * Sec. 7. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).