§41-10-547. Bonds of the authority.

(a) The authority is authorized from time to time to sell and issue its bonds for the purpose of financing project costs pertaining to one or more projects or for the purpose of providing funds to pay training facility management fees, or any combination of the foregoing including, without limitation, in the case of authority obligations issued for the purpose of providing funds to pay training facility management fees, costs, expenses, and other items of the type described in paragraphs g., h., i., and j. of the definition of project costs in Section 41-10-541 or to enter into guaranty agreements wherein the authority guarantees payment, in whole or in part, of debt service referable to obligations issued by development agencies for the purpose of financing project costs pertaining to one or more projects; provided, however, that the principal amount of authority obligations shall not exceed three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000). For purposes of determining compliance with this section and Section 41-10-550, (i) the principal amount of authority guaranties outstanding shall be determined on the basis of the outstanding principal of the authority-guaranteed obligations to which such authority guaranties relate, (ii) bonds of the authority (or, in the case of authority guaranties, the authority-guaranteed obligations to which such authority guaranties relate), the payment of debt service referable to which at and prior to their respective stated maturities is fully provided for by an irrevocable escrow consisting solely of cash and direct obligations of the United States, shall not be deemed to be outstanding, and (iii) in the case of bonds of the authority or authority-guaranteed obligations with respect to which interest is not payable on a current basis (generally referred to as "capital appreciation bonds"), the principal amount outstanding shall be computed on the basis of their original principal amount and not on the basis of their accreted value. The authorization granted in the first sentence of this section shall include, but shall not be limited to, (1) the power to issue authority obligations related to financing project costs with respect to projects that are under construction on the date of issuance of such obligations and (2) the power to fund training facility management fees in advance of their incurrence and for such period as the directors deem appropriate based upon estimates furnished to the authority.

(b) The bonds of the authority shall be signed by its president and attested by its secretary and the seal of the authority shall be affixed. A facsimile of the signature of one or both of the officers may be printed or otherwise reproduced on any such bonds in lieu of being manually subscribed thereon and a facsimile of the seal of the authority may be printed or otherwise reproduced on any of the bonds in lieu of being manually affixed thereto. Any bonds of the authority may be executed and delivered by it at any time and from time to time, and shall be in the form and denominations and of such tenor and maturities, shall bear such rate or rates of interest, shall be payable at such times and evidenced in such manner, may be made subject to redemption at the option of the authority at such times and after such notice and on such conditions and at such redemption price or prices, and may contain such other provisions not inconsistent herewith, all as may be provided by the resolution of the directors of the authority under which the bonds are authorized to be issued. Bonds of the authority may be sold at public or private sale from time to time as the directors may consider advantageous.

(c) Subject to the provisions and limitations contained in this division, the authority may from time to time sell and issue refunding bonds for the purpose of refunding any matured or unmatured bonds of the authority or authority-guaranteed obligations then outstanding. The authority may pay out of the proceeds of the sale of refunding bonds such fees and the expenses of issuance which the said directors may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with the issuance of the refunding bonds; provided, however, that no refunding bonds shall be issued unless the present value of all debt service on the refunding bonds (computed with a discount rate equal to the true interest rate of the refunding bonds and taking into account all underwriting discount and other issuance expenses) shall not be greater than 95% of the present value of all debt service on the bonds to be refunded (computed using the same discount rate and taking into account the underwriting discount and other issuance expenses originally applicable to such bonds) determined as if such bonds to be refunded were paid and retired in accordance with the schedule of maturities (considering mandatory redemption as a scheduled maturity) provided at the time of their issuance.

(d) Authority obligations shall not be general obligations of the authority but shall be payable solely from one or more of the following sources: (1) appropriated funds; (2) the revenues and receipts of the authority derived from any financing agreement entered into by the authority with respect to the project or projects financed by such authority obligations; (3) the income or proceeds realized by the authority under any mortgage or other security granted to the authority; (4) amounts derived from any letter of credit, insurance policy or other form of credit enhancement applicable to the authority obligations; (5) any reserve or other fund established for such purpose by the authority; (6) any earnings on the proceeds of authority obligations invested by the authority pending their disbursement; and (7) any other amounts that may hereafter be appropriated to the authority. As security for the payment of the debt service referable to bonds issued by it and of its obligations under authority guaranties, the authority is authorized and empowered to pledge for payment of such debt service and such obligations appropriated funds and other moneys and funds from which such authority obligations are made payable. All contracts made and all authority obligations issued or incurred by the authority pursuant to this division shall be solely and exclusively obligations of the authority and shall not constitute or create an obligation or debt of the state. Bonds issued by the authority shall be construed to be negotiable instruments, although payable solely from a specified source, as provided herein. The proceedings of the directors under which any authority obligations are authorized to be issued and any such mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture may contain any agreements and provisions respecting the collection and disposition of appropriated funds, revenues, and receipts subject to such mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture, the creation and maintenance of special funds from such appropriated funds, revenues, and receipts, the rights, duties, and remedies of the parties to any such instrument and the parties for the benefit of whom the instrument is made and the rights and remedies available in the event of default, all as the directors shall deem advisable. Any pledge made with respect to authority obligations shall be valid and binding from the time such pledge is made; the appropriated funds, revenues, receipts, funds, and other property so pledged shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act; and the lien of pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind against the authority irrespective of whether the parties have notice thereof. Neither the proceedings of the directors authorizing the authority obligations nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded. Each pledge, agreement, mortgage, and deed of trust or trust indenture made for the benefit or security of any of the authority obligations of the authority shall continue effective until the authority obligations have been fully paid or satisfied.

(e) Any bonds of the authority and any authority guaranteed obligations may be used by the holder as security for any funds belonging to the state, or to any political subdivision, instrumentality, or agency of the state, in any instance where security for the deposits may be required by law. Unless otherwise directed by the court having jurisdiction, or the document that is the source of authority, a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, or one acting in any other fiduciary capacity may, in addition to any other investment powers conferred by law and with the exercise of reasonable business prudence, invest trust funds in bonds of the authority and authority-guaranteed obligations. Neither a public hearing nor consent of the Department of Finance or any other department or agency shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of bonds by the authority. Bonds of the authority and authority-guaranteed obligations shall be legal investments for funds of the Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama, the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama, and the State Insurance Fund.

(f) The State Treasurer shall be registrar, transfer agent, and paying agent for the bonds. The State Treasurer may designate named individuals who are employees of the state and who are assigned to the State Treasurer's office to authenticate the bonds.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-373, p. 747, §8; Act 99-198, p. 237, §2; Act 2010-715, p. 1763, §2.)