§41-9-782. Authority of commission generally.

The commission shall be authorized:

(1) To investigate and select an available site for housing the exhibits, including the surrounding grounds, in cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority and the community, taking into consideration all pertinent factors affecting the suitability of such site;

(2) To acquire by rent or lease agreement or otherwise the necessary housing facilities and to establish, improve and enlarge the available facility, including providing it with necessary equipment, furnishings, landscaping and related facilities, including parking areas and ramps, roadways, sewers, curbs and gutters;

(3) To enter into such contracts and cooperative agreements with the local, state and federal governments, with agencies of such governments, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, with private individuals, corporations, associations and other organizations as the commission may deem necessary or convenient to carry out the purpose of this article, such contracts and agreements to include leases to private industry;

(4) To borrow money from private sources or such other sources as may be acceptable to the commission under such terms and conditions as may be provided by law and, in order to provide security for the repayment of any such private loans, to pledge such future revenues from admissions and any other sources as may from time to time be necessary or desirable;

(5) To issue and sell at any time, and from time to time, its revenue obligations for the purpose of providing funds to acquire, construct, enlarge, improve, equip and maintain a facility and for the payment of obligations incurred for such purposes. The principal and interest on any such obligations shall be payable from revenues derived from the project and from such other sources (including, to the extent applicable, the TVA payments referred to in Section 41-9-783) as the commission may deem necessary to provide sufficient security for the marketing of said obligations. In addition to any obligations of the commission that shall be payable from any other source or sources, the commission is further authorized to issue and sell revenue obligations in an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $5,000,000.00 to construct and equip the information and exhibit center as provided for in Section 41-9-780, for the benefit of which the said TVA payments shall be pledged and appropriated as hereinafter provided. Any revenue obligations issued by the commission may thereafter at any time (whether before, at or after the maturity thereof) and from time to time be refunded by the issuance of refunding obligations, which revenue obligations or refunding obligations may be sold by the commission at public or private sale at such price or prices as may be determined by its executive committee to be most advantageous. The commission may pay all expenses, premiums and commissions which its executive committee may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with any financing done by it. Neither the full faith and credit nor taxing powers of the State of Alabama or any political subdivision thereof shall be pledged to the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on or interest on said obligations;

(6) To make such contracts in the issuance of its obligations as may seem necessary or desirable to assure their marketability and to provide for their retirement by a pledge of all or any revenue which may come to the commission from the investment of the proceeds of the sale of such obligations or from any other source whatsoever;

(7) To accept public or private gifts, grants and donations;

(8) To acquire property by purchase, lease, gift or license, such power not to include the purchase of a site for the facility;

(9) To receive and deposit into the State Treasury funds from all donations, income and revenue from any source whatsoever coming into the commission and expend such funds for the fulfillment and accomplishment of its duties and responsibilities in such manner as may be necessary and appropriate for the perfection of the purposes of this article. However, such funds shall be paid out only by warrant of the Comptroller upon the Treasurer, upon itemized vouchers, approved by the executive director; provided, that no funds shall be withdrawn or expended except as budgeted and allotted according to the provisions of Sections 41-4-80 through 41-4-96 and Sections 41-19-1 through 41-19-12, and only in amounts as stipulated in the general appropriation or other appropriation bills;

(10) To sell, convey, transfer, lease or donate any property, franchise, grant, easement, license or lease or interest therein which it may own and to transfer, assign, sell, convey or donate any right, title or interest which it may have in any lease, contract, agreement, license or property;

(11) To employ an executive director and such additional personnel as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this article. The executive director and such additional personnel as may be employed by the commission will serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission shall fix the compensation of the executive director, and such additional personnel and such compensation shall be paid from any funds of the commission. The commission shall designate the duties and authority of the executive director and such additional personnel. The executive director and such additional personnel shall not be subject to the provisions of the state Merit System Act; provided, however, that they shall be eligible for participation in the state health insurance plan and benefits as provided, and they shall be eligible for participation in the State Employees' Retirement System under the provisions governing counties, cities, towns and other quasi-public organizations of the state;

(12) To make such rules and regulations as the commission may deem necessary and desirable to provide for the operation, management and control of the facility; and

(13) To perform such other acts necessary or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of this article, whether or not specifically authorized in this section, and not otherwise prohibited by law.

(Acts 1984, No. 84-292, p. 551, §3; Acts 1985, No. 85-655, p. 1024, §1; Acts 1986, No. 86-501, p. 980, §1; Acts 1987, No. 87-586, p. 957, §1; Acts 1990, No. 90-531, p. 823, §1.)