Bill Text: MS SB2368 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Bonds; authorize issuance of general obligation bonds for Capitol Complex Improvement District projects.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-06-03 - Died In Committee [SB2368 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2020-SB2368-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Finance
By: Senator(s) Blackmon
Senate Bill 2368
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS WILL BE PAID PRIMARILY FROM MONIES IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PROJECT FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 29-5-215, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (ii) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.
(b) "State" means the State of Mississippi.
(c) "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.
(2) (a) (i) A special fund, to be designated the "2020 Capitol Complex Improvement District Projects Fund," is created within the State Treasury. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.
(ii) Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, for improvement projects within the Capitol Complex Improvement District in accordance with the comprehensive plan described in Section 29-5-209.
(b) Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection. Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.
(3) (a) The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in subsection (2) of this section. Upon the adoption of a resolution by the Department of Finance and Administration, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this subsection, the department shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the commission. Upon receipt of such resolution, the commission, in its discretion, may act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, determine the appropriate method for sale of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids or negotiate the sale of the bonds, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The total amount of bonds issued under this section shall not exceed One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this section after July 1, 2024.
(b) Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special fund created in subsection (2) of this section shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.
(4) The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under this section shall be payable in the manner provided in this subsection. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.
(5) The bonds authorized by this section shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.
(6) All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of this section have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by this section, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.
(7) The commission shall act as issuing agent for the bonds authorized under this section, prescribe the form of the bonds, determine the appropriate method for sale of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids or negotiate the sale of the bonds, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under this section from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds. The commission may sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale or may negotiate the sale of the bonds for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually.
If such bonds are sold by sealed bids at public sale, notice of the sale shall be published at least one time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, selected by the commission.
The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of this section, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.
(8) The bonds issued under the provisions of this section are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged. The principal of and the interest on the bonds shall be payable primarily from the funds in the Capitol Complex Improvement District Project Fund as provided in Section 29-5-215(4). If the funds available in the Capitol Complex Improvement District Project Fund and any funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated. All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this subsection.
(9) Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of this section, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the special fund created in subsection (2) of this section. The proceeds of such bonds shall be disbursed solely upon the order of the Department of Finance and Administration under such restrictions, if any, as may be contained in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.
(10) The bonds authorized under this section may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by this section. Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this section shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.
(11) The bonds authorized under the authority of this section may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Title 31, Chapter 13, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.
(12) Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of this section or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under this section, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by this section to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.
(13) All bonds issued under the provisions of this section shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
(14) Bonds issued under the provisions of this section and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.
(15) The proceeds of the bonds issued under this section shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.
(16) The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under this section; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.
(17) This section shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but this section shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.
SECTION 2. Section 29-5-215, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
29-5-215. (1) There is created in the State Treasury the Capitol Complex Improvement District Project Fund, into which shall be deposited the money specified in Section 27-65-75(1)(c) and such other money from whatever source derived.
(2) An amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of the amount deposited into the fund may be utilized to reimburse the Department of Finance and Administration for the cost of providing necessary personnel, services or other expenses it incurs in performing its duties under Sections 29-5-201 through 29-5-217.
(3) An amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the amount deposited into the fund may be utilized, in the discretion of the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, to compensate the City of Jackson for general police and fire protection provided by the city in the Capitol Complex Improvement District created in Section 29-5-203 and for police coverage for major events conducted within such district.
(4) (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (6) of this section relating to the use of monies in the fund to secure debt incurred by the Department of Finance and Administration, an amount of not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the amount deposited into the fund shall be used solely for the repayment of bonds issued under Section 1 of this act. Upon the repayment in full of bonds issued under Section 1 of this act, monies in the fund shall be used for the purposes provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (4).
(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), an amount of not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the amount deposited into the fund, which shall be designated as "improvement project funds," shall be utilized within the district for improvement projects in accordance with the comprehensive plan described in Section 29-5-209. In addition to fully funding improvement projects, money in the fund may be utilized to fund a portion of an improvement project in cases in which other funds are available for a project and may be used as leverage or matching funds for projects in the district that comport with the district's comprehensive plan.
(5) Money in the fund shall be expended upon appropriation by the Legislature. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of the state fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
(6) The Department of Finance and Administration, with the concurrence of the State Bond Commission, is authorized to incur debt, including notes or other evidences of indebtedness, for the purpose of paying the costs of implementing and administering the improvement projects outlined in the comprehensive plan established pursuant to Section 29-5-209. Any debt incurred to pay such costs may be secured by the sales tax revenue that is required to be deposited to the Capitol Complex Improvement District Project Fund under Section 27-65-75(1)(c). All notes or certificates of indebtedness issued for purposes of this subsection shall mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period not to exceed five (5) years from the date of issuance thereof. The maximum amount of debt that may be incurred by the Department of Finance and Administration under this subsection shall not exceed Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000.00).
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
