§ 10-9-49 - Lease of facilities; terms and conditions; contracts with public entities
O.C.G.A. 10-9-49 (2010)
10-9-49. Lease of facilities; terms and conditions; contracts with public entities
(a) (1) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the authority shall operate and manage the facilities financed by the issuance of revenue bonds as authorized by this article. The authority may, incident to such operation and management, lease the facilities to persons, firms, private corporations, authorities, counties, municipal corporations, public corporations, public authorities, or other political subdivisions of this state under leases covering all or such separately identified portions of the facilities as the authority may determine appropriate and upon and for such terms, conditions, and considerations and for such rentals, fees, prices, and other charges as the authority shall determine appropriate. The authority shall fix the rentals, fees, prices, and other charges payable to the authority under such leases so that the aggregate amount of such rentals, fees, prices, or other charges derived by the authority thereunder, together with other revenues and earnings of the authority from the facilities designated by the resolution authorizing the issuance of the revenue bonds, and together with revenues, earnings, and funds otherwise available to the authority for such purposes, are at least sufficient to pay the principal, interest, premiums, discounts, fees, costs, or expenses payable by the authority on or with respect to all of the revenue bonds and other obligations issued by the authority for the purpose of financing such facilities as such principal, interest, premiums, discounts, fees, costs, or expenses shall become due, together with the costs of the maintenance, repair, and operation of the facilities, including reserves established for such purposes, and the payment and performance of contractual obligations of the authority. The obligation of any lessee to the authority under any such lease may be secured in such manner as the authority shall determine appropriate. Any such lease may provide that the authority may be subrogated to and may at its election upon such terms as may be set forth in such lease enforce all contracts or rights of action of such lessee relating to or arising out of the operation of the facilities covered by such lease. Any such lease shall contain such other terms, conditions, and considerations as the authority may determine appropriate.
(2) Any lease provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection which lease is for a term in excess of ten years must, as a condition precedent to its effectiveness, be approved by the Fiscal Affairs Subcommittees of the Senate and House of Representatives meeting jointly as one committee; and such approval shall require the affirmative votes of at least 11 members of such subcommittees sitting jointly.
(b) As used in this article, "lease" includes a lease or sublease and may, in the discretion of the authority, be in form and substance an estate for years, usufruct, license, concession, or any other right or privilege to use or occupy or conduct any activity within the facilities. The term "lessee" includes lessee or sublessee, tenant, licensee, concessionaire, or other person contracting for such estate, interest, right, or privilege.
(c) In the exercise of its powers under this chapter, including the powers under this article, the authority may contract with any public entity which shall include the state or with any other public agency, public corporation, or public authority, for joint services, for the provision of services, or for the joint or separate use of facilities which the contracting parties are authorized by law to undertake or provide.
(d) Pursuant to any such contract, in connection with any facility authorized under this article or any project authorized under this chapter, the authority may undertake such facility or provide such services or facilities or projects of the authority, in whole or in part, to or for the benefit of the public entity contracting with the authority with respect to those activities, services, or facilities or projects which the contracting public entity is authorized by the Constitution or laws of this state to provide, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Article IX, Section III, Paragraph I of the Constitution and Chapters 42, 44, 61, and 64 of Title 36 and Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48, and any such contracting public entity is authorized to undertake to pay the authority for such activities, services, or facilities or projects such amounts and on such terms as the parties may determine.
(e) The state and each institution, department, or other agency thereof or each county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of this state and each public agency, public corporation, or public authority is authorized to contract with the authority in connection with any activity, service, or facility which such public entity is otherwise authorized to provide to obtain the performance of such activity or provision of such services or facilities through the authority.
(f) In connection with its operations, the authority may similarly obtain from, and each public entity may provide, such activities, services, or facilities which the authority is authorized to provide.
(g) Except as provided by Article VII, Section IV, Paragraph IV of the Constitution, any such contract authorized by this Code section or the revenues derived therefrom may be designated as security for revenue bonds issued under this article.