54-17.2 North Dakota Building Authority
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authority created under this chapter.2."Evidences of indebtedness" means bonds, notes, debentures, and other evidences
of indebtedness issued by the commission on behalf of the state of North Dakota to
evidence money owed or borrowed.3."Financing agreement" means a written agreement between the commission and
the state with respect to a project, whereby the state agrees to pay to the
commission, when due, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on bonds
issued by the commission with respect to that project. A financing agreement may
be in the form of a lease, mortgage, direct or installment sale contract, loan
agreement, or take-or-pay or similar agreement, and be secured in a manner the
parties agree to or be unsecured.4."Project" or "projects" means any:a.Legislatively authorized building or buildings primarily for the use of the state,
including related structures, parking facilities, equipment, improvements, real
and personal property or any interest therein, including lands under water,
space rights and air rights, and other appurtenances and facilities necessary or
convenient to the use or operation of the building or buildings, acquired, owned,
constructed, reconstructed, extended, rehabilitated, or improved by the
commission; orb.Any other undertaking authorized by the legislative assembly.5."Project cost" means the total cost of a project or projects and all costs of issuance,
financing, and interest during project construction or implementation included in the
principal amount of evidences of indebtedness issued.6."State" means any branch of North Dakota government or any office, department,
board, commission, bureau, division, public authority or corporation, agency, or
instrumentality of the state.54-17.2-02. Commission - Evidence of indebtedness issuance. The commission is aNorth Dakota instrumentality empowered, subject to legislative authorization, to issue evidences
of indebtedness to make funds available for a project or projects as directed by the legislative
assembly.54-17.2-02.1. Evidences of indebtedness conditions - Continued authority.Thecommission may issue evidences of indebtedness subject to the condition that payments under
financing agreements shall begin no earlier than the first business day of the biennium following
the biennium of issuance. Although the authority to issue evidences of indebtedness for specific
projects may terminate, the commission may exercise all other powers granted to the
commission under this chapter and may comply with any covenants entered into before the
applicable termination date.54-17.2-02.2.Continuing appropriation.The moneys received by the industrialcommission from the sale of evidences of indebtedness and moneys received by the industrial
commission or the state agencies and institutions from revenue generated by projects authorized
by the legislative assembly, are hereby appropriated as a continuing appropriation for thePage No. 1construction or implementation of the authorized projects and payment of debt service on any
evidences of indebtedness issued to finance the projects.54-17.2-03. Powers. Except as otherwise limited by this chapter, the commission may:1.Enter into agreements, including financing agreements, with respect to its projects,
operation, properties, and facilities, subject to agreements with holders of evidences
of indebtedness.2.Sue and be sued.3.Make and enter into all contracts and all agreements necessary or incidental to the
performance of its duties and the exercise of its powers.4.Acquire, own, hold, assign, exchange, lease, mortgage, or pledge or grant security
interests in a project or projects in the exercise of its powers and the performance of
its duties.5.Acquire, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, improve, alter, or repair, or provide for
the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration, or repair of any
project and let, award, and enter into construction contracts, purchase orders, and
other contracts with respect thereto in the manner determined by the commission.6.Sell, lease, assign, transfer, convey, exchange, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or
encumber any project or other property no longer necessary to carry out the public
purposes of the commission and, in the case of the sale of any project or property, to
accept a purchase money mortgage in connection therewith; and to lease,
repurchase, or otherwise acquire and hold any project or property which the
commission has sold, let, or otherwise conveyed, transferred, or disposed of.7.Grant options to purchase any project or to renew any financing agreement entered
into by it in connection with any of its projects, on terms and conditions it deems
advisable.8.Acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, on terms and conditions and in a manner
as it determines to be proper, or, subject to chapter 32-15, by the exercise of the
power of eminent domain, except with respect to lands owned by the state or any
public lands, any land and other property or equipment, which it may determine is
reasonably necessary for any project.9.Sell, lease, rent, sublease, or otherwise dispose of, to any person, firm, corporation,
or limited liability company, any surplus space in any project over and above that
sold, leased, rented, subleased, or otherwise disposed of to the state and establish
and revise the purchase price, rents, or charges for the surplus space.10.Manage or operate any project or real or personal property or equipment related to a
project whether owned or leased by the commission or any state agency, and enter
into agreements with any state agency, any political subdivision, any local
governmental agency, or with any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation,
or limited liability company, either public or private, for the management of a project
or related property.11.Consent to any modification, amendment, or revision of any contract, lease, or
agreement to which the commission is a party, subject to the provisions of any
contract with holders of evidences of indebtedness.12.Issue its evidences of indebtedness and to secure the same and provide for the
rights of the holders thereof as provided in this chapter.Page No. 213.Invest moneys of the commission not required for immediate use, including
proceeds from the sale of any evidences of indebtedness in securities and other
investments including evidences of indebtedness as the commission determines to
be prudent, subject to any agreement with holders of evidences of indebtedness.14.Procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property and other assets
and operations in such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable.15.Purchase evidences of indebtedness issued by the commission out of any funds or
money not pledged to or necessary for some other purpose and hold, cancel, or
resell such evidences of indebtedness, subject to any agreement with holders of
evidences of indebtedness.16.Notwithstanding any other provision of law, issue evidences of indebtedness to
implement the state facility energy improvement program under section 54-44.5-08.54-17.2-04.Purpose of commission.The public purpose of the commission is topromote the general welfare of the citizens of this state by providing financing for projects for use
primarily by the state.54-17.2-05. Transfer of state property to commission - Services by state agencies.The state may transfer jurisdiction of or title to any property under its control to the commission.
All state agencies may render any and all services to the commission as are within the area of
their respective governmental functions and as may be required by the commission, including
acting as agent for the commission in furtherance of performing its duties.54-17.2-05.1.Lease of state property to commission - Leaseback to state.Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, the state may lease any project or other
property to the commission, in lieu of a transfer of title, and the commission may sublease or
leaseback any such project or property back to the state in connection with any financing by the
commission under this chapter. Any reference in this chapter to the power or authority of the
commission or the state to sell, convey, or lease any project or other property to the other must
be deemed to include the power or authority to lease, sublease, or leaseback such project or
property, as the case may be.54-17.2-06.Financingagreementswithstateagenciesauthorized-Commencement of payments under financing agreements. The commission may enter into
financing agreements for any project with the state. The financing agreements may be entered
into contemporaneously with any financing to be done by the commission and payments under
the terms of the financing agreement shall begin at any time after execution of the financing
agreement.54-17.2-07.Terms, conditions, and payment under financing agreements -Automatic biennial extension provisions. Financing agreements may be entered into by the
commission:1.Upon terms, conditions, and payment provisions, subject to available appropriations,
as in the judgment of the commission are in the public interest; and2.For an original term of not to exceed two years, with an automatic extension of the
term of the financing agreement, unless specifically rejected by the legislative
assembly, for a term of two years from the expiration of the original term of the
financing agreement and for two years from the expiration of each extended term of
the financing agreement, until the original term of the financing agreement has been
extended for a total number of years to be agreed upon by the parties at a payment
which, if paid for the original term and for each of the full number of years for which
the term of the financing agreement may be extended, will amortize the total project
cost of the project.Page No. 3The payment must be paid at the times agreed upon by the parties to the financing agreement.54-17.2-08.State's option to purchase - Conveyance on exercise of option.Afinancing agreement must provide that the state may, at the expiration of the original or any
extended term, purchase the project at a stated price, which must be the balance of the total
project cost not amortized by the payments previously made by the state.The financingagreement must provide that if the option to purchase the project has been exercised or if the
financing agreement has been extended for the full number of years which it may be extended,
and all payments provided for in the financing agreement have been made and all project costs
have been paid, the commission shall convey its interest in the project to the lessee.54-17.2-09. Insurance and credit enhancements added to payments. A financingagreement may provide that the state shall provide insurance or, as additional payment under a
financing agreement, pay the cost of insuring the project against loss or damage in such sum
agreed to by the parties. The financing agreement may also provide for payment of the cost of
such credit enhancements as in the judgment of the commission may be required for sale of the
evidences of indebtedness, including bond insurance or letters of credit.54-17.2-10.Appropriations and funds from which payments are payable -Commission's power to use or sell facilities for other purposes on nonpayment.Afinancing agreement must provide that payments due under the financing agreement are payable
solely from appropriations to be made by the legislative assembly for such payment, money
available to the state not requiring appropriation, money generated from charges made for use of
the project, any revenues derived by the commission from the operation of the project, or any
combination of such moneys. The financing agreement may provide that the commission upon
nonpayment is immediately entitled to the peaceable possession, access, and occupancy of the
project and all appurtenances and easements appertaining thereto, and may maintain and
operate the project or execute leases for the project or sell the project to political subdivisions of
the state or private persons or entities for any purpose.54-17.2-11.Costs and reserves to be covered by rent and charges or otherpayments. Payments under a financing agreement for a project must be sufficient at all times to
pay any maintenance and operation costs for the project, unless the maintenance and operation
costs are otherwise provided for under the financing agreement, the principal of and interest on
any evidence of indebtedness, and a proportion of the administrative expenses of the
commission as provided for by each financing agreement, and the reserves as may be provided
in the resolutions authorizing the issuance of evidences of indebtedness.54-17.2-12.Tax exemption of commission's property. All property owned by thecommission is exempt from taxation.54-17.2-13.Resolutions for evidences of indebtedness authorized - Maximumamount outstanding - Legislative approval required.The commission may at any timeprovide by resolution for the issuance of evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of paying all
or any part of the cost of one or any combination of projects; provided, however, that no project
may be leased by the commission to the state, nor any evidences of indebtedness be sold to
raise the funds for payment, acquisition, or construction of a project until the legislative assembly
by law authorizes the specific project or projects and declares the project or projects to be in the
public interest.54-17.2-14. Purposes for which evidences of indebtedness issue - Refunding andrefinancing - Pledge of income. To accomplish its purposes, the commission may borrow and
issue and sell evidences of indebtedness in an amount or amounts as the commission may
determine, but not in excess of legislative authorization, plus costs of issuance, financing, interest
during construction, and any evidences of indebtedness funded reserve funds required by
agreements with or for the benefit of holders of evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of
acquiring, constructing, completing, or remodeling, maintaining, or equipping any project or
projects. The commission may refund and refinance the evidences of indebtedness from time to
time as often as it is advantageous and in the public interest to do so and may pledge any and allPage No. 4income of the commission, and any revenues derived by the commission or the state from a
project or any combination thereof, to secure payment or redemption of the evidences of
indebtedness.54-17.2-15. Evidences of indebtedness authorized - Interest rates - Exemption fromtaxation - Term.The commission, pursuant to legislative authorization, may, by resolution,authorize preparation, sale, and issuance of evidences of indebtedness of the commission in
amounts and at such times, in fully registered form, with final maturity of not more than thirty
years. The evidences of indebtedness may bear the fixed or variable rate or rates of interest and
may be sold at the price or prices as the commission may provide at an average net interest cost
not in excess of twelve percent per annum for evidences of indebtedness sold at private sale,
except that there is no interest rate ceiling on issues sold at public sale or to the state. The
evidences of indebtedness are not subject to taxation by the state or by any county, municipality,
or political subdivision in the state. The evidences of indebtedness are not indebtedness of the
state or of any officer or agent of the state within the meaning of any statutory or constitutional
provision.54-17.2-16. Revenues, appropriations, funds, and income from which evidences ofindebtedness payable. Evidences of indebtedness are payable solely from:1.Revenues to be derived by the commission from the operation of a project or
projects;2.Payments from the state pursuant to financing agreements, or from leases to others
as provided by this chapter;3.Funds appropriated by the legislative assembly; and4.Any other legally available revenue, income, or funds available to the commission.54-17.2-17. Covenants and contracts with holders of evidences of indebtedness.In any resolution of the commission relating to the issuance of any evidence of indebtedness, the
commission may provide by covenants with the holders of the evidences of indebtedness, to:1.Secure the evidences of indebtedness.2.Covenant against pledging all or any part of its revenues, receipts, or proceeds, or
against mortgaging or leasing all or any part of its real or personal property when
owned or thereafter acquired or against permitting or suffering any lien. Any pledge
of revenues, receipts, moneys, funds, levies, sales agreements, service contracts, or
other property or instruments made by the commission are valid and binding from
the time the pledge is made.The revenues, receipts, moneys, funds, or otherproperty pledged and thereafter received by the commission are immediately subject
to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery or further act, and the lien of
any pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in
tort, contract, or otherwise against the commission irrespective of whether the
parties have notice of the claim. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by
which a pledge under this section is created need be filed or recorded except in the
records of the commission.3.Covenant as to any evidences of indebtedness to be issued and the limitations on
the evidence of indebtedness and their terms and conditions as to the custody,
application, investment, and disposition of their proceeds, as to the sources and
methods of the payment, and as to the rank or priority of the evidence of
indebtedness.4.Provide for the replacement of lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated evidences of
indebtedness.Page No. 55.Provide for the rights and liabilities, power and duties arising upon the breach of any
covenant, condition, or obligation; prescribe the events of default and the terms and
conditions upon which any or all of the evidences of indebtedness of the commission
become or may be declared due and payable before maturity; and provide the terms
and conditions upon which the declaration and its consequences may be waived.6.Vest in a trustee or trustees within or without the state such property, rights, powers,
and duties in trust as the commission may determine.7.Make covenants other than or in addition to the covenants authorized by this chapter
of like or different character, and to make the covenants to do or refrain from doing
acts and things as may be necessary, or convenient and desirable, to better secure
evidences of indebtedness or which, in the absolute discretion of the commission will
tend to make its evidences of indebtedness more marketable, notwithstanding that
the covenants, acts, or things may not be enumerated in this chapter.54-17.2-18.Validity of signature by officers.Evidences of indebtedness must beexecuted by a member or members of the commission as designated by the commission, or by
facsimile signature and the manual signature of a designated authenticating agent.Anyevidences of indebtedness bearing the signature of members in office at the date of signing are
valid and binding for all purposes notwithstanding that before delivery any person whose
signature appears on the evidences of indebtedness has ceased to be a member.54-17.2-19. Restrictions on obligation stated on face of evidences of indebtedness.Evidences of indebtedness must state upon their face that they are payable solely from moneys
derived by the commission as provided in this chapter. Evidences of indebtedness must state
upon their face that they do not constitute an obligation of the state within the meaning of any
statutory or constitutional provision.54-17.2-20. Disposition of income - Building authority fund. The proceeds of andany revenue derived from the sale of evidences of indebtedness, charges, fees, or rentals, and
all other revenue derived from any project undertaken pursuant to this chapter must be held in
trust for the purposes of this chapter, in a special fund known as the building authority fund.
Disbursements shall be made from the fund upon the resolution of the commission. The building
authority fund established by this chapter may contain such accounts as authorized by the
commission.54-17.2-21.Allocation of sales, use, and motor vehicle excise tax revenues tocapital construction fund. Repealed by S.L. 1993, ch. 38,