14 | | - | 8 Relating to public deposits; to amend Section |
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15 | | - | 9 41-14A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the composition |
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16 | | - | 10 and operation of the Security for Alabama Funds Enhancement |
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17 | | - | 11 (SAFE) Program board of directors, to provide for the use of |
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18 | | - | 12 virtual technology to participate in meetings, and to require |
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19 | | - | 13 compliance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. |
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20 | | - | 14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: |
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21 | | - | 15 Section 1. Section 41-14A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, |
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22 | | - | 16 is amended to read as follows: |
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23 | | - | 17 "§41-14A-6. |
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24 | | - | 18 "(a) There is hereby established a Board of |
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25 | | - | 19 Directors of the SAFE Program charged with responsibility and |
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26 | | - | 20 authority to assess and manage the sufficiency of the |
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27 | | - | 21 collateral pool and the SAFE Program to provide adequate |
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28 | | - | 22 protection from losses to public depositors. In exercising its |
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29 | | - | 23 powers and performing its responsibilities, the board of |
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30 | | - | 24 directors shall constitute a body politic under the laws of |
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31 | | - | 25 the state performing the public function of assuring the |
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32 | | - | 26 safety of public deposits. |
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33 | | - | Page 1 1 "(b)(1) The State Treasurer shall be a permanent, |
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34 | | - | 2 standing, voting member of the board of directors and shall |
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35 | | - | 3 serve as its chair. The Superintendent of Banks shall be a |
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36 | | - | 4 permanent, standing, non-voting member of the board of |
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37 | | - | 5 directors. The remaining six members shall each possess |
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38 | | - | 6 knowledge, skill, and experience in one or more of the |
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39 | | - | 7 following areas: |
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40 | | - | 8 "(1)a. Financial analysis. |
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41 | | - | 9 "(2)b. Trend analysis. |
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42 | | - | 10 "(3)c. Accounting. |
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43 | | - | 11 "(4)d. Banking. |
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44 | | - | 12 "(5)e. Risk management. |
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45 | | - | 13 "(6)f. Investment management. |
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46 | | - | 14 "(2) The remaining six members shall be comprised of |
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47 | | - | 15 four members each of whom shall be a representative of an |
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48 | | - | 16 active qualified public depository, which is not in the |
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49 | | - | 17 process of withdrawing from the SAFE Program and which is in |
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50 | | - | 18 compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and |
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51 | | - | 19 reporting requirements of this chapter, one of whom will be |
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52 | | - | 20 selected and approved by the State Treasurer and three of whom |
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53 | | - | 21 shall be selected and approved by the State Treasurer from |
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54 | | - | 22 three or more nominations submitted by the Alabama Bankers |
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55 | | - | 23 Association (or any successor association or entity, or, if no |
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56 | | - | 24 such association or successor association or entity shall then |
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57 | | - | 25 exist, submitted by the Superintendent of Banks); one member |
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58 | | - | 26 who shall be a representative of a municipality within the |
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59 | | - | 27 state and who will be selected and approved by the State |
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60 | | - | Page 2 1 Treasurer from one or more nominations submitted to the State |
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61 | | - | 2 Treasurer by the League of Municipalities of Alabama; and one |
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62 | | - | 3 member who shall be a representative of a county within the |
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63 | | - | 4 state and who will be selected and approved by the State |
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64 | | - | 5 Treasurer from one or more nominations submitted to the State |
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65 | | - | 6 Treasurer by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. |
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66 | | - | 7 "(3) The appointing authorities shall coordinate |
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67 | | - | 8 their appointments to ensure the membership is inclusive and |
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68 | | - | 9 reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and |
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69 | | - | 10 economic diversity of the state. |
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70 | | - | 11 "(3) (4) The terms of the members of the board of |
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71 | | - | 12 directors other than the State Treasurer and the |
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72 | | - | 13 Superintendent of Banks shall be four years, except that, with |
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73 | | - | 14 respect to the initial appointments, as determined by the |
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74 | | - | 15 State Treasurer, one member will serve one year, one member |
---|
75 | | - | 16 will serve two years, two members will serve three years, and |
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76 | | - | 17 two members will serve four years. Any person appointed to |
---|
77 | | - | 18 fill a vacancy on the board may serve only for the remainder |
---|
78 | | - | 19 of the unexpired term. Any member is eligible for |
---|
79 | | - | 20 reappointment and shall serve until a successor is selected. |
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80 | | - | 21 "(4) (5) The chair shall annually designate a member |
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81 | | - | 22 of the board of directors to serve as vice chair, and a |
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82 | | - | 23 secretary who need not be a member of the board of directors. |
---|
83 | | - | 24 The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the |
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84 | | - | 25 board of directors and shall be the custodian of all printed |
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85 | | - | 26 materials filed with or by the board. |
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86 | | - | Page 3 1 "(5) (6) Notwithstanding the existence of vacancies |
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87 | | - | 2 on the board of directors, two thirds of the voting members |
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88 | | - | 3 then serving shall constitute a quorum. The board of directors |
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89 | | - | 4 may not take official action in the absence of a quorum. |
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90 | | - | 5 "(6) (7) The board of directors shall meet quarterly |
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91 | | - | 6 and at other times deemed necessary to assess and manage the |
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92 | | - | 7 operations of the SAFE Program. |
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93 | | - | 8 "(7) (8) Meetings Except as otherwise specifically |
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94 | | - | 9 provided in subdivision (8) only as it relates to virtual |
---|
95 | | - | 10 participation of members of the board and the public, all |
---|
96 | | - | 11 meetings and notice of meetings of the board of directors, |
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97 | | - | 12 including meetings at which administrative fines and penalties |
---|
98 | | - | 13 are established, shall be subject to the provisions of Section |
---|
99 | | - | 14 13A-14-2, as amended, the Sunshine Law, except the Alabama |
---|
100 | | - | 15 Open Meetings Act, Section 36-25A-1 et seq.; provided, that |
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101 | | - | 16 sessions at which any information that is confidential under |
---|
102 | | - | 17 the provisions of subsection (f) below shall not be subject to |
---|
103 | | - | 18 Section 13A-14-2, and shall not be open to the public. |
---|
104 | | - | 19 "(8) (9) Members of the board of directors or any |
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105 | | - | 20 committee established by the board may participate in a |
---|
106 | | - | 21 meeting of the board or committee by means of telephone |
---|
107 | | - | 22 conference, video conference, or similar communications |
---|
108 | | - | 23 equipment by means of which all persons participating in the |
---|
109 | | - | 24 meeting may hear each other at the same time. Participation by |
---|
110 | | - | 25 means authorized in this subdivision shall constitute presence |
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111 | | - | 26 in person at a meeting for all purposes, including the |
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112 | | - | 27 establishment of a quorum, to deliberate and to take action. |
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113 | | - | Page 4 1 The telephone or video conference or similar communications |
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114 | | - | 2 equipment shall also allow members of the public the |
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115 | | - | 3 opportunity to simultaneously listen to or observe meetings |
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116 | | - | 4 held pursuant to this subdivision. |
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117 | | - | 5 "(c) In adopting, amending or repealing any rule, |
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118 | | - | 6 regulation, standard, or statement of general applicability, |
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119 | | - | 7 the board of directors shall be subject to the applicable |
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120 | | - | 8 requirements of the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, |
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121 | | - | 9 Chapter 22 of this title. |
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122 | | - | 10 "(d) In connection with the assessment and |
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123 | | - | 11 management of the sufficiency of the collateral pool and the |
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124 | | - | 12 SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from losses to |
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125 | | - | 13 public depositors, the board of directors shall be authorized |
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126 | | - | 14 to exercise the following powers: |
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127 | | - | 15 "(1) Designate financial institutions as qualified |
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128 | | - | 16 public depositories and require such collateral, or increase |
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129 | | - | 17 the collateral-pledging level, of any qualified public |
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130 | | - | 18 depository as may be necessary to administer the provisions of |
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131 | | - | 19 this chapter and to ensure the sufficiency of the collateral |
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132 | | - | 20 pool and the SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from |
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133 | | - | 21 losses to public depositors. |
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134 | | - | 22 "(2) Establish guidelines for accepting, or for |
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135 | | - | 23 reducing the reported value of, collateral as circumstances |
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136 | | - | 24 may require in order to ensure the pledging of sufficient |
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137 | | - | 25 marketable collateral to meet the purposes of this chapter. |
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138 | | - | 26 "(3) Authorize the State Treasurer to issue |
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139 | | - | 27 suspensions, disqualifications, administrative penalties, and |
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140 | | - | Page 5 1 cease and desist orders in accordance with Section 41-14A-7 |
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141 | | - | 2 against any qualified public depository that has violated any |
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142 | | - | 3 of the provisions of this chapter or any rules, regulations, |
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143 | | - | 4 or orders of the board of directors or the State Treasurer |
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144 | | - | 5 adopted under this chapter. |
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145 | | - | 6 "(4) Take such actions as the board of directors |
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146 | | - | 7 shall consider to be necessary, appropriate, or desirable in |
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147 | | - | 8 order to assess and manage the sufficiency of the collateral |
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148 | | - | 9 pool and the SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from |
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149 | | - | 10 losses to public depositors, including, without limitation: |
---|
150 | | - | 11 "a. Establish procedures for the verification of the |
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151 | | - | 12 reports of any qualified public depository relating to public |
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152 | | - | 13 deposits it holds when necessary to ensure the availability of |
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153 | | - | 14 adequate funds to pay any potential losses to public |
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154 | | - | 15 depositors. |
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155 | | - | 16 "b. Establish criteria, based on the overall |
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156 | | - | 17 financial condition of the participants and applicants, as may |
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157 | | - | 18 be necessary, to ensure the sufficiency of the collateral pool |
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158 | | - | 19 and the SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from |
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159 | | - | 20 losses to public depositors. |
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160 | | - | 21 "c. Establish collateral-pledging levels based on |
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161 | | - | 22 qualitative and quantitative standards. |
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162 | | - | 23 "d. Establish rules and procedures for the State |
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163 | | - | 24 Treasurer to monitor and confirm, as often as deemed necessary |
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164 | | - | 25 by the State Treasurer, the pledged collateral held by |
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165 | | - | 26 custodians. |
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166 | | - | Page 6 1 "e. Set requirements for the filing by qualified |
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167 | | - | 2 public depositories, custodians, the State Treasurer, the |
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168 | | - | 3 board's agents and contractors, and other persons of such |
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169 | | - | 4 documents, reports, records, or other information deemed |
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170 | | - | 5 necessary by the board of directors to monitor the sufficiency |
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171 | | - | 6 of the collateral pool and the SAFE Program to provide |
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172 | | - | 7 adequate protection from losses to public depositors, |
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173 | | - | 8 including, without limitation: |
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174 | | - | 9 "1. Require reports of each qualified public |
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175 | | - | 10 depository to reflect the net average monthly balance of the |
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176 | | - | 11 public deposits held by the qualified public depository and to |
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177 | | - | 12 reflect the collateral pledged by qualified public |
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178 | | - | 13 depositories under this chapter, which reports shall not be |
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179 | | - | 14 required more frequently than monthly except in the case of |
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180 | | - | 15 any qualified public depository that is then subject to |
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181 | | - | 16 default or insolvency or is the subject of an order of |
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182 | | - | 17 suspension or disqualification or a cease and desist order |
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183 | | - | 18 issued by the State Treasurer. |
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184 | | - | 19 "2. Require the submission of copies of quarterly or |
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185 | | - | 20 annual financial and regulatory reports of qualified public |
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186 | | - | 21 depositories. |
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187 | | - | 22 "f. Direct the State Treasurer to maintain perpetual |
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188 | | - | 23 inventory of pledged collateral. |
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189 | | - | 24 "g. Perform, or direct the State Treasurer to |
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190 | | - | 25 perform, financial analysis of any qualified public depository |
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191 | | - | 26 as needed. |
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192 | | - | Page 7 1 "h. Establish a minimum amount of required |
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193 | | - | 2 collateral as the board of directors deems necessary to |
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194 | | - | 3 provide for the contingent liability pool. |
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195 | | - | 4 "(5) Empower the State Treasurer to sell pledged |
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196 | | - | 5 securities, or move pledged securities to an account |
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197 | | - | 6 established in the Loss Payment Fund's name, for the purpose |
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198 | | - | 7 of paying losses to public depositors not covered by deposit |
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199 | | - | 8 insurance or to perfect the Loss Payment Fund's interest in |
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200 | | - | 9 the pledged securities. |
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201 | | - | 10 "(6) Empower the State Treasurer to transfer funds |
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202 | | - | 11 directly from any custodian to public depositors or the |
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203 | | - | 12 receiver in order to facilitate prompt payment of claims. |
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204 | | - | 13 "(7) Adopt and implement, and monitor compliance |
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205 | | - | 14 with, such standards, rules, regulations, guidelines, and |
---|
206 | | - | 15 orders as the board of directors shall consider to be |
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207 | | - | 16 appropriate or desirable for the purposes of maintaining the |
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208 | | - | 17 sufficiency of the collateral pool to provide adequate |
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209 | | - | 18 protection from losses to public depositors. |
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210 | | - | 19 "(8) Delegate to the State Treasurer all of the |
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211 | | - | 20 responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the SAFE |
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212 | | - | 21 Program and of the standards, rules, regulations, guidelines, |
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213 | | - | 22 and orders adopted by the board of directors, as deemed |
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214 | | - | 23 appropriate or desirable by the board of directors. |
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215 | | - | 24 "(9) Establish the conditions under which entities |
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216 | | - | 25 resulting from mergers, consolidations, sales of assets and |
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217 | | - | 26 similar transactions involving qualified public depositories |
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218 | | - | 27 will succeed qualified public depositories and assume the |
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219 | | - | Page 8 1 former institution's contingent liability agreement under |
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220 | | - | 2 Section 41-14A-8, and to prescribe requirements for |
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221 | | - | 3 notification by qualified public depositories to the board of |
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222 | | - | 4 mergers, consolidations, sales of assets, changes of address, |
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223 | | - | 5 changes of name, and similar matters. |
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224 | | - | 6 "(10) Establish the conditions under which qualified |
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225 | | - | 7 public depositories will be required to involuntarily withdraw |
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226 | | - | 8 from participation in the program and for the conditions under |
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227 | | - | 9 which collateral pledged by withdrawing qualified public |
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228 | | - | 10 depositories will be released. |
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229 | | - | 11 "(11) Authorize the filing of any information or |
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230 | | - | 12 forms required under this chapter to be by electronic data |
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231 | | - | 13 transmission. Such filings of information or forms shall have |
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232 | | - | 14 the same force and effect as a signed writing. |
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233 | | - | 15 "(e) The board of directors shall adopt rules or |
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234 | | - | 16 regulations empowering the State Treasurer to impose |
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235 | | - | 17 requirements on qualified public depositories to ensure that |
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236 | | - | 18 applicable accounts maintained by covered public entities and |
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237 | | - | 19 covered public officials are adequately identified as public |
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238 | | - | 20 deposits covered by this chapter and that each qualified |
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239 | | - | 21 public depository can identify on its records the name, |
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240 | | - | 22 address, and federal employer identification number of the |
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241 | | - | 23 covered public entities and covered public officials |
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242 | | - | 24 maintaining public deposits in such qualified public |
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243 | | - | 25 depository. The State Treasurer may require that each |
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244 | | - | 26 qualified public depository shall provide an annual statement |
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245 | | - | 27 to each public depositor then maintaining public deposits with |
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246 | | - | Page 9 1 the qualified public depository summarizing the balances of |
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247 | | - | 2 public deposits held by the qualified public depository for |
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248 | | - | 3 the public depositor. The balances reflected in any such |
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249 | | - | 4 annual statement provided by a qualified public depository |
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250 | | - | 5 shall be deemed correct unless the public depositor notifies |
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251 | | - | 6 the qualified public depository to the contrary within 60 days |
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252 | | - | 7 of receipt of the statement. |
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253 | | - | 8 "(f) Any information contained in a report of a |
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254 | | - | 9 financial institution provided to the board of directors or |
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255 | | - | 10 the State Treasurer under this chapter shall, if made |
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256 | | - | 11 confidential by any law of the United States or of this state |
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257 | | - | 12 and if the board is notified by the financial institution of |
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258 | | - | 13 such confidentiality, be considered confidential and exempt |
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259 | | - | 14 from the provisions of Section 36-12-40, and not subject to |
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260 | | - | 15 dissemination to anyone other than the board of directors and |
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261 | | - | 16 the State Treasurer under the provisions of this chapter. |
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262 | | - | 17 "(g) Members of the board of directors shall serve |
---|
263 | | - | 18 without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for each day's |
---|
264 | | - | 19 official duties of the board of directors at the same per diem |
---|
265 | | - | 20 and travel rate as is paid employees of the state. |
---|
266 | | - | 21 "(h) Neither the board of directors nor the State |
---|
267 | | - | 22 Treasurer shall have the authority to assess, charge, or |
---|
268 | | - | 23 collect any of the costs associated with the implementation, |
---|
269 | | - | 24 administration, or enforcement of the SAFE Program against any |
---|
270 | | - | 25 covered public entities, covered public officials, or |
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271 | | - | 26 qualified public depositories, provided, however, that this |
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272 | | - | 27 subsection shall not limit or restrict the authority of the |
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273 | | - | Page 10 1 board or the State Treasurer, as applicable, to impose |
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274 | | - | 2 administrative penalties or order restitution pursuant to |
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275 | | - | 3 Section 41-14A-7 or to make assessments against qualified |
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276 | | - | 4 public depositories for losses in accordance with Section |
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277 | | - | 5 41-14A-9." |
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278 | | - | 6 Section 2. This act shall become effective |
---|
279 | | - | 7 immediately following its passage and approval by the |
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280 | | - | 8 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law. |
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281 | | - | Page 11 1 |
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282 | | - | 2 |
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283 | | - | House of Representatives3 |
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284 | | - | Read for the first time and4 |
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285 | | - | 5 referred to the House of Represen- |
---|
286 | | - | 6 tatives committee on State Govern- |
---|
287 | | - | ment...............................7 .......11-JAN-22 |
---|
288 | | - | 8 |
---|
289 | | - | Read for the second time and placed9 |
---|
290 | | - | on the calendar....................10 .......09-FEB-22 |
---|
291 | | - | 11 |
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292 | | - | Read for the third time and passed12 |
---|
293 | | - | as amended.........................13 .......31-MAR-22 |
---|
294 | | - | Yeas 100, Nays 0, Abstains 014 |
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295 | | - | 15 |
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296 | | - | 16 Jeff Woodard |
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297 | | - | 17 Clerk |
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298 | | - | 18 |
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299 | | - | Page 12 |
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| 14 | + | 8 SYNOPSIS: Existing law setting forth the Security for |
---|
| 15 | + | 9 Alabama Funds Enhancement (SAFE) Program board of |
---|
| 16 | + | 10 directors makes no provisions for the participation |
---|
| 17 | + | 11 of board members in board meetings by virtual |
---|
| 18 | + | 12 means. |
---|
| 19 | + | 13 This bill would authorize members of the |
---|
| 20 | + | 14 SAFE board to use virtual means to participate in |
---|
| 21 | + | 15 any meeting of the board or a committee created by |
---|
| 22 | + | 16 the board, and would require those means to allow |
---|
| 23 | + | 17 public participation. |
---|
| 24 | + | 18 This bill would also require meetings of the |
---|
| 25 | + | 19 SAFE board to otherwise comply with the Alabama |
---|
| 26 | + | 20 Open Meetings Act. |
---|
| 27 | + | 21 |
---|
| 28 | + | 22 A BILL |
---|
| 29 | + | 23 TO BE ENTITLED |
---|
| 30 | + | 24 AN ACT |
---|
| 31 | + | 25 |
---|
| 32 | + | 26 Relating to public deposits; to amend Section |
---|
| 33 | + | 27 41-14A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the composition |
---|
| 34 | + | Page 1 1 and operation of the Security for Alabama Funds Enhancement |
---|
| 35 | + | 2 (SAFE) Program board of directors, to provide for the use of |
---|
| 36 | + | 3 virtual technology to participate in meetings, and to require |
---|
| 37 | + | 4 compliance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. |
---|
| 38 | + | 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: |
---|
| 39 | + | 6 Section 1. Section 41-14A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, |
---|
| 40 | + | 7 is amended to read as follows: |
---|
| 41 | + | 8 "§41-14A-6. |
---|
| 42 | + | 9 "(a) There is hereby established a Board of |
---|
| 43 | + | 10 Directors of the SAFE Program charged with responsibility and |
---|
| 44 | + | 11 authority to assess and manage the sufficiency of the |
---|
| 45 | + | 12 collateral pool and the SAFE Program to provide adequate |
---|
| 46 | + | 13 protection from losses to public depositors. In exercising its |
---|
| 47 | + | 14 powers and performing its responsibilities, the board of |
---|
| 48 | + | 15 directors shall constitute a body politic under the laws of |
---|
| 49 | + | 16 the state performing the public function of assuring the |
---|
| 50 | + | 17 safety of public deposits. |
---|
| 51 | + | 18 "(b)(1) The State Treasurer shall be a permanent, |
---|
| 52 | + | 19 standing, voting member of the board of directors and shall |
---|
| 53 | + | 20 serve as its chair. The Superintendent of Banks shall be a |
---|
| 54 | + | 21 permanent, standing, non-voting member of the board of |
---|
| 55 | + | 22 directors. The remaining six members shall each possess |
---|
| 56 | + | 23 knowledge, skill, and experience in one or more of the |
---|
| 57 | + | 24 following areas: |
---|
| 58 | + | 25 "(1)a. Financial analysis. |
---|
| 59 | + | 26 "(2)b. Trend analysis. |
---|
| 60 | + | 27 "(3)c. Accounting. |
---|
| 61 | + | Page 2 1 "(4)d. Banking. |
---|
| 62 | + | 2 "(5)e. Risk management. |
---|
| 63 | + | 3 "(6)f. Investment management. |
---|
| 64 | + | 4 "(2) The remaining six members shall be comprised of |
---|
| 65 | + | 5 four members each of whom shall be a representative of an |
---|
| 66 | + | 6 active qualified public depository, which is not in the |
---|
| 67 | + | 7 process of withdrawing from the SAFE Program and which is in |
---|
| 68 | + | 8 compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and |
---|
| 69 | + | 9 reporting requirements of this chapter, one of whom will be |
---|
| 70 | + | 10 selected and approved by the State Treasurer and three of whom |
---|
| 71 | + | 11 shall be selected and approved by the State Treasurer from |
---|
| 72 | + | 12 three or more nominations submitted by the Alabama Bankers |
---|
| 73 | + | 13 Association (or any successor association or entity, or, if no |
---|
| 74 | + | 14 such association or successor association or entity shall then |
---|
| 75 | + | 15 exist, submitted by the Superintendent of Banks); one member |
---|
| 76 | + | 16 who shall be a representative of a municipality within the |
---|
| 77 | + | 17 state and who will be selected and approved by the State |
---|
| 78 | + | 18 Treasurer from one or more nominations submitted to the State |
---|
| 79 | + | 19 Treasurer by the League of Municipalities of Alabama; and one |
---|
| 80 | + | 20 member who shall be a representative of a county within the |
---|
| 81 | + | 21 state and who will be selected and approved by the State |
---|
| 82 | + | 22 Treasurer from one or more nominations submitted to the State |
---|
| 83 | + | 23 Treasurer by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. |
---|
| 84 | + | 24 "(3) The terms of the members of the board of |
---|
| 85 | + | 25 directors other than the State Treasurer and the |
---|
| 86 | + | 26 Superintendent of Banks shall be four years, except that, with |
---|
| 87 | + | 27 respect to the initial appointments, as determined by the |
---|
| 88 | + | Page 3 1 State Treasurer, one member will serve one year, one member |
---|
| 89 | + | 2 will serve two years, two members will serve three years, and |
---|
| 90 | + | 3 two members will serve four years. Any person appointed to |
---|
| 91 | + | 4 fill a vacancy on the board may serve only for the remainder |
---|
| 92 | + | 5 of the unexpired term. Any member is eligible for |
---|
| 93 | + | 6 reappointment and shall serve until a successor is selected. |
---|
| 94 | + | 7 "(4) The chair shall annually designate a member of |
---|
| 95 | + | 8 the board of directors to serve as vice chair, and a secretary |
---|
| 96 | + | 9 who need not be a member of the board of directors. The |
---|
| 97 | + | 10 secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the board |
---|
| 98 | + | 11 of directors and shall be the custodian of all printed |
---|
| 99 | + | 12 materials filed with or by the board. |
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| 100 | + | 13 "(5) Notwithstanding the existence of vacancies on |
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| 101 | + | 14 the board of directors, two thirds of the voting members then |
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| 102 | + | 15 serving shall constitute a quorum. The board of directors may |
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| 103 | + | 16 not take official action in the absence of a quorum. |
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| 104 | + | 17 "(6) The board of directors shall meet quarterly and |
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| 105 | + | 18 at other times deemed necessary to assess and manage the |
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| 106 | + | 19 operations of the SAFE Program. |
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| 107 | + | 20 "(7) Meetings Except as otherwise specifically |
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| 108 | + | 21 provided in subdivision (8) only as it relates to virtual |
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| 109 | + | 22 participation of members of the board and the public, all |
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| 110 | + | 23 meetings and notice of meetings of the board of directors, |
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| 111 | + | 24 including meetings at which administrative fines and penalties |
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| 112 | + | 25 are established, shall be subject to the provisions of Section |
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| 113 | + | 26 13A-14-2, as amended, the Sunshine Law, except the Alabama |
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| 114 | + | 27 Open Meetings Act, Section 36-25A-1 et seq.; provided, that |
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| 115 | + | Page 4 1 sessions at which any information that is confidential under |
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| 116 | + | 2 the provisions of subsection (f) below shall not be subject to |
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| 117 | + | 3 Section 13A-14-2, and shall not be open to the public. |
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| 118 | + | 4 "(8) Members of the board of directors or any |
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| 119 | + | 5 committee established by the board may participate in a |
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| 120 | + | 6 meeting of the board or committee by means of telephone |
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| 121 | + | 7 conference, video conference, or similar communications |
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| 122 | + | 8 equipment by means of which all persons participating in the |
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| 123 | + | 9 meeting may hear each other at the same time. Participation by |
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| 124 | + | 10 means authorized in this subdivision shall constitute presence |
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| 125 | + | 11 in person at a meeting for all purposes, including the |
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| 126 | + | 12 establishment of a quorum, to deliberate and to take action. |
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| 127 | + | 13 The telephone or video conference or similar communications |
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| 128 | + | 14 equipment shall also allow members of the public the |
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| 129 | + | 15 opportunity to simultaneously listen to or observe meetings |
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| 130 | + | 16 held pursuant to this subdivision. |
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| 131 | + | 17 "(c) In adopting, amending or repealing any rule, |
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| 132 | + | 18 regulation, standard, or statement of general applicability, |
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| 133 | + | 19 the board of directors shall be subject to the applicable |
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| 134 | + | 20 requirements of the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, |
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| 135 | + | 21 Chapter 22 of this title. |
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| 136 | + | 22 "(d) In connection with the assessment and |
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| 137 | + | 23 management of the sufficiency of the collateral pool and the |
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| 138 | + | 24 SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from losses to |
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| 139 | + | 25 public depositors, the board of directors shall be authorized |
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| 140 | + | 26 to exercise the following powers: |
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| 141 | + | Page 5 1 "(1) Designate financial institutions as qualified |
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| 142 | + | 2 public depositories and require such collateral, or increase |
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| 143 | + | 3 the collateral-pledging level, of any qualified public |
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| 144 | + | 4 depository as may be necessary to administer the provisions of |
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| 145 | + | 5 this chapter and to ensure the sufficiency of the collateral |
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| 146 | + | 6 pool and the SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from |
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| 147 | + | 7 losses to public depositors. |
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| 148 | + | 8 "(2) Establish guidelines for accepting, or for |
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| 149 | + | 9 reducing the reported value of, collateral as circumstances |
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| 150 | + | 10 may require in order to ensure the pledging of sufficient |
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| 151 | + | 11 marketable collateral to meet the purposes of this chapter. |
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| 152 | + | 12 "(3) Authorize the State Treasurer to issue |
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| 153 | + | 13 suspensions, disqualifications, administrative penalties, and |
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| 154 | + | 14 cease and desist orders in accordance with Section 41-14A-7 |
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| 155 | + | 15 against any qualified public depository that has violated any |
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| 156 | + | 16 of the provisions of this chapter or any rules, regulations, |
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| 157 | + | 17 or orders of the board of directors or the State Treasurer |
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| 158 | + | 18 adopted under this chapter. |
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| 159 | + | 19 "(4) Take such actions as the board of directors |
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| 160 | + | 20 shall consider to be necessary, appropriate, or desirable in |
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| 161 | + | 21 order to assess and manage the sufficiency of the collateral |
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| 162 | + | 22 pool and the SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from |
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| 163 | + | 23 losses to public depositors, including, without limitation: |
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| 164 | + | 24 "a. Establish procedures for the verification of the |
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| 165 | + | 25 reports of any qualified public depository relating to public |
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| 166 | + | 26 deposits it holds when necessary to ensure the availability of |
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| 167 | + | Page 6 1 adequate funds to pay any potential losses to public |
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| 168 | + | 2 depositors. |
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| 169 | + | 3 "b. Establish criteria, based on the overall |
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| 170 | + | 4 financial condition of the participants and applicants, as may |
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| 171 | + | 5 be necessary, to ensure the sufficiency of the collateral pool |
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| 172 | + | 6 and the SAFE Program to provide adequate protection from |
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| 173 | + | 7 losses to public depositors. |
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| 174 | + | 8 "c. Establish collateral-pledging levels based on |
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| 175 | + | 9 qualitative and quantitative standards. |
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| 176 | + | 10 "d. Establish rules and procedures for the State |
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| 177 | + | 11 Treasurer to monitor and confirm, as often as deemed necessary |
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| 178 | + | 12 by the State Treasurer, the pledged collateral held by |
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| 179 | + | 13 custodians. |
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| 180 | + | 14 "e. Set requirements for the filing by qualified |
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| 181 | + | 15 public depositories, custodians, the State Treasurer, the |
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| 182 | + | 16 board's agents and contractors, and other persons of such |
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| 183 | + | 17 documents, reports, records, or other information deemed |
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| 184 | + | 18 necessary by the board of directors to monitor the sufficiency |
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| 185 | + | 19 of the collateral pool and the SAFE Program to provide |
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| 186 | + | 20 adequate protection from losses to public depositors, |
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| 187 | + | 21 including, without limitation: |
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| 188 | + | 22 "1. Require reports of each qualified public |
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| 189 | + | 23 depository to reflect the net average monthly balance of the |
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| 190 | + | 24 public deposits held by the qualified public depository and to |
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| 191 | + | 25 reflect the collateral pledged by qualified public |
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| 192 | + | 26 depositories under this chapter, which reports shall not be |
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| 193 | + | 27 required more frequently than monthly except in the case of |
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| 194 | + | Page 7 1 any qualified public depository that is then subject to |
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| 195 | + | 2 default or insolvency or is the subject of an order of |
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| 196 | + | 3 suspension or disqualification or a cease and desist order |
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| 197 | + | 4 issued by the State Treasurer. |
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| 198 | + | 5 "2. Require the submission of copies of quarterly or |
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| 199 | + | 6 annual financial and regulatory reports of qualified public |
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| 200 | + | 7 depositories. |
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| 201 | + | 8 "f. Direct the State Treasurer to maintain perpetual |
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| 202 | + | 9 inventory of pledged collateral. |
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| 203 | + | 10 "g. Perform, or direct the State Treasurer to |
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| 204 | + | 11 perform, financial analysis of any qualified public depository |
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| 205 | + | 12 as needed. |
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| 206 | + | 13 "h. Establish a minimum amount of required |
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| 207 | + | 14 collateral as the board of directors deems necessary to |
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| 208 | + | 15 provide for the contingent liability pool. |
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| 209 | + | 16 "(5) Empower the State Treasurer to sell pledged |
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| 210 | + | 17 securities, or move pledged securities to an account |
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| 211 | + | 18 established in the Loss Payment Fund's name, for the purpose |
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| 212 | + | 19 of paying losses to public depositors not covered by deposit |
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| 213 | + | 20 insurance or to perfect the Loss Payment Fund's interest in |
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| 214 | + | 21 the pledged securities. |
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| 215 | + | 22 "(6) Empower the State Treasurer to transfer funds |
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| 216 | + | 23 directly from any custodian to public depositors or the |
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| 217 | + | 24 receiver in order to facilitate prompt payment of claims. |
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| 218 | + | 25 "(7) Adopt and implement, and monitor compliance |
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| 219 | + | 26 with, such standards, rules, regulations, guidelines, and |
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| 220 | + | 27 orders as the board of directors shall consider to be |
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| 221 | + | Page 8 1 appropriate or desirable for the purposes of maintaining the |
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| 222 | + | 2 sufficiency of the collateral pool to provide adequate |
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| 223 | + | 3 protection from losses to public depositors. |
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| 224 | + | 4 "(8) Delegate to the State Treasurer all of the |
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| 225 | + | 5 responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the SAFE |
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| 226 | + | 6 Program and of the standards, rules, regulations, guidelines, |
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| 227 | + | 7 and orders adopted by the board of directors, as deemed |
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| 228 | + | 8 appropriate or desirable by the board of directors. |
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| 229 | + | 9 "(9) Establish the conditions under which entities |
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| 230 | + | 10 resulting from mergers, consolidations, sales of assets and |
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| 231 | + | 11 similar transactions involving qualified public depositories |
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| 232 | + | 12 will succeed qualified public depositories and assume the |
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| 233 | + | 13 former institution's contingent liability agreement under |
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| 234 | + | 14 Section 41-14A-8, and to prescribe requirements for |
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| 235 | + | 15 notification by qualified public depositories to the board of |
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| 236 | + | 16 mergers, consolidations, sales of assets, changes of address, |
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| 237 | + | 17 changes of name, and similar matters. |
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| 238 | + | 18 "(10) Establish the conditions under which qualified |
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| 239 | + | 19 public depositories will be required to involuntarily withdraw |
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| 240 | + | 20 from participation in the program and for the conditions under |
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| 241 | + | 21 which collateral pledged by withdrawing qualified public |
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| 242 | + | 22 depositories will be released. |
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| 243 | + | 23 "(11) Authorize the filing of any information or |
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| 244 | + | 24 forms required under this chapter to be by electronic data |
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| 245 | + | 25 transmission. Such filings of information or forms shall have |
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| 246 | + | 26 the same force and effect as a signed writing. |
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| 247 | + | Page 9 1 "(e) The board of directors shall adopt rules or |
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| 248 | + | 2 regulations empowering the State Treasurer to impose |
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| 249 | + | 3 requirements on qualified public depositories to ensure that |
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| 250 | + | 4 applicable accounts maintained by covered public entities and |
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| 251 | + | 5 covered public officials are adequately identified as public |
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| 252 | + | 6 deposits covered by this chapter and that each qualified |
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| 253 | + | 7 public depository can identify on its records the name, |
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| 254 | + | 8 address, and federal employer identification number of the |
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| 255 | + | 9 covered public entities and covered public officials |
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| 256 | + | 10 maintaining public deposits in such qualified public |
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| 257 | + | 11 depository. The State Treasurer may require that each |
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| 258 | + | 12 qualified public depository shall provide an annual statement |
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| 259 | + | 13 to each public depositor then maintaining public deposits with |
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| 260 | + | 14 the qualified public depository summarizing the balances of |
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| 261 | + | 15 public deposits held by the qualified public depository for |
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| 262 | + | 16 the public depositor. The balances reflected in any such |
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| 263 | + | 17 annual statement provided by a qualified public depository |
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| 264 | + | 18 shall be deemed correct unless the public depositor notifies |
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| 265 | + | 19 the qualified public depository to the contrary within 60 days |
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| 266 | + | 20 of receipt of the statement. |
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| 267 | + | 21 "(f) Any information contained in a report of a |
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| 268 | + | 22 financial institution provided to the board of directors or |
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| 269 | + | 23 the State Treasurer under this chapter shall, if made |
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| 270 | + | 24 confidential by any law of the United States or of this state |
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| 271 | + | 25 and if the board is notified by the financial institution of |
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| 272 | + | 26 such confidentiality, be considered confidential and exempt |
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| 273 | + | 27 from the provisions of Section 36-12-40, and not subject to |
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| 274 | + | Page 10 1 dissemination to anyone other than the board of directors and |
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| 275 | + | 2 the State Treasurer under the provisions of this chapter. |
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| 276 | + | 3 "(g) Members of the board of directors shall serve |
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| 277 | + | 4 without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for each day's |
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| 278 | + | 5 official duties of the board of directors at the same per diem |
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| 279 | + | 6 and travel rate as is paid employees of the state. |
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| 280 | + | 7 "(h) Neither the board of directors nor the State |
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| 281 | + | 8 Treasurer shall have the authority to assess, charge, or |
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| 282 | + | 9 collect any of the costs associated with the implementation, |
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| 283 | + | 10 administration, or enforcement of the SAFE Program against any |
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| 284 | + | 11 covered public entities, covered public officials, or |
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| 285 | + | 12 qualified public depositories, provided, however, that this |
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| 286 | + | 13 subsection shall not limit or restrict the authority of the |
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| 287 | + | 14 board or the State Treasurer, as applicable, to impose |
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| 288 | + | 15 administrative penalties or order restitution pursuant to |
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| 289 | + | 16 Section 41-14A-7 or to make assessments against qualified |
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| 290 | + | 17 public depositories for losses in accordance with Section |
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| 291 | + | 18 41-14A-9." |
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| 292 | + | 19 Section 2. This act shall become effective |
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| 293 | + | 20 immediately following its passage and approval by the |
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| 294 | + | 21 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law. |
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| 295 | + | Page 11 |
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