BILL NUMBER: AB 1433INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gray FEBRUARY 27, 2015 An act to add Part 70 (commencing with Section 101100) to Division 14 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to higher education facilities, by providing the funds necessary therefor through an election for the issuance and sale of bonds of the State of California and for the handling and disposition of those funds. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1433, as introduced, Gray. Higher education facilities: Recommitment to Higher Education Bond Act of 2016. Existing law, the California Constitution, prohibits the Legislature from creating a debt or liability that singly or in the aggregate with any previous debts or liabilities exceeds the sum of $300,000, except by an act that (a) authorizes the debt for a single object or work specified in the act, (b) has been passed by a 2/3 vote of all the members elected to each house of the Legislature, (c) has been submitted to the people at a statewide general or primary election, and (d) has received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at that election. This bill would enact the Recommitment to Higher Education Bond Act of 2016 to authorize an unspecified amount of state general obligation bonds, as scheduled, to provide aid to the California Community Colleges, the University of California, the Hastings College of the Law, and the California State University to construct and modernize education facilities. The proceeds of these bonds would be deposited in the 2016 California Community Colleges Capital Outlay Bond Fund and the 2016 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund, which this bill would establish. The bond act would become operative only if approved by the voters at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, and the bill would provide for its submission to the voters at that election. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Part 70 (commencing with Section 101100) is added to Division 14 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read: PART 70. RECOMMITMENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION BOND ACT OF 2016 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL 101100. This part shall be known and may be cited as the Recommitment to Higher Education Bond Act of 2016. 101101. The incorporation of, or reference to, any provision of California statutory law in this part includes all acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto. 101102. (a) Bonds in the total amount of____ dollars ($____), not including the amount of any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Sections 101130, 101139, and 101159, or so much thereof as is necessary, may be issued and sold to provide a fund to be used for carrying out the purposes expressed in this part and to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds, when sold, shall be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable. (b) Pursuant to this section, the Treasurer shall sell the bonds authorized by the State School Building Finance Committee established by Section 15909 or the Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 67353, as the case may be, at any different times necessary to service expenditures required by the apportionments. CHAPTER 2. CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACILITIES Article 1. General 101132. (a) The 2016 California Community College Capital Outlay Bond Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury for deposit of funds from the proceeds of bonds issued and sold for the purposes of this chapter. (b) The Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 67353 is hereby authorized to create a debt or debts, liability or liabilities, of the State of California pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of providing funds to aid the California Community Colleges. Article 2. California Community College Program Provisions 101133. (a) From the proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 101134), the sum of ____ dollars ($____) shall be deposited in the 2016 California Community College Capital Outlay Bond Fund for the purposes of this article. When appropriated, these funds shall be available for expenditure for the purposes of this article. (b) The purposes of this article include assisting in meeting the capital outlay financing needs of the California Community Colleges. (c) Proceeds from the sale of bonds issued and sold for the purposes of this article may be used to fund construction on existing campuses, including the construction of buildings and the acquisition of related fixtures, construction of facilities that may be used by more than one segment of public higher education (intersegmental), the renovation and reconstruction of facilities, site acquisition, the equipping of new, renovated, or reconstructed facilities, which equipment shall have an average useful life of 10 years; and to provide funds for the payment of preconstruction costs, including, but not limited to, preliminary plans and working drawings for facilities of the California Community Colleges. Article 3. California Community College Fiscal Provisions 101134. (a) Of the total amount of bonds authorized to be issued and sold pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 101100), bonds in the total amount of ____ dollars ($____), not including the amount of any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Section 101139, or so much thereof as is necessary, may be issued and sold to provide a fund to be used for carrying out the purposes expressed in this chapter and to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds, when sold, shall be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Community Colleges annually consider, as part of their annual capital outlay planning process, the inclusion of facilities that may be used by more than one segment of public higher education (intersegmental), and, that on or before May 15 of each year, those entities report their findings to the budget committees of each house of the Legislature. (c) Pursuant to this section, the Treasurer shall sell the bonds authorized by the Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 67353 at any different times necessary to service expenditures required by the apportionments. 101134.5. (a) The bonds authorized by this chapter shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed as provided in the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and all of the provisions of that law, except Section 16727 of the Government Code to the extent that it conflicts with this part, apply to the bonds and to this chapter and are hereby incorporated into this chapter as though set forth in full within this chapter. (b) For the purposes of the State General Obligation Bond Law, each state agency administering an appropriation of the 2016 Community College Capital Outlay Bond Fund is designated as the "board" for projects funded pursuant to this chapter. (c) The proceeds of the bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter shall be available for the purpose of funding aid to the California Community Colleges for the construction on existing or new campuses, and their respective off-campus centers and joint use and intersegmental facilities, as set forth in this chapter. 101135. The Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 67353 shall authorize the issuance of bonds under this chapter only to the extent necessary to fund the apportionments for the purposes described in this chapter that are expressly authorized by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act. Pursuant to that legislative direction, the committee shall determine whether or not it is necessary or desirable to issue bonds authorized pursuant to this chapter in order to carry out the purposes described in this chapter and, if so, the amount of bonds to be issued and sold. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized and sold to carry out those actions progressively, and it is not necessary that all of the bonds authorized to be issued be sold at any one time. 101135.5. There shall be collected each year and in the same manner and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds each year. It is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty in regard to the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and every act which is necessary to collect that additional sum. 101136. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, there is hereby appropriated from the General Fund in the State Treasury, for the purposes of this chapter, an amount that will equal the total of the following: (a) The sum annually necessary to pay the principal of, and interest on, bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter, as the principal and interest become due and payable. (b) The sum necessary to carry out Section 101137.5, appropriated without regard to fiscal years. 101136.5. The board, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 101134.5, may request the Pooled Money Investment Board to make a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Account or any other approved form of interim financing, in accordance with Section 16312 of the Government Code, for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. The amount of the request shall not exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that the committee, by resolution, has authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. The board, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 101134.5, shall execute any documents required by the Pooled Money Investment Board to obtain and repay the loan. Any amounts loaned shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated by the board in accordance with this chapter. 101137. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, or of the State General Obligation Bond Law, if the Treasurer sells bonds pursuant to this chapter that include a bond counsel opinion to the effect that the interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes, subject to designated conditions, the Treasurer may maintain separate accounts for the investment of bond proceeds and for the investment earnings on those proceeds. The Treasurer may use or direct the use of those proceeds or earnings to pay any rebate, penalty, or other payment required under federal law or take any other action with respect to the investment and use of those bond proceeds required or desirable under federal law to maintain the tax-exempt status of those bonds and to obtain any other advantage under federal law on behalf of the funds of this state. 101137.5. (a) For the purposes of carrying out this chapter, the Director of Finance may authorize the withdrawal from the General Fund of an amount not to exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that have been authorized by the Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. Any amounts withdrawn shall be deposited in the 2016 California Community College Capital Outlay Bond Fund consistent with this chapter. Any money made available under this section shall be returned to the General Fund, plus an amount equal to the interest that the money would have earned in the Pooled Money Investment Account, from proceeds received from the sale of bonds for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. (b) Any request forwarded to the Legislature and the Department of Finance for funds from this bond issue for expenditure for the purposes described in this chapter by the California Community Colleges shall be accompanied by the five-year capital outlay plan that reflects the needs and priorities of the community college system and is prioritized on a statewide basis. Requests shall include a schedule that prioritizes the seismic retrofitting needed to significantly reduce, in the judgment of the particular college, seismic hazards in buildings identified as high priority by the college. 101138. All money deposited in the 2016 California Community College Capital Outlay Bond Fund that is derived from premium and accrued interest on bonds sold shall be reserved in the fund, and shall be available for transfer to the General Fund as a credit to expenditures for bond interest. 101139. The bonds may be refunded in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 16780) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, which is a part of the State General Obligation Bond Law. Approval by the voters of the state for the issuance of the bonds described in this chapter includes the approval of the issuance of any bonds issued to refund any bonds originally issued under this chapter or any previously issued refunding bonds. 101139.5. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, inasmuch as the proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this chapter are not "proceeds of taxes" as that term is used in Article XIII B of the California Constitution, the disbursement of these proceeds is not subject to the limitations imposed by that article. CHAPTER 3. UNIVERSITY FACILITIES Article 1. General 101140. (a) The system of public universities in this state includes the University of California, the Hastings College of the Law, and the California State University, and their respective off-campus centers. (b) The 2016 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury for deposit of funds from the proceeds of bonds issued and sold for the purposes of this chapter. (c) The Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 67353 is hereby authorized to create a debt or debts, liability or liabilities, of the State of California pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of providing funds to aid the University of California, the Hastings College of the Law, and the California State University. Article 2. Program Provisions Applicable to the University of California and the Hastings College of the Law 101141. (a) From the proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 101150), the sum of ____ dollars ($____) shall be deposited in the 2016 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund for the purposes of this article. When appropriated, these funds shall be available for expenditure for the purposes of this article. (b) The purposes of this article include assisting in meeting the capital outlay financing needs of the University of California and the Hastings College of the Law. (c) Proceeds from the sale of bonds issued and sold for the purposes of this article may be used to fund construction on existing campuses, including the construction of buildings and the acquisition of related fixtures, construction of facilities that may be used by more than one segment of public higher education (intersegmental), the renovation and reconstruction of facilities, site acquisition, the equipping of new, renovated, or reconstructed facilities, which equipment shall have an average useful life of 10 years; and to provide funds for the payment of preconstruction costs, including, but not limited to, preliminary plans and working drawings for facilities of the University of California and the Hastings College of the Law. Article 3. Program Provisions Applicable to the California State University 101142. (a) From the proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 101150), the sum of ____ dollars ($____) shall be deposited in the 2016 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund for the purposes of this article. When appropriated, these funds shall be available for expenditure for the purposes of this article. (b) The purposes of this article include assisting in meeting the capital outlay financing needs of the California State University. (c) Proceeds from the sale of bonds issued and sold for the purposes of this article may be used to fund construction on existing campuses, including the construction of buildings and the acquisition of related fixtures, construction of facilities that may be used by more than one segment of public higher education (intersegmental), the renovation and reconstruction of facilities, site acquisition, the equipping of new, renovated, or reconstructed facilities, which equipment shall have an average useful life of 10 years; and to provide funds for the payment of preconstruction costs, including, but not limited to, preliminary plans and working drawings for facilities of the California State University. Article 4. University Fiscal Provisions 101150. (a) Of the total amount of bonds authorized to be issued and sold pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 101100), bonds in the amount of ____ dollars ($_____), not including the amount of any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Section 101159, or so much thereof as is necessary, may be issued and sold to provide a fund to be used for carrying out the purposes expressed in this chapter and to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds, when sold, shall be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of California and the California State University annually consider, as part of their annual capital outlay planning process, the inclusion of facilities that may be used by more than one segment of public higher education (intersegmental), and, that on or before May 15 of each year, those entities report their findings to the budget committees of each house of the Legislature. (c) Pursuant to this section, the Treasurer shall sell the bonds authorized by the Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 67353 at any different times necessary to service expenditures required by the apportionments. 101151. (a) The bonds authorized by this chapter shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed as provided in the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and all of the provisions of that law, except Section 16727 of the Government Code to the extent that it conflicts with this part, apply to the bonds and to this chapter and are hereby incorporated into this chapter as though set forth in full within this chapter. (b) For the purposes of the State General Obligation Bond Law, each state agency administering an appropriation of the 2016 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund is designated as the "board" for projects funded pursuant to this chapter. (c) The proceeds of the bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter shall be available for the purpose of funding aid to the University of California, the Hastings College of the Law, and the California State University, for the construction on existing or new campuses, and their respective off-campus centers and joint use and intersegmental facilities, as set forth in this chapter. 101152. The Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 67353 shall authorize the issuance of bonds under this chapter only to the extent necessary to fund the apportionments for the purposes described in this chapter that are expressly authorized by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act. Pursuant to that legislative direction, the committee shall determine whether or not it is necessary or desirable to issue bonds authorized pursuant to this chapter in order to carry out the purposes described in this chapter and, if so, the amount of bonds to be issued and sold. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized and sold to carry out those actions progressively, and it is not necessary that all of the bonds authorized to be issued be sold at any one time. 101153. There shall be collected each year and in the same manner and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds each year. It is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty in regard to the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and every act which is necessary to collect that additional sum. 101154. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, there is hereby appropriated from the General Fund in the State Treasury, for the purposes of this chapter, an amount that will equal the total of the following: (a) The sum annually necessary to pay the principal of, and interest on, bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter, as the principal and interest become due and payable. (b) The sum necessary to carry out Section 101157, appropriated without regard to fiscal years. 101155. The board, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 101151, may request the Pooled Money Investment Board to make a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Account or any other approved form of interim financing, in accordance with Section 16312 of the Government Code, for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. The amount of the request shall not exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that the committee, by resolution, has authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. The board, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 101151, shall execute any documents required by the Pooled Money Investment Board to obtain and repay the loan. Any amounts loaned shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated by the board in accordance with this chapter. 101156. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, or of the State General Obligation Bond Law, if the Treasurer sells bonds pursuant to this chapter that include a bond counsel opinion to the effect that the interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes, subject to designated conditions, the Treasurer may maintain separate accounts for the investment of bond proceeds and for the investment earnings on those proceeds. The Treasurer may use or direct the use of those proceeds or earnings to pay any rebate, penalty, or other payment required under federal law or take any other action with respect to the investment and use of those bond proceeds required or desirable under federal law to maintain the tax-exempt status of those bonds and to obtain any other advantage under federal law on behalf of the funds of this state. 101157. (a) For the purposes of carrying out this chapter, the Director of Finance may authorize the withdrawal from the General Fund of an amount not to exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that have been authorized by the Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. Any amounts withdrawn shall be deposited in the 2016 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund consistent with this chapter. Any money made available under this section shall be returned to the General Fund, plus an amount equal to the interest that the money would have earned in the Pooled Money Investment Account, from proceeds received from the sale of bonds for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. (b) Any request forwarded to the Legislature and the Department of Finance for funds from this bond issue for expenditure for the purposes described in this chapter by the University of California, the Hastings College of the Law, or the California State University shall be accompanied by the five-year capital outlay plan. Requests forwarded by a university or college shall include a schedule that prioritizes the seismic retrofitting needed to significantly reduce, in the judgment of the particular university or college, seismic hazards in buildings identified as high priority by the university or college. 101158. All money deposited in the 2016 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund that is derived from premium and accrued interest on bonds sold shall be reserved in the fund, and shall be available for transfer to the General Fund as a credit to expenditures for bond interest. 101159. The bonds may be refunded in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 16780) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, which is a part of the State General Obligation Bond Law. Approval by the voters of the state for the issuance of the bonds described in this chapter includes the approval of the issuance of any bonds issued to refund any bonds originally issued under this chapter or any previously issued refunding bonds. 101160. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, inasmuch as the proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this chapter are not "proceeds of taxes" as that term is used in Article XIII B of the California Constitution, the disbursement of these proceeds is not subject to the limitations imposed by that article. SEC. 2. The Secretary of State shall submit Section 1 of this act to the voters at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election. SEC. 3. The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. SEC. 4. Section 1 of this act shall become operative only if the voters approve the Recommitment to Higher Education Bond Act of 2016, as set forth in Section 1 of this act.