5 | 5 | | By: Representative Parrish of the 158 |
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6 | 6 | | th |
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7 | 7 | | |
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8 | 8 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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9 | 9 | | AN ACT |
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10 | 10 | | To create the Emanuel County Public Facilities Authority; to provide that the authority is a |
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11 | 11 | | 1 |
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12 | 12 | | body corporate and politic and an instrumentality of the State of Georgia; to authorize the2 |
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13 | 13 | | authority to acquire, construct, equip, maintain, and operate certain projects, including3 |
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14 | 14 | | buildings and facilities for use by Emanuel County, the Emanuel County School District, any4 |
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15 | 15 | | municipality or other political subdivision located in Emanuel County, for its governmental,5 |
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16 | 16 | | proprietary, and administrative functions; to provide for members of the authority and their6 |
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17 | 17 | | terms, organization, and reimbursement; to provide for vacancies; to provide for definitions;7 |
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18 | 18 | | to confer powers and impose duties on the authority; to provide for limitations to the8 |
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19 | 19 | | authority; to authorize the authority to enter into contracts and leases pertaining to uses of9 |
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20 | 20 | | such facilities, which contracts and leases may obligate the lessees to make payment for the10 |
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21 | 21 | | use of the facilities for the term thereof and to pledge for that purpose money derived from11 |
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22 | 22 | | taxation; to provide that no debt of Emanuel County or the State of Georgia shall be incurred12 |
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23 | 23 | | by the exercise of any of the powers granted; to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds of13 |
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24 | 24 | | the authority payable from the revenues, rents, and earnings and other functions of the14 |
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25 | 25 | | authority; to authorize the collecting and pledging of such revenues, rents, and earnings for15 |
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26 | 26 | | the payment of such bonds; to authorize the adoption of resolutions and the execution of trust16 |
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27 | 27 | | agreements and indentures to secure the payment of such bonds and to define the rights of17 |
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29 | 29 | | H. B. 519 |
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30 | 30 | | - 2 - |
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31 | 31 | | exempt from taxation; to authorize the issuance of refunding bonds; to provide for the |
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32 | 32 | | 19 |
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33 | 33 | | validation of such bonds and to fix the venue for jurisdiction of actions relating to any20 |
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34 | 34 | | provision of this Act; to provide for immunity and exemption from liability for torts and21 |
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35 | 35 | | negligence; to provide that the property of the authority shall not be subject to levy and sale;22 |
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36 | 36 | | to provide that certain moneys are trust funds; to provide that this Act shall be liberally23 |
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37 | 37 | | construed; to define the scope of the authority's operation; to provide for disposition of24 |
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38 | 38 | | property upon dissolution of the authority; to provide for severability; to provide for a short25 |
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39 | 39 | | title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.26 |
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40 | 40 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:27 |
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41 | 41 | | SECTION 1.28 |
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42 | 42 | | Short title.29 |
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43 | 43 | | This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Emanuel County Public Facilities30 |
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44 | 44 | | Authority Act."31 |
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45 | 45 | | SECTION 2.32 |
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46 | 46 | | Emanuel County Public Facilities Authority.33 |
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47 | 47 | | There is created a public body corporate and politic to be known as the Emanuel County34 |
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48 | 48 | | Public Facilities Authority, which shall be an instrumentality and a public corporation of the35 |
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49 | 49 | | State of Georgia, the purpose of which shall be to acquire, construct, equip, maintain, and36 |
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50 | 50 | | operate certain projects for use by Emanuel County, the Emanuel County School District, or37 |
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51 | 51 | | any municipality or other political subdivision located within Emanuel County, for its38 |
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52 | 52 | | governmental, proprietary, public, and administrative functions. The authority shall not be39 |
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54 | 54 | | H. B. 519 |
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55 | 55 | | - 3 - |
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56 | 56 | | state, a mere creation of the state, being a distinct corporate entity and exempt from the |
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57 | 57 | | 41 |
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58 | 58 | | provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 17 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., the "Georgia State42 |
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59 | 59 | | Financing and Investment Commission Act." The authority shall have its principal office in43 |
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60 | 60 | | Emanuel County, and its legal situs or residence for the purposes of this Act shall be44 |
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61 | 61 | | Emanuel County.45 |
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62 | 62 | | SECTION 3.46 |
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63 | 63 | | Membership.47 |
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64 | 64 | | The authority shall consist of five members who shall be eligible to succeed themselves and48 |
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65 | 65 | | who shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners of Emanuel County. No more than49 |
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66 | 66 | | three members of the authority may be members of said board of commissioners or50 |
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67 | 67 | | employees of Emanuel County. Any member of the authority who is a member of said board51 |
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68 | 68 | | of commissioners shall serve for a term of office concurrent with such person's term of office52 |
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69 | 69 | | as a member of said board of commissioners. Each member of the authority who is not a53 |
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70 | 70 | | member of said board of commissioners shall serve for a term of office of three years, except54 |
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71 | 71 | | that the initial terms of office of those members first appointed to the authority shall be55 |
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72 | 72 | | specified at the time of appointment to be one, two, and, if no such member is a member of56 |
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73 | 73 | | the board of commissioners, three years. After such initial terms, those members who are57 |
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74 | 74 | | not members of said board of commissioners shall serve for terms of office of three years58 |
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75 | 75 | | each. Members of the authority shall serve for the terms of office so specified and until the59 |
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76 | 76 | | appointment and qualification of their respective successors. Vacancies on the authority60 |
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77 | 77 | | shall be filled by said board of commissioners for the remainder of the unexpired term and61 |
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78 | 78 | | until the appointment and qualification of a successor. Immediately after their appointment,62 |
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79 | 79 | | the members of the authority shall enter upon their duties. The authority shall elect one of63 |
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80 | 80 | | its members as chairperson and one as vice chairperson. The secretary-treasurer of the64 |
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82 | 82 | | H. B. 519 |
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83 | 83 | | - 4 - |
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84 | 84 | | Three members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and no vacancy on the authority |
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85 | 85 | | 66 |
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86 | 86 | | shall impair the right of the quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the67 |
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87 | 87 | | authority and, in every instance, a majority vote of a quorum shall authorize any legal act of68 |
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88 | 88 | | the authority, including all things necessary to authorize and issue revenue bonds. The69 |
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89 | 89 | | members of the authority shall receive no compensation for their services but may be70 |
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90 | 90 | | reimbursed by the authority for the actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance71 |
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91 | 91 | | of their duties. The authority shall make rules and regulations for its own government and72 |
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92 | 92 | | shall have perpetual existence.73 |
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93 | 93 | | SECTION 4.74 |
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94 | 94 | | Definitions.75 |
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95 | 95 | | As used in this Act, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless76 |
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96 | 96 | | a different meaning clearly appears from the context:77 |
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97 | 97 | | (1) "Authority" shall mean the Emanuel County Public Facilities Authority created by78 |
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98 | 98 | | this Act.79 |
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99 | 99 | | (2) "Project" shall mean and include real and personal property acquired or held by the80 |
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100 | 100 | | authority, including all land; buildings; structures; sanitary and surface water sewers;81 |
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101 | 101 | | utilities, including natural gas distribution, telecommunications, fiber, cable, and82 |
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102 | 102 | | broadband services; and other public property determined by the authority to be desirable83 |
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103 | 103 | | for the efficient operation of any department, board, office, commission, or agency of84 |
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104 | 104 | | Emanuel County, the Emanuel County School District, or any municipality or other85 |
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105 | 105 | | political subdivision located in Emanuel County, or the State of Georgia in the86 |
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106 | 106 | | performance of its governmental, proprietary, and administrative functions.87 |
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107 | 107 | | (3) "Cost of project" shall include the cost of lands, buildings, improvements, machinery,88 |
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108 | 108 | | equipment, property, easements, rights, franchises, material, labor, services acquired or89 |
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110 | 110 | | H. B. 519 |
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111 | 111 | | - 5 - |
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112 | 112 | | prior to and during construction; architectural, accounting, engineering, inspection, |
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113 | 113 | | 91 |
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114 | 114 | | administrative, fiscal, and legal expenses; expenses incident to determining the feasibility92 |
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115 | 115 | | or practicability of the project; and expenses incident to the acquiring, constructing,93 |
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116 | 116 | | equipping, and operating of any project or any part thereof and to the placing of the same94 |
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117 | 117 | | in operation.95 |
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118 | 118 | | (4) "Revenue bonds" shall mean revenue bonds issued under the provisions of Article 396 |
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119 | 119 | | of Chapter 82 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Revenue Bond Law," or under the97 |
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120 | 120 | | provisions of this Act. The obligations authorized under this Act may be issued by the98 |
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121 | 121 | | authority in the manner authorized under the Revenue Bond Law.99 |
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122 | 122 | | SECTION 5.100 |
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123 | 123 | | Powers.101 |
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124 | 124 | | The authority shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate102 |
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125 | 125 | | the purposes and provisions of this Act, including, but without limiting the generality of the103 |
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126 | 126 | | foregoing, the power:104 |
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127 | 127 | | (1) To sue and be sued;105 |
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128 | 128 | | (2) To adopt and alter a corporate seal;106 |
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129 | 129 | | (3) To make and execute with public and private persons and corporations contracts,107 |
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130 | 130 | | trusts, leases, rental agreements, and other instruments relating to its projects and in108 |
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131 | 131 | | furtherance of the purposes of the authority, including contracts for the constructing,109 |
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132 | 132 | | renting, and leasing of its projects for the use of any county or municipality in this state;110 |
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133 | 133 | | (4) To acquire in its own name by purchase on such terms and conditions and in such111 |
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134 | 134 | | manner as it may deem proper or by gift, grant, lease, or otherwise, real and personal112 |
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135 | 135 | | property necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes, or rights and easements113 |
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136 | 136 | | therein, and to use the same so long as its corporate existence shall continue and to lease114 |
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138 | 138 | | H. B. 519 |
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139 | 139 | | - 6 - |
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140 | 140 | | deems to the best advantage of the authority. Title to any such property shall be held by |
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141 | 141 | | 116 |
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142 | 142 | | the authority exclusively for the benefit of the public.117 |
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143 | 143 | | (5) To improve, extend, add to, reconstruct, renovate, or remodel any project or part118 |
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144 | 144 | | thereof already acquired;119 |
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145 | 145 | | (6) To pledge or assign any revenues, income, rent, charges, and fees received by the120 |
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146 | 146 | | authority;121 |
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147 | 147 | | (7) To appoint and select agents, engineers, architects, attorneys, fiscal agents,122 |
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148 | 148 | | accountants, and employees and to provide for their compensation and duties;123 |
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149 | 149 | | (8) To construct, reconstruct, acquire, own, alter, repair, remodel, maintain, extend,124 |
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150 | 150 | | improve, operate, manage, and equip projects located on land owned or leased by the125 |
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151 | 151 | | authority;126 |
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152 | 152 | | (9) To receive, accept, and use any contributions, loans, or grants by persons, firms, or127 |
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153 | 153 | | corporations, including the State of Georgia and the United States of America, and any128 |
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154 | 154 | | other contributions;129 |
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155 | 155 | | (10) To pay all or part of the costs of any project from the proceeds of revenue bonds of130 |
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156 | 156 | | the authority or from other lawful sources available to it;131 |
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157 | 157 | | (11) To prescribe rules and regulations for the operation of and to exercise police powers132 |
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158 | 158 | | over the projects managed or operated by the authority;133 |
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159 | 159 | | (12) To accept, receive, and administer gifts, grants, loans and devises of money,134 |
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160 | 160 | | material, and property of any kind, including loans and grants from the State of Georgia135 |
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161 | 161 | | or the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, upon such136 |
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162 | 162 | | terms and conditions as the State of Georgia or the United States of America or such137 |
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163 | 163 | | agency or instrumentality may impose;138 |
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164 | 164 | | (13) To sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, mortgage, dispose of, grant in139 |
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165 | 165 | | trust, or grant options for any real or personal property or interest therein in furtherance140 |
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167 | 167 | | H. B. 519 |
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168 | 168 | | - 7 - |
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169 | 169 | | (14) As security for repayment of authority obligations, to pledge, mortgage, convey, |
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170 | 170 | | 142 |
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171 | 171 | | assign, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber any property, real or personal, of such143 |
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172 | 172 | | authority and to execute any trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement containing144 |
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173 | 173 | | any provisions not in conflict with law, which trust agreement, indenture, or security145 |
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174 | 174 | | agreement may provide for foreclosure or forced sale of any property of the authority146 |
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175 | 175 | | upon default, on such obligations, either in payment of principal or interest or in the147 |
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176 | 176 | | performance of any term or condition, as are contained in such agreement or indenture;148 |
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177 | 177 | | (15) To borrow money for any of its corporate purposes, to issue revenue bonds payable149 |
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178 | 178 | | solely from funds pledged for that purpose, and to provide for the payment of the same150 |
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179 | 179 | | and for the rights of the holders thereof;151 |
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180 | 180 | | (16) To exercise all powers usually possessed by private corporations performing similar152 |
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181 | 181 | | functions which are not in conflict with the Constitution and laws of this state; and153 |
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182 | 182 | | (17) Pursuant to proper resolution of the authority, to issue revenue bonds payable from154 |
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183 | 183 | | the rents and revenues of the authority and its projects, which bonds may be issued in155 |
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184 | 184 | | either fully negotiable coupon form, in which event they shall have all the qualities and156 |
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185 | 185 | | incidents of negotiable instruments under the laws of the State of Georgia, or which157 |
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186 | 186 | | bonds may be issued in whole or in part in nonnegotiable fully registered form without158 |
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187 | 187 | | coupons, payable to a designated payee or to the registered assigns of the payee with such159 |
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188 | 188 | | conversion privileges as the authority may provide, for the purpose of paying all or any160 |
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189 | 189 | | part of the cost associated with the projects authorized by the authority, including the cost161 |
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190 | 190 | | of constructing, reconstructing, equipping, extending, adding to, or improving such162 |
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191 | 191 | | projects or for the purpose of refunding, as provided in this Act, any such bonds of the163 |
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192 | 192 | | authority theretofore issued. If the proceeds of the bonds of any issue shall exceed the164 |
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193 | 193 | | amount required for the purpose for which such bonds were issued, the surplus shall be165 |
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194 | 194 | | paid into the fund provided for the payment of principal and interest on such bonds. All166 |
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195 | 195 | | such revenue bonds shall be issued and validated under and in accordance with the167 |
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197 | 197 | | H. B. 519 |
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198 | 198 | | - 8 - |
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199 | 199 | | Law, and in accordance with all terms and provisions thereof not in conflict with this Act, |
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200 | 200 | | 169 |
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201 | 201 | | and in accordance with Code Section 50-17-1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to use of170 |
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202 | 202 | | facsimile signatures on public securities, and, as security for the payment of any revenue171 |
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203 | 203 | | bonds so authorized, any rents and revenue of the authority may be pledged and assigned.172 |
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204 | 204 | | Such bonds shall be declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental173 |
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205 | 205 | | purpose, and such bonds and all income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation174 |
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206 | 206 | | within the State of Georgia. For the purpose of the exemption from taxation of such175 |
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207 | 207 | | bonds and the income therefrom, the authority shall be deemed to be a political176 |
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208 | 208 | | subdivision of the State of Georgia.177 |
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209 | 209 | | SECTION 6.178 |
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210 | 210 | | Credit not pledged and debt not created by bonds.179 |
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211 | 211 | | Revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this Act shall not constitute a debt or a pledge180 |
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212 | 212 | | of the faith and credit of the State of Georgia, Emanuel County, the Emanuel County School181 |
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213 | 213 | | District, or any municipality or other political subdivision located in Emanuel County, but182 |
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214 | 214 | | such bonds shall be payable from the rentals, revenue, earnings, and funds of the authority183 |
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215 | 215 | | as provided in the resolution or trust agreement or indenture authorizing the issuance and184 |
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216 | 216 | | securing the payment of such bonds. The issuance of such bonds shall not directly,185 |
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217 | 217 | | indirectly, or contingently obligate the state or said county to levy or pledge any form of186 |
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218 | 218 | | taxation for the payment thereof. No holder of any bond or receiver or trustee in connection187 |
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219 | 219 | | therewith shall have the right to enforce the payment thereof against any property of the state188 |
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220 | 220 | | or of said county, nor shall any such bond constitute a charge, lien, or encumbrance, legal or189 |
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221 | 221 | | equitable, upon any such property. All such bonds shall contain on their face a recital setting190 |
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223 | 223 | | H. B. 519 |
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224 | 224 | | - 9 - |
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225 | 225 | | SECTION 7. |
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226 | 226 | | 192 |
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227 | 227 | | Trust agreement.193 |
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228 | 228 | | In the discretion of the authority, any issue of revenue bonds may be secured by an194 |
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229 | 229 | | agreement or indenture made by the authority with a corporate trustee, which may be any195 |
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230 | 230 | | trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the State of196 |
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231 | 231 | | Georgia. Such trust agreement or indenture may pledge and assign rents, fees, charges,197 |
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232 | 232 | | revenues, and earnings to be received by the authority. The resolution providing for the198 |
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233 | 233 | | issuance of revenue bonds and such trust agreement or indenture may contain provisions for199 |
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234 | 234 | | protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders, including the right of200 |
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235 | 235 | | appointment of a receiver upon default of the payment of any principal or interest obligation201 |
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236 | 236 | | and the right of any receiver or trustee to enforce collection of any rents, fees, charges, or202 |
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237 | 237 | | revenues for use of the project or projects necessary to pay all costs of operation and all203 |
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238 | 238 | | reserves provided for, all principal and interest on all bonds of the issue, all costs of204 |
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239 | 239 | | collection, and all other costs reasonably necessary to accomplish the collection of such sums205 |
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240 | 240 | | in the event of any default of the authority. Such resolution and such trust agreement or206 |
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241 | 241 | | indenture may include covenants setting forth the duties of the authority in relation to the207 |
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242 | 242 | | acquisition of property for and the construction of the project and to the custody,208 |
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243 | 243 | | safeguarding, and application of all funds and covenants providing for the operation,209 |
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244 | 244 | | maintenance, repair, and insurance of the project or projects and may contain provisions210 |
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245 | 245 | | concerning the conditions, if any, upon which additional revenue bonds may be issued. Such211 |
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246 | 246 | | trust agreement or indenture may set forth the rights and remedies of the bondholders and of212 |
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247 | 247 | | the trustee and may restrict the individual right of action of bondholders as is customary in213 |
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248 | 248 | | securing bonds and debentures of corporations and may contain such other provisions as the214 |
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249 | 249 | | authority may deem reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders. All expenses215 |
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250 | 250 | | incurred in carrying out such trust may be treated as a part of the cost of maintenance,216 |
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252 | 252 | | H. B. 519 |
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253 | 253 | | - 10 - |
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254 | 254 | | SECTION 8. |
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255 | 255 | | 218 |
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256 | 256 | | Refunding bonds.219 |
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257 | 257 | | The authority is authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of revenue bonds of the220 |
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258 | 258 | | authority for the purpose of calling, refunding, or refinancing any revenue bonds issued221 |
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259 | 259 | | under the provisions of this Act and then outstanding and to include in the amount of such222 |
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260 | 260 | | refunding bonds all interest and any call premiums that may be required for the redemption223 |
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261 | 261 | | and refunding of such outstanding bonds.224 |
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262 | 262 | | SECTION 9.225 |
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263 | 263 | | Venue of actions, jurisdiction.226 |
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264 | 264 | | Any action to protect or enforce any rights under the provisions of this Act or any action227 |
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265 | 265 | | against the authority brought in the courts of the State of Georgia shall be brought in the228 |
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266 | 266 | | Superior Court of Emanuel County, Georgia, and any action pertaining to validation of any229 |
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267 | 267 | | bonds issued under the provisions of this Act shall be brought in said court, which shall have230 |
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268 | 268 | | exclusive, original jurisdiction of such actions.231 |
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269 | 269 | | SECTION 10.232 |
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270 | 270 | | Revenue bond validation.233 |
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271 | 271 | | The petition for validation of all revenue bonds of the authority shall be brought against the234 |
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272 | 272 | | authority, and any contracting party whose obligation is pledged as security for the payment235 |
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273 | 273 | | of the bonds sought to be validated, as defendants, and the defendants shall be required to236 |
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274 | 274 | | show cause, if any exists, why such contract or contracts and the terms and conditions thereof237 |
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275 | 275 | | shall not be adjudicated to be in all respects valid and binding upon such contracting parties.238 |
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277 | 277 | | H. B. 519 |
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278 | 278 | | - 11 - |
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279 | 279 | | binding effect of such contract or contracts or be forever bound thereby. Notice of such |
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280 | 280 | | 240 |
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281 | 281 | | proceedings shall be included in the notice of the validation hearing required to be issued and241 |
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282 | 282 | | published by the clerk of the Superior Court of Emanuel County in which court such242 |
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283 | 283 | | validation proceedings shall be initiated.243 |
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284 | 284 | | SECTION 11.244 |
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285 | 285 | | Interest of bondholders protected.245 |
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286 | 286 | | While any of the bonds issued by the authority remain outstanding, the powers, duties, or246 |
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287 | 287 | | existence of the authority or of its officers, employees, or agents shall not be diminished,247 |
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288 | 288 | | impaired, or affected in any manner that will affect adversely the interest and rights of the248 |
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289 | 289 | | holders of such bonds. The provisions of this Act shall be for the benefit of the authority and249 |
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290 | 290 | | the holders of any such bonds and, upon the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this250 |
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291 | 291 | | Act, shall constitute a contract with the holders of such bonds.251 |
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292 | 292 | | SECTION 12.252 |
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293 | 293 | | Revenues, earnings, rents, and charges; use.253 |
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294 | 294 | | (a) For the purpose of earning sufficient revenue to make possible the financing of the254 |
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295 | 295 | | construction of the project or projects of the authority with revenue bonds, the authority is255 |
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296 | 296 | | authorized and empowered to fix, revise, and collect rents, fees, and charges on each project256 |
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297 | 297 | | which it shall cause to be acquired or constructed. Such rents, fees, or charges to be paid for257 |
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298 | 298 | | the use of such project or projects shall be so fixed and adjusted so as to provide a fund258 |
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299 | 299 | | sufficient with other revenue, if any, of such project or projects or of the authority:259 |
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300 | 300 | | (1) To pay the cost of operating, maintaining, and repairing the project or projects,260 |
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302 | 302 | | H. B. 519 |
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303 | 303 | | - 12 - |
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304 | 304 | | the resolution or trust agreement or indenture pertaining to such bonds and the issuance |
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305 | 305 | | 262 |
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306 | 306 | | thereof, unless such cost shall be otherwise provided for;263 |
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307 | 307 | | (2) To pay the principal of and interest on such revenue bonds as the same shall become264 |
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308 | 308 | | due, including call premiums, if any, the proceeds of which shall have been or shall be265 |
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309 | 309 | | used to pay the cost of such project or projects;266 |
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310 | 310 | | (3) To comply with any sinking fund requirements contained in the resolution or trust267 |
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311 | 311 | | agreement or indenture pertaining to the issuance of and security for such bonds;268 |
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312 | 312 | | (4) To perform fully all provisions of such resolution or trust agreement or indenture269 |
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313 | 313 | | relating to the issuance of or security for such bonds to the payment of which such rent270 |
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314 | 314 | | is pledged;271 |
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315 | 315 | | (5) To accumulate any excess income which may be required by the purchasers of such272 |
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316 | 316 | | bonds or may be dictated by the requirements of such resolution or trust agreement or273 |
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317 | 317 | | indenture, or which may be required for achieving ready marketability of and low interest274 |
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318 | 318 | | rates on such bonds; and275 |
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319 | 319 | | (6) To pay any expenses in connection with such bond issue or of such project,276 |
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320 | 320 | | including, but not limited to, trustees', attorney's, and fiscal agents' fees.277 |
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321 | 321 | | (b) Such rent shall be payable at such intervals as may be agreed upon and set forth in the278 |
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322 | 322 | | rental contract or lease providing therefor, and any such contract or lease may provide for the279 |
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323 | 323 | | commencement of rent payments to the authority prior to the completion of the project by280 |
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324 | 324 | | the authority and may provide for the payment of rent during such times as such project may281 |
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325 | 325 | | be partially or wholly untenantable.282 |
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326 | 326 | | (c) Such rental contract or lease may obligate the tenants or lessees to operate, maintain, and283 |
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327 | 327 | | keep in good repair, including complete reconstruction, if necessary, the rented or leased284 |
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328 | 328 | | premises and projects, regardless of the cause of the necessity of such maintenance, repair,285 |
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329 | 329 | | or reconstruction.286 |
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330 | 330 | | (d) Such rental contract or lease may obligate the tenants or lessees to indemnify and save287 |
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332 | 332 | | H. B. 519 |
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333 | 333 | | - 13 - |
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334 | 334 | | reason of the leased property or improvements thereon and to undertake, at the expense of |
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335 | 335 | | 289 |
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336 | 336 | | the tenants or lessees, the defense of any action brought against the authority by reason of290 |
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337 | 337 | | injury or damages to persons or property occurring on or by reason of the leased premises.291 |
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338 | 338 | | (e) In the event of any failure or refusal on the part of the tenants or lessees to perform292 |
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339 | 339 | | punctually any covenant or obligation contained in any such rental contract or lease, the293 |
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340 | 340 | | authority may enforce performance by any legal or equitable process against the tenants or294 |
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341 | 341 | | lessees.295 |
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342 | 342 | | (f) The authority shall be permitted to assign any rent payable to it, pursuant to such rental296 |
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343 | 343 | | contract or lease, to a trustee or paying agent as may be required by the terms of the297 |
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344 | 344 | | resolution or trust agreement or indenture relating to the issuance of and security for such298 |
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345 | 345 | | bonds.299 |
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346 | 346 | | (g) The use and disposition of the authority's revenue shall be subject to the provisions of300 |
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347 | 347 | | the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or of the trust agreement or indenture,301 |
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348 | 348 | | if any, securing the same.302 |
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349 | 349 | | SECTION 13.303 |
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350 | 350 | | Sinking fund.304 |
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351 | 351 | | The revenue, rents, and earnings derived from any particular project or projects and any and305 |
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352 | 352 | | all revenue, rents, and earnings received by the authority, regardless of whether such306 |
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353 | 353 | | revenue, rents, and earnings were produced by a particular project for which bonds have been307 |
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354 | 354 | | issued, unless otherwise pledged, may be pledged by the authority to payment of the308 |
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355 | 355 | | principal of and interest on revenue bonds of the authority as may be provided in any309 |
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356 | 356 | | resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or in any trust instrument pertaining to such310 |
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357 | 357 | | bonds, and such funds so pledged, from whatever source received, may include funds311 |
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358 | 358 | | received from one or more or all sources and may be set aside at regular intervals into312 |
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360 | 360 | | H. B. 519 |
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361 | 361 | | - 14 - |
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362 | 362 | | and which may be pledged to and charged with the payment of the interest upon such |
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363 | 363 | | 314 |
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364 | 364 | | revenue bonds as such interest shall become due, the principal of the bonds as the same shall315 |
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365 | 365 | | mature, the necessary charges of any trustee or paying agent for paying such principal and316 |
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366 | 366 | | interest, and any premium upon bonds retired by call or purchase, and the use and disposition317 |
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367 | 367 | | of any sinking fund may be subject to such regulation as may be provided for in the318 |
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368 | 368 | | resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or in the trust instrument securing the319 |
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369 | 369 | | payment of the same.320 |
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370 | 370 | | SECTION 14.321 |
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371 | 371 | | Taxation status.322 |
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372 | 372 | | The exercise of the powers conferred upon the authority under this Act shall constitute an323 |
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373 | 373 | | essential governmental function for a public purpose, and to the maximum extent permitted324 |
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374 | 374 | | by general law, the authority shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the325 |
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375 | 375 | | property acquired by it or under its jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or upon326 |
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376 | 376 | | its activities in the operation and maintenance of property acquired by it or of buildings327 |
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377 | 377 | | erected or acquired by it or any fees, rents, or other charges for the use of such property or328 |
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378 | 378 | | buildings or other income received by the authority. This section shall not include an329 |
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379 | 379 | | exemption from sales and use tax on property purchased by or for the use of the authority.330 |
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380 | 380 | | SECTION 15.331 |
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381 | 381 | | Immunity from tort actions.332 |
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382 | 382 | | The authority shall have the same immunity and exemption from liability for torts and333 |
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383 | 383 | | negligence as Emanuel County, and the officers, agents, and employees of the authority,334 |
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384 | 384 | | when in performance of work of the authority, shall have the same immunity and exemption335 |
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386 | 386 | | H. B. 519 |
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387 | 387 | | - 15 - |
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388 | 388 | | The authority may be sued the same as private corporations on any contractual obligation of |
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389 | 389 | | 337 |
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390 | 390 | | the authority.338 |
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391 | 391 | | SECTION 16.339 |
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392 | 392 | | Property not subject to levy and sale.340 |
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393 | 393 | | The property of the authority shall not be subject to levy and sale under legal process.341 |
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394 | 394 | | SECTION 17.342 |
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395 | 395 | | Trust funds.343 |
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396 | 396 | | All funds received pursuant to the authority of Section 12 of this Act, whether as proceeds344 |
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397 | 397 | | from the sale of revenue bonds or as revenue, rents, fees, charges, or other earnings or as345 |
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398 | 398 | | grants, gifts, or other contributions, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied346 |
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399 | 399 | | by the authority, solely as provided in this Act. The bondholders entitled to receive the347 |
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400 | 400 | | benefits of such funds shall have a lien on all such funds until the same are applied as348 |
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401 | 401 | | provided for in any such resolution or trust instrument of the authority.349 |
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402 | 402 | | SECTION 18.350 |
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403 | 403 | | Construction.351 |
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404 | 404 | | This Act and any other law enacted with reference to the authority shall be liberally352 |
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406 | 406 | | H. B. 519 |
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407 | 407 | | - 16 - |
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408 | 408 | | SECTION 19. |
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409 | 409 | | 354 |
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410 | 410 | | Scope of operations.355 |
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411 | 411 | | The projects of the authority's operation shall be located in the territory embraced within the356 |
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412 | 412 | | jurisdictional limits of Emanuel County as the same now or may hereafter exist.357 |
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413 | 413 | | SECTION 20.358 |
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414 | 414 | | Conveyance of property upon dissolution.359 |
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415 | 415 | | Should the authority for any reason be dissolved after full payment of all bonded360 |
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416 | 416 | | indebtedness incurred under this Act, both as to principal and interest, title to all property of361 |
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417 | 417 | | any kind and nature, real and personal, held by the authority at the time of such dissolution362 |
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418 | 418 | | shall be conveyed to Emanuel County, or title to any such property may be conveyed prior363 |
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419 | 419 | | to such dissolution in accordance with provisions which may be made therefor in any364 |
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420 | 420 | | resolution or trust instrument relating to such property, subject to any liens, leases, or other365 |
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421 | 421 | | encumbrances outstanding against or in respect to said property at the time of such366 |
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422 | 422 | | conveyance.367 |
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423 | 423 | | SECTION 21.368 |
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424 | 424 | | Severability; effect of partial invalidity of Act.369 |
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425 | 425 | | Should any sentence, clause, phrase, or part of this Act be declared for any reason to be370 |
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426 | 426 | | unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect such remainder of this Act or any part371 |
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427 | 427 | | hereof, other than the part so held to be invalid, but the remaining provisions of this Act shall372 |
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428 | 428 | | remain in full force and effect, and it is the express intention of this Act to enact each373 |
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