24 LC 44 2786 Senate Bill 575 By: Senator Williams of the 25th AS PASSED SENATE A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To create the Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority; to provide for a short title; to provide 1 for definitions; to provide for purpose; to provide for powers; to provide for the membership2 of the authority and their terms of office, qualifications, and compensation; to provide for the3 issuance and sale of revenue bonds and other obligations; to provide that such revenues and4 other obligations are not general obligations; to provide for trust indentures; to provide for5 the security for such revenue bonds and other obligations; to provide for refunding revenue6 bonds and other obligations; to provide for a principal office; to provide for validation; to7 provide for no impairment of rights; to provide for trust funds and investments; to provide8 for the power to set rates, fees and charges; to provide for exemptions from taxation; to9 provide for tort immunity; to provide for exemptions from levy and sale; to provide for its10 area of operation; to provide for supplemental powers; to provide for no power to impose11 taxes or exercise the power of eminent domain; to provide for the conveyance of property12 upon dissolution; to provide for liberal construction; to provide for severability; to repeal13 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:15 S. B. 575 - 1 - 24 LC 44 2786 SECTION 1. 16 Short title.17 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority18 Act."19 SECTION 2.20 Definitions.21 As used in this Act, the following words and terms shall have the meaning specified unless22 the context or use clearly indicates a different meaning or intent:23 (1) "Authority" means the Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority created by this Act.24 (2) "City" means Milledgeville, Georgia, or its successor.25 (3) "Cost of the project" shall include:26 (A) The cost of construction;27 (B) The cost of all land and interests therein, properties, rights, easements, and28 franchises acquired;29 (C) The cost of acquiring, constructing, renovating, erecting, or demolishing buildings,30 improvements, materials, labor, and services;31 (D) The cost of all fixtures, furnishings, machinery and equipment;32 (E) Issuance costs, including, but not limited to, fees or discounts of underwriters or33 placement agents, the funding of reserve accounts, financing charges including interest34 prior to and during the construction or acquisition of any project and for up to one year35 after such project is placed into service and operational at the level intended;36 (F) The cost of construction, engineering, architectural, fiscal, accounting, inspection,37 and legal expenses relating to a project or to the financing or refinancing of any project38 S. B. 575 - 2 - 24 LC 44 2786 and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability 39 of any project; and40 (G) Administrative expenses relating to any project or the financing or refinancing41 thereof, and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing or42 refinancing of a project herein authorized, the acquisition, construction, renovation,43 reconstruction, or remodeling of a project, and the placing of the same in operation.44 Any obligation or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded45 as part of the cost of the project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of any funds46 of the authority, including proceeds of any revenue bonds or other obligations issued47 under the provisions hereof for any such project or projects and the proceeds of the sale48 of any contracts, lease agreements, or installment sales agreements or the amounts49 payable thereunder, either directly or by the creation of interests therein.50 (4) "Obligations" means and includes revenue bonds, bond anticipation notes, other51 promissory notes, certificates of participation, custodial receipts or other similar52 instruments creating interests in any contracts, lease agreements, or installment sales53 agreements or in the amounts payable to the authority, directly or indirectly, thereunder.54 (5) "Private person" means any individual or any legal entity, other than a public body,55 whether operated for profit or not for profit.56 (6) "Project" means any capital project that may be financed with revenue bonds under57 general laws in effect from time to time, which is located or to be located in the city, that58 is determined by the authority to promote the public good or general welfare of the59 citizens of the city, or of the state, or any of its enterprises or systems, including, but not60 limited to, the acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, extension, addition,61 or equipping within the city of:62 (A) Utility systems and improvements, including, without limitation, water and sewer63 systems and facilities, sewage and solid waste disposal systems and facilities, and64 electric, gas, and other similar facilities and systems;65 S. B. 575 - 3 - 24 LC 44 2786 (B) Emergency facilities, including emergency, fire, police, and rescue facilities and 66 equipment;67 (C) Recreational facilities, including parks, athletic fields, buildings, or facilities and68 other similar facilities or related equipment;69 (D) Public safety facilities, including prisons, jails, police stations, facilities, or70 equipment, and state patrol or other law enforcement facilities or equipment;71 (E) Educational, cultural, or historical facilities and equipment;72 (F) Administrative facilities or equipment, including city municipal buildings and other73 governmental buildings;74 (G) Courthouses, public libraries and jails;75 (H) Facilities relating to aviation, including, but not limited to, airports, airfields,76 airport terminals, hangars, control towers, facilities for the repair and maintenance of77 aircraft; and78 (I) Other buildings, facilities, and equipment necessary or convenient for the efficient79 operation of the city or any department, agency, division, or commission thereof, or of80 a public body or private person.81 (7) "Public bodies" means and includes, the United States of America and any federal82 agency, department, authority or any branch of its armed services, and any county,83 political subdivision, or municipality of the state, and any state or local government84 agency, department, authority, agency, board, authority, or instrumentality, each being85 a "public body."86 (8) "Revenue bonds" means revenue bonds issued by the authority pursuant to the terms87 of this Act or under Article 3 of Chapter 82 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., known as the88 "Revenue Bond Law."89 (9) "State" means the State of Georgia.90 S. B. 575 - 4 - 24 LC 44 2786 SECTION 3. 91 Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority.92 There is created a body corporate and politic to be known as the "Milledgeville Public93 Facilities Authority," which shall be deemed to be a public corporation. Such corporation94 shall be separate and distinct from any public corporation or other entity heretofore created95 by the General Assembly and shall be an instrumentality of the state exercising governmental96 and proprietary powers. The authority is created for the purpose of promoting the public97 good and general welfare of the citizens of the city and of the state and financing and98 providing facilities, equipment, and services within the city, for sale to, lease or sublease to,99 ownership, or operation by any public body or any private person, specifically including the100 city. In connection with the exercise of any of its powers, the members of the authority may101 make findings or determinations that the exercise of its powers as proposed will promote the102 public good and general welfare, and assist public bodies or private persons in providing103 facilities, equipment, and services in the city, and such findings or determinations, if made,104 shall be conclusive and binding and shall not be subject to review.105 SECTION 4.106 Powers.107 The authority shall have the power:108 (1) To sue and be sued;109 (2) To have and to use a seal and to alter the same at its pleasure;110 (3) To acquire, construct, purchase, hold, own, lease as lessee, expand, improve,111 renovate, repair, maintain, and operate real and personal property or interests therein;112 (4) To enter into contacts for operation, management, maintenance, and repair of any of113 its property and for other purposes;114 S. B. 575 - 5 - 24 LC 44 2786 (5) To sell, lease as lessor, or otherwise transfer, pledge or dispose of any real and 115 personal property or interests therein. In connection with any such lease, sale, transfer,116 assignment, or other disposition, to the extent allowed by general law, the authority need117 not comply with any other provision of law requiring public bidding or any notice to the118 public of such lease, sale, transfer, assignment, or other disposition;119 (6) To exercise the powers conferred upon a "public corporation" or a "public authority"120 by Article IX, Section III, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia, such authority121 being expressly declared to be a "public corporation" or a "public authority" within the122 meaning of such provision of the Constitution of Georgia;123 (7) To acquire projects and other property in its own name by gift or by purchase on such124 terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper. If the authority shall125 deem it expedient to construct any project on real property or any interest therein or126 usufruct therein that is subject to the control of any other public body or private person,127 then such other public body or private person is hereby authorized to convey or lease128 such real property or interest therein to the authority for no consideration or for such129 consideration as may be agreed upon by the authority and such other public body or130 private person, taking into consideration the public benefit to be derived from such131 conveyance, lease or usufruct. Any public body or private person may transfer such real132 property or interest therein without regard to any determination as to whether or not such133 property or interest therein is surplus;134 (8) To accept gifts and bequests for its corporate purposes;135 (9) To appoint, select, and employ, with or without bidding as the authority may choose,136 officers, agents, and employees, including engineering, architectural, and construction137 experts, fiscal agents, underwriters or other advisors, and attorneys, and to fix their138 compensation;139 S. B. 575 - 6 - 24 LC 44 2786 (10) To make and execute with one or more public bodies or private persons contracts, 140 lease agreements, rental agreements, installment sale agreements, loan agreements,141 security instruments, and other instruments relating to the property of the 142 authority and incident to the exercise of the powers of the authority, including contracts for143 constructing, renting, leasing, operating, using, and selling its projects for the benefit of other144 public bodies and private persons, specifically including the city, and, without limiting the145 generality of the foregoing, authority is specifically granted to the authority and to other146 public bodies and private persons, specifically including the city, to enter into contracts, lease147 agreements, rental agreements, installment sale agreements, loan agreements, security148 instruments, and related agreements with each other relating to the provision of any project149 or services for a term not exceeding 50 years, as provided in Article IX, Section III,150 Paragraph I(a) of the Constitution of Georgia;151 (11) To the extent not prohibited by the Constitution of Georgia or by general law, to be152 a co-owner, along with other public bodies and private persons, of any property or153 business entity if the authority finds and determines that such co-ownership is in the best154 interests of the authority and will serve the public purposes of the authority;155 (12) To purchase policies of insurance as may be deemed appropriate for its corporate156 purposes;157 (13) To operate, lease, sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any property, real or158 personal, or assets of the authority, or to assign its rights under its contracts, lease159 agreements, or installment sale agreements or its right to receive payments thereunder,160 either directly or through trust or custodial arrangements whereby interests are created161 in such contracts, lease agreements, or installment sale agreements or the payments to be162 received thereunder through the issuance of trust certificates, certificates of participation,163 custodial receipts, or other similar instruments. In connection with any such lease, sale,164 transfer, assignment, or other disposition, the authority need not comply with any other165 S. B. 575 - 7 - 24 LC 44 2786 provision of law requiring public bidding or any notice to the public of such lease, sale, 166 transfer, assignment, or other disposition;167 (14) To accept loans and grants of money or property of any kind from the United States,168 or any public body or private person and all public bodies and private persons are169 authorized to make grants to the authority, subject to any limitations in the Constitution170 of Georgia;171 (15) To borrow money for any of its corporate purposes and to issue revenue bonds and172 other obligations payable from funds or revenues of the authority pledged for such173 purpose and to pledge and assign any of its revenues, income, rents, charges, and fees to174 provide for the payment of the same and to provide for the rights of the holders of such175 obligations;176 (16) To enter into:177 (A) Interest rate swaps, collars, or other types of interest rate management agreements;178 or179 (B) Credit enhancement or liquidity agreements relating to any obligations of the180 authority, provided that the obligation of the authority under such agreements shall not181 be a general obligation of the authority but shall be a limited obligation of the authority182 payable from a specific source of funds identified for such purpose;183 (17) To make such rules and regulations governing its employees and property as it may184 in its discretion deem proper;185 (18) To be sued the same as any private corporation on any contractual obligation of the186 authority. The authority shall have the same rights to sue any other person or entity as187 any private corporation;188 (19) To issue revenue bonds or other obligations to finance or refinance any project189 which may be financed by any public body or private person; and190 (20) To have and exercise usual powers of private corporations except such as are191 inconsistent with this Act or inconsistent with general law, and to do any and all things192 S. B. 575 - 8 - 24 LC 44 2786 necessary and convenient to accomplish the purpose and powers of the authority as herein 193 stated.194 SECTION 5.195 Membership.196 (a) The authority shall consist of five members who shall be residents of the city and who197 shall be appointed by the mayor and council of the city. The members of the authority shall198 be appointed to serve for a term of one year from the date of such appointment and until their199 successors shall have been selected and appointed.200 (b) The mayor and any member, or members, of the city council may be appointed to serve201 as members of the authority. The term of office of any member of the authority who also202 serves as a member of the appointing body shall expire when his or her term of office as a203 member of such appointing body expires.204 (c) Any member of the authority may be selected and appointed to succeed himself or205 herself.206 (d) Immediately after appointments provided for in subsections (a) and (b) of this section,207 the members of such authority shall enter upon their duties. Any vacancy on the authority208 shall be filled in the same manner as was the original appointment of the member whose209 termination of membership resulted in such vacancy and the person so selected and210 appointed shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The authority shall elect one211 of its members as chairperson and another member as vice-chairperson and it shall also elect212 a secretary and treasurer, who does not necessarily have to be a member of the authority and213 if not a member he or she shall have no voting rights. A majority of the members of the214 authority shall constitute a quorum and a majority vote of a quorum shall authorize any legal215 act of the authority, including all things necessary to authorize and issue revenue bonds and216 other obligations. No vacancy on the authority shall impair the right of the quorum to217 S. B. 575 - 9 - 24 LC 44 2786 exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority. The members of the 218 authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their service as members of the authority,219 but may be reimbursed for their actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of220 their duties. The authority shall make rules and regulations for its own governing. It shall221 have perpetual existence. The mayor and members of the city council, as officers of the city,222 may vote on transactions between the city and the authority and the members of the authority223 may likewise vote on transactions between the city and the authority and the same shall not224 be deemed to create any conflict of interest.225 SECTION 6.226 Issuance and sale of revenue bonds and other obligations.227 The authority shall have the power and shall be authorized from time to time to provide for228 the issuance and sale of negotiable revenue bonds in the manner provided by Article 3 of229 Chapter 82 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., known as the "Revenue Bond Law," and may issue230 other obligations for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of any one or more231 projects, including the cost of constructing, reconstructing, equipping, extending, adding to,232 or improving any such project, or for the purpose of refunding, as herein provided, any such233 bonds or other obligations of the authority or to refund bonds or other obligations of any234 other authority, public body, or private person previously issued to finance or refinance the235 cost of a project. The principal of and interest on such revenue bonds or other obligations236 shall be a limited obligation of the authority payable solely from the source or sources of237 funds specified in the indenture or resolution of the authority authorizing the issuance of such238 revenue bonds or other obligations. Such revenue bonds or other obligations shall mature239 on such dates, bear interest at such rate or rates, whether fixed or variable, be subject to240 redemption and have such other terms as the authority may provide in the indenture or241 resolution relating thereto. Such revenue bonds or other obligations may be issued for cash,242 S. B. 575 - 10 - 24 LC 44 2786 property or other consideration and may be sold in a negotiated sale or in a public sale at 243 such price on such terms as the authority may determine. The offer, sale or issuance of244 bonds or other obligations of the authority shall be exempt from registration to the extent245 provided in Chapter 5 of Title 10 of the O.C.G.A., the "Georgia Securities Law," or any other246 law, including, without limitation, the Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008 contained in247 Chapter 5 of Title 10 of the O.C.G.A., as the same may be amended from time to time.248 SECTION 7.249 Revenue bonds or other obligations not a debt or general obligation.250 Revenue bonds or other obligations issued under the provisions of this Act or any loan251 incurred as authorized herein shall not constitute a debt or a pledge of the faith and credit of252 any other public body, but shall be payable solely from the sources as may be designated in253 the resolution or indenture of the authority authorizing the issuance of the same. The254 issuance of such obligations shall not directly, indirectly, or contingently obligate any public255 body to levy or to pledge any form of taxation whatsoever for the payment thereof, unless256 otherwise provided by an intergovernmental contract executed by such public body. No257 holder of any bond or other obligation or receiver or trustee in connection therewith shall258 have the right to enforce the payment thereof against any property of any other public body259 nor shall any such bond or other obligation constitute a charge, lien, or encumbrance, legal260 or equitable, upon any such property unless otherwise provided by an intergovernmental261 contract executed by such other public body and the authority. All such obligations shall262 contain on their face a recital setting forth substantially the foregoing provisions of this263 section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any other public body from264 obligating itself to pay the amounts required under any intergovernmental contract entered265 into with the authority pursuant to Article IX of the Constitution of Georgia or any successor266 provision, including, if such other public body has taxing power, from funds received from267 S. B. 575 - 11 - 24 LC 44 2786 taxes to be levied and collected by such other public body for that purpose and from any 268 other source.269 SECTION 8.270 Issuance of bonds or obligations under indentures or resolutions.271 In the discretion of the authority, any issuance of such revenue bonds or other obligations272 may be secured by a trust indenture by and between the authority and a trustee, which may273 be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or outside the274 State. Such trust indenture may pledge or assign fees, tolls, rents, revenues, and earnings to275 be received by the authority including the proceeds derived from the financing, sale, or lease,276 or operation from time to time, of any project. Either the resolution providing for the277 issuance of revenue bonds or other obligations or such trust indenture may contain such278 provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the owners of such bonds279 or obligations as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including280 covenants setting forth the duties of the authority or any lessee or purchaser in relation to the281 acquisition and construction of any project, the maintenance, operation, repair, and financing282 of any project, and the custody, safeguarding, and application of all moneys, including the283 proceeds derived from the sale or lease of any project or from the sale of any such revenue284 bonds or other obligations and may contain provisions concerning the conditions, if any,285 upon which additional bonds or other obligations may be issued, whether on a parity with or286 subordinate to, any other obligations issued by the authority. Such indenture or resolution287 may set forth the rights and remedies of the owners of such obligations and of the trustee. 288 In addition to the foregoing, such trust indenture may contain such other provisions as the289 authority may deem reasonable and proper for the security of the owners of such bonds or290 other obligations or otherwise necessary or convenient in connection with the issuance of291 such obligations. All expenses incurred in carrying out such trust indenture may be treated292 S. B. 575 - 12 - 24 LC 44 2786 as a part of the cost of maintenance, operation, and repair of the project affected by such 293 indenture.294 SECTION 9.295 Security for the payment of bonds or other obligations.296 The authority may assign or pledge any property, or revenues and its interest in any297 contracts, lease agreements, or installment sales agreements, or the amounts payable298 thereunder, to the payment of the principal and interest on revenue bonds and other299 obligations of the authority as the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or other300 obligations or the trust indenture may provide. The use and disposition of such property or301 revenues assigned to the payment of bonds or other obligations shall be subject to the302 indenture or resolution authorizing the issuance of such revenue bonds or obligations. Any303 lien created by the authority for the payment of such bonds or obligations may be a first lien304 or a subordinate lien as the authority may provide, and any such indenture or resolution may305 provide, at the option of the authority, for the issuance of additional bonds or other306 obligations sharing any lien on a parity or subordinate lien basis.307 SECTION 10.308 Refunding bonds or obligations.309 The authority is authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of obligations, whether310 revenue bonds or other obligations, for the purpose of refunding any revenue bonds or other311 obligations issued under the provisions of this Act or under any other provision of state law312 so long as such bonds or other obligations were issued for a purpose or project for which the313 authority could issue bonds or other obligations. The issuance of such refunding bonds or314 S. B. 575 - 13 - 24 LC 44 2786 other obligations and all the details thereof, the rights of holders thereof, and the duties of the 315 authority with respect to the same shall be governed by the foregoing provisions of this Act316 insofar as the same may be applicable.317 SECTION 11.318 Principal office; venue.319 The principal office of the authority shall be in the city, and the venue of any action against320 it shall be in Baldwin County, Georgia. Service upon the authority of any process, subpoena,321 or summons shall be effected by serving the same personally upon any member of the322 authority.323 SECTION 12.324 Validation of revenue bonds; elective validation of other obligations.325 Revenue bonds of the authority shall be confirmed and validated in accordance with the326 procedure now or hereafter set forth in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A.,327 known as the "Revenue Bond Law," as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended.328 At the election of the authority, other obligations of the authority may be validated as if they329 were revenue bonds. The petition for validation shall name the authority as a defendant and330 may also make a party defendant to such action any other private person or public body that331 has or will contract with the authority with respect to the project for which revenue bonds or332 other obligations are to be issued and are sought to be validated. The bonds or other333 obligations, when validated, and the judgment of validation shall be final and conclusive with334 respect to the validity of such bonds or other obligations and the security therefor against the335 authority, other parties to the validation and against all other private persons and public336 S. B. 575 - 14 - 24 LC 44 2786 bodies, regardless of whether such private persons or public bodies were parties to such 337 validation proceedings. Any action pertaining to the validation of any revenue bonds or338 other obligations issued under the provisions of this Act and for the validation of any339 instruments entered or to be entered into by the authority or other private persons or public340 bodies securing the same shall be brought in the Superior Court of Baldwin County, and such341 court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of such actions.342 SECTION 13.343 No impairment of rights.344 While any of the bonds or other obligations issued by the authority or any interests in345 contracts of the authority remain outstanding, the powers, duties, or existence of the authority346 or of its officers, employees, or agents shall not be diminished or impaired in any manner that347 will affect adversely the interest and rights of the holders of such bonds or obligations or348 such interests in contracts of the authority. The provisions of this section of this Act shall349 be for the benefit of the authority and of the holders of any such bonds or obligations and350 interests in contracts of the authority and, upon the issuance of bonds or obligations or the351 creation of interests in contracts of the authority under the provisions of this Act, shall352 constitute a contract with the holders of such bonds or obligations or such interests in353 contracts of the authority.354 SECTION 14.355 Trust funds; permitted investments.356 All moneys received by the authority pursuant to this Act, whether as proceeds from the sale357 of revenue bonds or obligations of the authority, as grants or other contributions, or as358 revenues, income, fees, and earnings, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied359 S. B. 575 - 15 - 24 LC 44 2786 solely as provided in this Act and in such resolutions and trust indentures as may be adopted 360 and entered into by the authority pursuant to this Act. Any such moneys or funds may be361 invested from time to time in such investments as may be permitted under the indenture,362 agreement, or resolution establishing the fund or account in which such funds are held, or if363 not held in such a fund or account, in such investments as would be permitted for364 investments of a development authority created under Code Section 36-62-1, et seq.365 SECTION 15.366 Power to set rates, fees, and charges.367 The authority is authorized to operate, sell or lease any project and to prescribe and fix rates,368 fees, tolls, rents, and charges and to revise, from time to time, and collect such revised rates,369 fees, tolls, rents, and charges for the services, facilities, or commodities furnished, including370 leases, concessions, and subleases of its projects, and to determine the price and terms at and371 under which its projects may be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of. The authority may372 establish in its discretion procedures for contracting for any work done for the authority or373 for the acquisition, sale, transfer, lease, management, or operation of any property, real or374 personal, of the authority. The authority may contract with others, including private persons,375 for services relating to the management, operation, sale, or leasing of any project.376 SECTION 16.377 Revenue bonds or other obligations exempt from taxation.378 All revenue bonds or other obligation issued as provided in this Act, are declared to be issued379 or incurred for an essential public and governmental purpose and such obligations and the380 interest thereon shall, to the extent not prohibited by general law, be exempt from all taxation381 S. B. 575 - 16 - 24 LC 44 2786 within this state, whether or not the income on such bonds or other obligations is excludable 382 from the gross income of the holders thereof for federal income tax purposes383 SECTION 17.384 Essential governmental function; no taxes or assessments.385 It is found, determined, and declared that the creation of the authority and the carrying out386 of its corporate purposes are in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state and387 constitute a public purpose, and that the authority shall perform an essential governmental388 function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this Act. The property of the389 authority is declared to be public property that is exempt from taxes under subparagraph390 (a)(1)(A) of Code Section 48-5-41 of the O.C.G.A. To the extent not prohibited by general391 law, the tax exemption for property of the authority shall extend to leasehold interests of392 lessees thereof.393 SECTION 18.394 Immunity of authority and members.395 The authority shall have the same immunity and exemption from liability for torts and396 negligence as the city and the officers, agents, and employees of the authority, when in the397 performance of the work of the authority, shall have the same immunity and exemption from398 liability for torts and negligence as the officers, agents, and employees of the city.399 S. B. 575 - 17 - 24 LC 44 2786 SECTION 19. 400 Authority property not subject to levy and sale.401 The property of the authority shall not be subject to levy and sale under legal process, except402 this provision shall not preclude a sale or foreclosure of any property under the terms of any403 deed to secure debt, mortgage, assignment, or security agreement that the authority has404 executed.405 SECTION 20.406 Authority area of operation.407 The scope of the authority's operations shall be limited to the territory embraced within the408 territorial limits of the city, as the same now or may hereafter exist; provided, however, that409 nothing in this section shall prevent the authority from contracting with any entity or body,410 public or private, outside of the city with respect to any project located in the city or located411 outside of the city in furtherance of its public purposes.412 SECTION 21.413 Supplemental powers.414 This Act does not in any way take away from the authority any power which may be415 conferred upon it by law but is supplemental thereto.416 S. B. 575 - 18 - 24 LC 44 2786 SECTION 22. 417 No power to impose taxes or exercise power of eminent domain.418 The authority shall not have the right to impose any tax on any person or property and shall419 not have the right to exercise the power of eminent domain.420 SECTION 23.421 Conveyance of property upon dissolution.422 Should the authority for any reason be dissolved after full payment of all revenue bonds and423 other obligations of the authority and the termination of any leases, contracts, or options to424 which the authority is a party, the interest and any redemption premiums thereon, title to the425 Items of property and funds of the authority held at the time of dissolution shall, prior to such426 dissolution, be conveyed and transferred to such one or more public bodies, as the authority427 shall elect.428 SECTION 24.429 Liberal construction of Act.430 This Act shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof.431 SECTION 25.432 Severability.433 Should any sentence, clause, phrase, or part of this Act be declared for any reason to be434 unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect the remainder of this Act, or any part435 hereof, other than the part so held to be invalid, but the remaining provisions of this Act shall436 S. B. 575 - 19 - 24 LC 44 2786 remain in full force and effect, and it is the express intention of the General Assembly to 437 enact each provision of this Act independently of any other provision hereof.438 SECTION 26.439 Effective date.440 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law441 without such approval.442 SECTION 27.443 General repealer.444 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are, to the extent of such conflict,445 repealed.446 S. B. 575 - 20 -