Section 23-2-147

Bonds; issuance; forms; procedures, etc.

(a) The authority is hereby authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of bonds of the authority for any of its corporate purposes, including the refunding of its bonds. The principal of and the interest on any issue of such bonds shall be payable solely from, and be secured by a pledge of, tolls and other revenues of all or any part of the toll road, bridge or tunnel project financed in whole or in part with the proceeds of such issue or with the proceeds of bonds refunded or to be refunded by such issue. The proceeds of any such bonds may be used or pledged for the payment or security of the principal or of the interest on bonds, and for the establishment of any or all reserves for such payment or security, or for other corporate purposes as the authority may authorize in the resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds or in the trust agreement securing the same.

(b) The bonds of each issue shall be dated; shall mature at such time or times, not exceeding 40 years from their date or dates as may be determined by the authority; and may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the authority, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the authority prior to the issuance of the bonds. The amount of premium on any bond shall not cause the yield to be more than six percent per annum from the date of such bonds to the date of their redemption.

(c) The authority shall determine the form of the bonds, including any interest coupons to be attached thereto, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of principal and interest, which may be at any bank or trust company within or without the state. The bonds shall be signed by the chairman of the authority or shall bear his facsimile signature; and the official seal of the authority or a facsimile thereof shall be impressed, imprinted, engraved or otherwise reproduced thereon. The official seal or a facsimile thereof shall be attested by the secretary of the authority or shall bear his facsimile signature; and any coupons attached thereto shall bear the facsimile signature of the chairman of the authority. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such bonds, such signature or such facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if he had remained in office until such delivery.

(d) All bonds issued under the provisions of this article shall have and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the negotiable instruments law of the state. The bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both, as the authority may determine; and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone and also as to both principal and interest and for the reconversion into coupon bonds of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest. The authority may sell such bonds in such manner and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the authority.

(e) The authority shall have power from time to time, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, to issue notes and from time to time to issue renewal notes maturing not later than three years from their respective dates, in an amount not exceeding the amount of bonds issued under the provisions of this article. The authorization and issuance of such notes, the interest thereon, the rights of the holders thereof, and the rights, duties and obligations of the authority in respect thereto, shall be governed by the provisions of this article with respect to the issuance of bonds, insofar as the same may be applicable.

(f) The authority may, out of any funds available therefor, purchase notes or bonds, which shall thereupon be cancelled, at not more than the redemption price then applicable, or, if not then redeemable, at a premium of not more than one percent of their face amount, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase.

(g) Neither the members of the authority nor any person executing the notes or bonds shall be personally liable on the notes or bonds, or be accountable by reason of the issuance thereof in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(h) The proceeds of the bonds of each issue shall be disbursed in such manner and under such restrictions, if any, as the authority may provide in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds, or in the trust agreement, hereinafter mentioned securing the bonds.

(i) Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the authority may, under like restrictions, issue interim receipts or temporary bonds, with or without coupons, exchangeable for definitive bonds when such bonds shall have been executed and are available for delivery. The authority may also provide for the replacement of any bonds which shall become mutilated or shall be destroyed or lost. Bonds may be issued under the provisions of this article without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau, or agency of the state, and without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things than those proceedings, conditions, or things which are specifically required by this article.

(Acts 1980, No. 80-691, p. 1377, §7; Acts 1982, No. 82-540, p. 890, §1.)