1999 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1236 – School district, bonds, guarantee

SENATE BILL NO. 1236

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Daily Data Tracking History



S1236......................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
SCHOOL DISTRICTS - BONDS - Adds to and amends existing law to provide for
state guarantee of repayment of school bonds.

02/23    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/24    Rpt prt - to St Aff
03/02    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/03    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/08    3rd rdg - PASSED - 30-1-4
      AYES--Andreason, Boatright, Branch, Bunderson, Burtenshaw, Cameron,
      Crow, Danielson, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Frasure, Geddes,
      Ingram, Ipsen, Keough, King, McLaughlin, Noh, Richardson, Riggs,
      Risch, Sandy, Schroeder, Stegner, Stennett, Thorne, Wheeler,
      Whitworth
      NAYS--Lee
      Absent and excused--Hawkins, Parry, Sorensen, Twiggs
    Floor Sponsor - Sandy
    Title apvd - to House
03/09    House intro - 1st rdg - to Educ
03/15    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/16    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/18    3rd rdg - PASSED - 62-7-1
      AYES -- Alltus, Barraclough, Bell, Bieter, Black, Boe, Bruneel,
      Callister, Campbell, Chase, Clark, Cuddy, Deal, Denney, Ellsworth,
      Field(13), Gagner, Gould, Hadley, Hammond, Hansen(23), Hansen(29),
      Henbest, Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones, Judd, Kellogg, Kempton, Kunz, Lake,
      Limbaugh, Linford, Loertscher, Mader, Marley, Meyer(Duncan),
      Mortensen, Moyle, Pischner, Pomeroy, Reynolds, Ridinger, Ringo,
      Robison, Sali, Schaefer, Sellman, Smith, Smylie, Stevenson,
      Stoicheff, Stone, Taylor, Tilman, Tippets, Trail, Watson, Wheeler,
      Williams, Zimmermann, Mr Speaker
      NAYS -- Barrett, Crow, Field(20), Geddes, Kendell, McKague, Wood
      Absent and excused -- Montgomery
    Floor Sponsor - Smith
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/19    To enrol - rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/22    Sp signed
03/23    To Governor
03/24    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 328
         Effective: 03/24/99

Bill Text


S1236


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature                 First Regular Session - 1999
                                                                        

                                      IN THE SENATE

                                   SENATE BILL NO. 1236

                                BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO THE STATE GUARANTEEING SCHOOL DISTRICT BONDS; AMENDING  TITLE  33,
 3        IDAHO  CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHAPTER 53, TITLE 33, IDAHO CODE, TO
 4        PROVIDE A SHORT TITLE, TO DEFINE TERMS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE STATE'S GUARAN-
 5        TEE OF BONDS, TO PROVIDE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY  AND  THE  OPTION  TO  FOREGO
 6        GUARANTY,  TO  PROVIDE FOR MONITORING OF FINANCIAL SOLVENCY AND TO PROVIDE
 7        THAT THE STATE TREASURER SHALL MONITOR THE FISCAL SOLVENCY OF SCHOOL  DIS-
 8        TRICTS,  TO PROVIDE FOR NOTICE BY THE PAYING AGENT TO THE STATE TREASURER,
 9        TO PROVIDE FOR A STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE  INTERCEPT  MECHANISM  AND  TO
10        PROVIDE FOR INTEREST AND PENALTY PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR BACKUP LIQUID-
11        ITY  ARRANGEMENTS  AND  ISSUANCE  OF NOTES, TO PROVIDE UNLIMITED SALES TAX
12        ACCOUNT PLEDGE TO LOAN FUNDS AND TO PROVIDE DUTIES OF THE STATE  TAX  COM-
13        MISSION,  AND  TO  PROVIDE  WHEN THE CREDIT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL
14        DISTRICT BONDS WILL TAKE EFFECT; AMENDING SECTION 63-3638, IDAHO CODE,  TO
15        PROVIDE  FOR THE REMITTANCE OF MONEYS FROM THE SALES TAX ACCOUNT UPON CER-
16        TAIN FACTORS OCCURRING; AMENDING CHAPTER 7, TITLE 57, IDAHO CODE,  BY  THE
17        ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 57-728, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A CREDIT ENHANCE-
18        MENT  PROGRAM  FOR  SCHOOL DISTRICT BONDS BY THE ENDOWMENT FUND INVESTMENT
19        BOARD; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

20    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

21        SECTION 1.  That Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby  amended
22    by  the addition thereto of a  NEW CHAPTER , to be known and desig-
23    nated as Chapter 53, Title 33, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

24                                      CHAPTER 53
25                            IDAHO SCHOOL BOND GUARANTY ACT

26        33-5301.  TITLE. This chapter shall be known as  the  "Idaho  School  Bond
27    Guaranty Act."

28        33-5302.  DEFINITIONS.  (1)  "Board"  means  the  board  of  trustees of a
29    school district, including a specially chartered  district,  existing  now  or
30    later under the laws of the state.
31        (2)  "Bond"  means  any  general  obligation bond or refunding bond issued
32    after the effective date of this chapter.
33        (3)  "Default avoidance program" means the school  bond  guaranty  program
34    established by this chapter.
35        (4)  "General  obligation bond" means any bond, note, warrant, certificate
36    of indebtedness, or other obligation of a board payable in whole  or  in  part
37    from revenues derived from property taxes and that constitutes an indebtedness
38    within  the meaning of any applicable constitutional or statutory debt limita-
39    tion.
40        (5)  "Paying agent" means the corporate paying agent selected by the board
41    for a bond issue who is:


                                          2

 1        (a)  Duly qualified; and
 2        (b)  Acceptable to the state treasurer.
 3        (6)  "Public school guarantee fund" means the  fund described  in  section
 4    2,  article  VIII,  of  the  constitution  of  the  state of Idaho and section
 5    33-5309, Idaho Code.
 6        (7)  "Refunding bond" means any general obligation bond issued by a  board
 7    for the purpose of refunding its outstanding general obligation bonds.
 8        (8)  "School  district"  means  any school district, including a specially
 9    chartered district, existing now or later under the laws of the state.

10        33-5303.  STATE'S GUARANTEE -- MONITORING OF FINANCIAL  SOLVENCY  CONTRACT
11    WITH BONDHOLDERS -- GUARANTEE -- LIMITATION AS TO CERTAIN REFUNDED BONDS.
12        (1)  (a) The  state of Idaho pledges to and agrees with the holders of any
13        bonds that the state will not alter, impair, or limit the rights vested by
14        the default avoidance program with respect to the bonds until  the  bonds,
15        together with applicable interest, are fully paid and discharged.
16        (b)  Notwithstanding  subsection (1)(a) of this section, nothing contained
17        in this chapter precludes an alteration, impairment, or limitation if ade-
18        quate provision is made by law for the protection of the  holders  of  the
19        bonds.
20        (c)  Each school district  may refer to this pledge and undertaking by the
21        state in its bonds.
22        (2)  (a) The  sales  tax  of  the  state  is pledged to guarantee full and
23        timely payment of the principal of (either at the stated  maturity  or  by
24        any  advancement of maturity pursuant to a mandatory sinking fund payment)
25        and interest on, voter approved bonds which were voted on by the  elector-
26        ate  on and after March 1, 1999, as such payments shall become due (except
27        that in the event of any acceleration of the due date of such principal by
28        reason of mandatory or optional redemption or acceleration resulting  from
29        default or otherwise, other than any advancement of maturity pursuant to a
30        mandatory  sinking  fund payment, the payments guaranteed shall be made in
31        such amounts and at such times as such payments of  principal  would  have
32        been due had there not been any such acceleration).
33        (b)  This  guaranty  does not extend to the payment of any redemption pre-
34        mium.
35        (c)  Reference to this chapter by its title on the face of any  bond  con-
36        clusively  establishes the guaranty provided to that bond under provisions
37        of this chapter.
38        (3)  (a) Any bond guaranteed under this chapter that is refunded and  con-
39        sidered  paid  for,  no longer has the benefit of the guaranty provided by
40        this chapter from and after the date on which that bond was considered  to
41        be paid.
42        (b)  Any  refunding  bond issued by a board that is itself secured by gov-
43        ernment obligations until the proceeds are applied to pay  refunded  bonds
44        is  not guaranteed under the provisions of this chapter, until the refund-
45        ing bonds cease to be secured by government obligations.
46        (4)  Only validly issued bonds issued after the  effective  date  of  this
47    chapter are guaranteed under this chapter.

48        33-5304. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY -- OPTION TO FOREGO GUARANTY.
49        (1)  (a) Any school district through its board of trustees or its superin-
50        tendent  may request that the state treasurer issue a certificate evidenc-
51        ing eligibility for the state's guaranty of its eligible bonds  under this
52        chapter.
53        (b)  After reviewing the request, if the state treasurer  determines  that


                                          3

 1        the  board  is eligible, the state treasurer shall promptly issue the cer-
 2        tificate and provide it to the requesting board.
 3        (c)  (i)  The school district receiving the certificate and all other per-
 4             sons may rely on the certificate as evidencing  eligibility  for  the
 5             guaranty for one (1) year from and after the date of the certificate,
 6             without  making  further  inquiry  of  the state treasurer during the
 7             year. The certificate of eligibility shall state that  the  guarantee
 8             is  good for the life of the bond. This guarantee shall be printed on
 9             all bonds guaranteed pursuant to this chapter or shall be an addendum
10             attached to all bonds guaranteed pursuant to this chapter.
11             (ii) The certificate of eligibility is valid  for  the  life  of  the
12             bond,  even  if  the state treasurer later determines that the school
13             district is ineligible. If the state treasurer later determines  that
14             the  school  district  is  ineligible,  the treasurer shall publish a
15             twenty (20) days' notice as provided in section 60-109,  Idaho  Code,
16             in  a  newspaper  of general circulation in the county  of the school
17             district and in a newspaper in the county where the state capitol  is
18             located  regarding  the  ineligibility.  Additionally,  the treasurer
19             shall notify the underwriter of the bonds and the bond counsel of its
20             office's finding. The underwriter and the bond counsel shall  make  a
21             good  faith  effort to notify holders of the bonds of the treasurer's
22             determination.
23        (2)  Any board that chooses to forego the benefits of  the  guaranty  pro-
24    vided by this chapter for a particular issue of bonds may do so by not referr-
25    ing to this chapter on the face of its bonds.
26        (3)  Any  district  that  has bonds, the principal of or interest on which
27    has been paid, in whole or in part, by the state under this  chapter  may  not
28    issue any additional bonds guaranteed by this act until:
29        (a)  All  payment  obligations  of  the  district  to  the state under the
30        default avoidance program are satisfied; and
31        (b)  The state treasurer certifies in writing, to be kept on file  by  the
32        state treasurer, that the school district is fiscally solvent.
33        (4)  Bonds  not guaranteed by this chapter are not included in the defini-
34    tion of "bond" in section 33-5302, Idaho Code, as used generally in this chap-
35    ter, are not subject to the requirements of and do not receive the benefits of
36    this chapter.

37        33-5305.  STATE TREASURER TO MONITOR FISCAL SOLVENCY OF  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS
38    --  DUTIES  OF  STATE  TREASURER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL. (1) The state treasurer
39    shall:
40        (a)  Monitor the financial affairs and condition of each  school  district
41        in the state to evaluate each school district's financial solvency;
42        (b)  At least annually, report his conclusions to the governor, the legis-
43        lature and the state superintendent of public instruction; and
44        (c)  Report  immediately  to  the  governor  and  superintendent of public
45        instruction  any circumstances suggesting that a school district  will  be
46        unable  to timely meet its debt service obligations and recommend a course
47        of remedial action.
48        (2)  (a)  After examining the report of the  school  district,  the  state
49        treasurer  shall determine whether or not the financial affairs and condi-
50        tion of a board are such that it would be imprudent for the state to guar-
51        antee the bonds of that school district.
52        (b)  If the state treasurer determines that the state should not guarantee
53        the bonds of that board, the state treasurer shall:
54             (i)   Prepare a determination of ineligibility;


                                          4

 1             (ii)  Keep it on file in the office of the state treasurer; and
 2             (iii) Make the necessary advertisements and notifications as provided
 3             in section 33-5304, Idaho Code.
 4        (c)  The state treasurer may remove a district from the status of ineligi-
 5        bility when a subsequent report of the school district or  other  informa-
 6        tion  made available to the state treasurer evidences that it is no longer
 7        imprudent for the state to guarantee the bonds of that board.
 8        (3)  Nothing in this section affects the state's guaranty of  bonds  of  a
 9    board issued:
10        (a)  Before determination of ineligibility;
11        (b)  After the eligibility of the board is restored; or
12        (c)  Under a certificate of eligibility issued under this chapter.

13        33-5306.  PAYING  AGENT  TO  PROVIDE  NOTICE -- STATE TREASURER TO EXECUTE
14    TRANSFER TO PAYING AGENTS -- EFFECT OF TRANSFER.
15        (1)  (a)  The superintendent of each  school  district  with  outstanding,
16        unpaid  bonds shall transfer moneys sufficient for the scheduled debt ser-
17        vice payment to its paying agent at least  fifteen (15)  days  before  any
18        principal or interest payment date for the bonds.
19        (b)  The  paying  agent may, if instructed to do so by the superintendent,
20        invest the moneys at the risk and for the benefit of the board  until  the
21        payment date.
22        (c)  A superintendent who is unable to transfer the scheduled debt service
23        payment  to  the  paying  agent  fifteen (15) days before the payment date
24        shall immediately notify the paying agent and the state treasurer by:
25             (i)   Telephone;
26             (ii)  A writing sent by facsimile transmission; and
27             (iii) A writing sent by first-class United States mail.
28        (2)  If sufficient funds are  not  transferred  to  the  paying  agent  as
29    required  by subsection (1) of this section, the paying agent shall notify the
30    state treasurer of that failure in writing at least ten (10) days  before  the
31    scheduled debt service payment date by:
32        (a)  Telephone;
33        (b)  A writing sent by facsimile transmission; and
34        (c)  A writing sent by first-class United States mail.
35        (3)  (a)  If  sufficient  moneys to pay the scheduled debt service payment
36        have not been transferred to the paying agent, the state treasurer  shall,
37        on or before the scheduled payment date, transfer sufficient moneys to the
38        paying agent to make the scheduled debt service payment.
39        (b)  The payment by the treasurer:
40             (i)  Discharges  the obligation of the issuing board to its bondhold-
41             ers for the payment; and
42             (ii) Transfers the rights represented by the  general  obligation  of
43             the board from the bondholders to the state.
44        (c)  The  board  shall pay the transferred obligation to the state as pro-
45        vided in this chapter.

46        33-5307.  STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INTERCEPT MECHANISM  --  STATE  TREA-
47    SURER DUTIES -- INTEREST AND PENALTY PROVISIONS.
48        (1)  (a)  If one (1) or more payments on bonds are made by the state trea-
49        surer as provided in this chapter, the state treasurer shall:
50             (i)  Immediately intercept any payments from the public school perma-
51             nent  endowment  fund   or  from any other source of operating moneys
52             provided by the state to the board that issued the bonds  that  would
53             otherwise be paid to the board by the state; and


                                          5

 1             (ii) Apply  the  intercepted payments to reimburse the state for pay-
 2             ments made pursuant to the state's guaranty until all obligations  of
 3             the  board to the state arising from those payments, including inter-
 4             est and penalties, are paid in full.
 5        (b)  The state has no obligation to the  district  or  to  any  person  or
 6        entity  to replace any moneys intercepted under the authority of this sub-
 7        section.
 8        (2)  The school district that issued bonds for which the  state  has  made
 9    all or part of a debt service payment shall:
10        (a)  Reimburse all moneys drawn by the state treasurer on its behalf;
11        (b)  Pay  interest  to  the state on all moneys paid by the state from the
12        date the moneys drawn to the date they are repaid at a rate not less  than
13        the  average  prime  rate for national money center banks plus one percent
14        (1%); and
15        (c)  Pay all penalties required by this chapter.
16        (3)  (a)  The state treasurer shall establish the  reimbursement  interest
17        rate  after  considering  the circumstances of any prior draws by the dis-
18        trict on the state, market interest and penalty rates,  and  the  cost  of
19        funds, if any, that were required to be borrowed by the state to make pay-
20        ments on the bonds.
21        (b)  The  state  treasurer may, after considering the circumstances giving
22        rise to the failure of the board to make payment on its bonds in a  timely
23        manner,  impose  on the board a penalty of not more than five percent (5%)
24        of the amount paid by the state pursuant to its guaranty for each instance
25        in which a payment by the state is made.
26        (4)  (a)  (i)  If the state treasurer  determines  that  amounts  obtained
27             under  this  section  will not reimburse the state in full within one
28             (1) year from the state's payment of a district's scheduled debt ser-
29             vice payment, the state treasurer  shall  pursue  any  legal  action,
30             including  mandamus,  against the district and its board to compel it
31             to:
32                  1.  Levy and provide tax revenues to pay  debt  service  on  its
33                  bonds when due; and
34                  2.  Meet its repayment obligations to the state.
35             (ii) In  pursuing  its rights under paragraph (a) of this subsection,
36             the state shall have the same substantive and  procedural  rights  as
37             would a holder of the bonds of a school district.
38        (b)  The  attorney  general  shall  assist  the  state  treasurer in these
39        duties.
40        (c)  The school district shall pay  the  attorney's  fees,  expenses,  and
41        costs of the state treasurer and the attorney general.
42        (5)  (a)  Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, any dis-
43        trict  whose  operating  funds  were  intercepted  under  this section may
44        replace those funds from other district moneys  or  from  property  taxes,
45        subject to the limitations provided in this subsection.
46        (b)  A  district may use  property taxes or other moneys to replace inter-
47        cepted funds only if the property taxes or other moneys were derived from:
48             (i)   Taxes originally levied to make the payment but which were  not
49             timely received by the district;
50             (ii)  Taxes  from a supplemental levy made to make the missed payment
51             or to replace the intercepted moneys;
52             (iii) Moneys transferred from  the undistributed reserve, if any,  of
53             the district; or
54             (iv)  Any other source of money on hand and legally available.
55        (c)  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this sub-


                                          6

 1        section,  a  district  may  not replace operating funds intercepted by the
 2        state with moneys collected and held to make payments  on  bonds  if  that
 3        replacement would divert moneys from the payment of future debt service on
 4        the  bonds and increase the risk that the state's guaranty would be called
 5        upon a second time.

 6        33-5308.  BACKUP LIQUIDITY ARRANGEMENTS -- ISSUANCE OF NOTES.
 7        (1) (a)  If, at the time the state is required to make a debt service pay-
 8        ment under its guaranty on behalf of a school district, sufficient  moneys
 9        of  the  state  are  not on hand and available for that purpose, the state
10        treasurer may:
11             (i)  Seek a loan from the public school guarantee fund sufficient  to
12             make the required payment; or
13             (ii) Issue state notes as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
14        (b)  Nothing  in  this  subsection  requires  the  public school permanent
15        endowment fund to lend moneys to the state treasurer.
16        (c)  Each series of notes issued may not mature  later  than  twelve  (12)
17        months  from the date the notes are issued, or the end of the fiscal year,
18        whichever is sooner.
19        (d)  Notes issued may be refunded using the procedures set forth  in  this
20        chapter  for  the issuance of notes, in an amount not more than the amount
21        necessary to pay principal of  an  accrued  but  unpaid  interest  on  any
22        refunded  notes  plus  all  costs  of  issuance,  sale and delivery of the
23        refunding notes, rounded up to the nearest natural multiple of  five thou-
24        sand dollars ($5,000).
25        (e)  Each series of refunding notes may not mature later than twelve  (12)
26        months  from  the  date  the refunding notes are issued, or the end of the
27        fiscal year, whichever is sooner.
28        (2) (a)  Before issuing or selling any note to other than a state fund  or
29        account, the state treasurer shall:
30             (i)  Prepare a written plan of financing; and
31             (ii) File it with the governor.
32        (b)  The plan of financing shall provide for:
33             (i)   The  terms and conditions under which the notes will be issued,
34             sold and delivered;
35             (ii)  The taxes or revenues to be anticipated;
36             (iii) The maximum amount of notes that may be outstanding at any  one
37             (1) time under the plan of financing;
38             (iv)  The sources of payment of the notes;
39             (v)   The  rate  or  rates  of  interest,  if  any, on the notes or a
40             method, formula or index under which the interest rate  or  rates  on
41             the  notes  may be determined during the time the notes are outstand-
42             ing; and
43             (vi)  All other details relating to the issuance, sale  and  delivery
44             of the notes.
45        (c)  In  identifying  the  taxes  or  revenues  to  be anticipated and the
46        sources of payment of the notes in the financing plan, the state treasurer
47        may include:
48             (i)   The taxes authorized by this chapter;
49             (ii)  The intercepted revenues authorized by this chapter;
50             (iii) The proceeds of refunding notes; or
51             (iv)  Any combination of subparagraphs (i), (ii) and  (iii)  of  this
52             paragraph.
53        (d)  The  state  treasurer  may include in the plan of financing the terms
54        and conditions of arrangements entered into  by  the  state  treasurer  on


                                          7

 1        behalf  of  the state with financial and other institutions for letters of
 2        credit,  standby  letters  of  credit,   reimbursement   agreements,   and
 3        remarketing, indexing and tender agreements to secure the notes, including
 4        payment  from  any  legally  available  source  of  fees, charges or other
 5        amounts coming due under the agreements entered into by  the  state  trea-
 6        surer.
 7        (e)  When issuing the notes, the state treasurer shall issue an order set-
 8        ting  forth  the  interest,  form, manner of execution, payment, manner of
 9        sale, prices at, or below face value, and all details of issuance  of  the
10        notes.
11        (f)  The  order  and the details set forth in the order shall conform with
12        any applicable plan of financing and with this chapter.
13        (g)  (i)  Each note shall recite that it is  a  valid  obligation  of  the
14             state and that the full faith, credit, and resources of the state are
15             pledged  for the payment of the principal of and interest on the note
16             from the taxes or revenues identified in accordance  with  its  terms
17             and the constitution and laws of Idaho.
18             (ii) These  general  obligation  notes  do not constitute debt of the
19             state for the purposes of the debt limitation of section  1,  article
20             VIII, of the constitution of the state of Idaho.
21        (h)  Immediately upon the completion of any sale of notes, the state trea-
22        surer shall:
23             (i)  Make  a  verified  return  of  the sale to the state controller,
24             specifying the amount of notes sold, the persons to  whom  the  notes
25             were sold, and the price, terms and conditions of the sale; and
26             (ii) Credit the proceeds of the sale, other than accrued interest and
27             amounts  required  to pay costs of issuance of the notes, to the gen-
28             eral fund to be applied to the  purpose  for  which  the  notes  were
29             issued.

30        33-5309.  UNLIMITED  SALES  TAX  ACCOUNT  PLEDGE  --  STATE TAX COMMISSION
31    DUTIES.
32        (1)  (a)  In each year after the  issuance  of  general  obligation  notes
33        under  this  chapter  and  until  all outstanding notes are retired, there
34        shall be transferred from the state sales tax account pursuant to  section
35        63-3638,  Idaho  Code,  an  amount  sufficient to pay all principal of and
36        interest on the general obligation notes as they become due.
37        (b)  If moneys expected to be intercepted under  this chapter are expected
38        to be insufficient to reimburse the state for its payments of school  dis-
39        tricts'  scheduled  debt service payments or it is necessary for the state
40        treasurer to borrow as provided in this chapter  and amounts to be  inter-
41        cepted  under  this  chapter are expected to be insufficient to timely pay
42        the general obligation notes issued or other  borrowing  undertaken  under
43        that  section, the state treasurer shall certify to and give notice to the
44        state tax commission of the amount of the deficiency.
45        (c)  After receipt of that certified notice from the state treasurer,  the
46        state tax commission shall:
47             (i)  Immediately  fix  the amount necessary and  in the amount of the
48             deficiency stated in the notice; and
49             (ii) Cause moneys to be transferred from the state sales tax  account
50             pursuant  to section 63-3638, Idaho Code, and deposited in the public
51             school guarantee fund which is hereby statutorily created.
52        (2)  To the extent that other legally available revenues and funds of  the
53    state  are sufficient to meet the certified deficiency, the moneys transferred
54    from the sales tax account in section 63-3638, Idaho Code, is abated.


                                          8

 1        33-5310.  WHEN  CREDIT  ENHANCEMENT  PROGRAM  TAKES  EFFECT.  The   credit
 2    enhancement  program  for  school district bonds and loans pursuant thereto as
 3    provided in section 57-728, Idaho Code, shall take effect if the  state  trea-
 4    surer  certifies that moneys from the sales tax account or from the provisions
 5    of this chapter are insufficient to pay the principal of and interest  on  the
 6    general  obligation notes issued  pursuant to section 33-5308, Idaho Code, and
 7    due and payable,  and so notifies the endowment fund investment board in writ-
 8    ing.

 9        SECTION 2.  That Section 63-3638, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
10    amended to read as follows:

11        63-3638.  SALES TAX -- DISTRIBUTION. All moneys collected under this chap-
12    ter, except as may otherwise be required in section 63-3203, Idaho Code, shall
13    be distributed by the tax commission as follows:
14        (a)  An  amount  of money shall be distributed to the state refund account
15    sufficient to pay current refund claims. All  refunds  authorized  under  this
16    chapter  by the commission shall be paid through the state refund account, and
17    those moneys are continuously appropriated.
18        (b)  Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000)  per  year  is  continuously
19    appropriated  and shall be distributed to the permanent building account, pro-
20    vided by section 57-1108, Idaho Code.
21        (c)  Four million eight hundred thousand dollars ($4,800,000) per year  is
22    continuously appropriated and shall be distributed to the water pollution con-
23    trol account established by section 39-3605, Idaho Code.
24        (d)  (1) An amount equal to the sum required to be certified by the chair-
25        man  of the Idaho housing and finance association to the state tax commis-
26        sion pursuant to section 67-6211, Idaho Code, in each year is continuously
27        appropriated and shall be paid to any capital reserve fund, established by
28        the Idaho housing and finance association  pursuant  to  section  67-6211,
29        Idaho  Code. Such amounts, if any, as may be appropriated hereunder to the
30        capital reserve fund of the Idaho housing and finance association shall be
31        repaid for distribution under the provisions of this section,  subject  to
32        the  provisions  of  section 67-6215, Idaho Code, by the Idaho housing and
33        finance association, as soon as possible, from any moneys available there-
34        for and in excess of the amounts which  the  association  determines  will
35        keep it self-supporting.
36        (2)  An  amount  equal  to  the  sum required by the provisions of section
37        63-709, Idaho Code, is continuously appropriated and shall be paid as pro-
38        vided by section 63-709, Idaho Code.
39         (3)  An amount required by the provisions of chapter 53,  title  33,
40        Idaho Code. 
41        (e)  Six  percent  (6%)  is  hereby  appropriated and shall be paid to the
42    county treasurer of each county in amounts to be determined as follows:
43        (1)  Each taxing district other than school districts shall be entitled to
44        a base share of sales tax moneys equal to the amount distributed  to  that
45        district  for  the  fourth calendar quarter of 1979. The computation shall
46        not include any distributions made to the  credit  of  either  the  former
47        county school levy or the state water pollution control levy. The percent-
48        age  so  determined for each taxing district shall be applied each quarter
49        to the above percentage of sales tax. The resulting sums shall be paid  to
50        the  county  treasurer of each county for distribution to each taxing dis-
51        trict, except school districts, which received sales tax moneys  in  1979.
52        Whenever a taxing district is dissolved, the dissolved district's share of
53        sales  moneys shall be credited continuously to the county current expense


                                          9

 1        fund.
 2        (2)  Whenever the amount of nonschool district sales tax  moneys  distrib-
 3        uted exceeds in any quarter the total amount of moneys distributed to non-
 4        school  districts for the base quarter, which is the fourth calendar quar-
 5        ter of 1979, by ten percent (10%), or more, the excess of the base quarter
 6        shall be paid to the county treasurer of each county for  distribution  to
 7        each  taxing  district in the county, except school districts, in the fol-
 8        lowing manner.
 9             The state tax commission shall compute the percentage that the  aver-
10        age  amount  of  taxes collected from assessments for the years 1965, 1966
11        and 1967 on the personal property described as business inventory in  sub-
12        sections (1) and (2) of section 63-602W, Idaho Code, for each county bears
13        to  the  average total amount of taxes collected from assessments for said
14        years on the personal property described as business inventory in  subsec-
15        tions  (1) and (2) of section 63-602W, Idaho Code, for all counties in the
16        state. The percentage so determined for each county shall  be  applied  to
17        the  sales  tax  distributed  under  this subsection and the resulting sum
18        shall be paid to the county treasurer of each county for  distribution  to
19        each taxing district, except school districts, in the county as follows:
20             (i)   Each  year  the  county commissioners in each county shall take
21             the tax charge, applicable to the current property roll equalized  by
22             county commissioners sitting as a board of equalization, of each tax-
23             ing  district  within the county, except school districts, and divide
24             it by the total current tax charges applicable to the  current  prop-
25             erty  roll  of  all taxing districts, except school districts, within
26             said county and the resulting percentages shall  be  applied  to  the
27             county's  proportionate  share  of  said  sales  tax  account and the
28             resulting amount shall be distributed to each taxing district in  the
29             county  periodically  but  not  less frequently than quarterly by the
30             county auditor and applied by such taxing districts in the same  man-
31             ner and in the same proportions as revenues from property taxation.
32             (ii)  The  moneys  set aside and appropriated to the county treasurer
33             out of the sales tax account above may be considered by the  counties
34             and  other taxing districts and budgeted against at the same time, in
35             the same manner and in the same year as revenues from taxation on all
36             classes of personal property which these moneys replace.
37        (3)  All moneys distributed pursuant to subsection (e) shall be subject to
38        the redistribution provisions of section 40-801, Idaho Code, where  appli-
39        cable.
40        (f)  One  dollar ($1.00) on each application for certificate of title to a
41    motor vehicle, or initial application for registration processed by the county
42    assessor or the Idaho transportation department excepting  those  applications
43    in  which  any  sales  or  use  taxes  due have been previously collected by a
44    retailer, shall be a fee for the services of the assessor of the county or the
45    Idaho transportation department in collecting such taxes, and  shall  be  paid
46    into  the  current  expense fund of the county or state highway account estab-
47    lished in section 40-702, Idaho Code.
48        (g)  Seven and three-quarters percent (7.75%) is continuously appropriated
49    and shall be distributed to the revenue sharing account which  is  created  in
50    the  state  operating fund, and the moneys in the revenue sharing account will
51    be paid by the tax commission as follows:
52        (1)  One-half (1/2) shall be paid to the various cities as follows:
53             (i)   Fifty percent (50%) of such amount shall be paid to the various
54             cities, and each city shall be entitled to an amount in  the  propor-
55             tion  that the population of that city bears to the population of all


                                          10

 1             cities within the state; and
 2             (ii)  Fifty percent (50%) of such amount shall be paid to the various
 3             cities, and each city shall be entitled to an amount in  the  propor-
 4             tion  that  the preceding year's market value for assessment purposes
 5             for that city bears to the preceding year's market value for  assess-
 6             ment purposes for all cities within the state.
 7        (2)  One-half (1/2) shall be paid to the state's general account or to the
 8        various counties as follows:
 9             (i)   One  million three hundred twenty thousand dollars ($1,320,000)
10             shall be distributed one forty-fourth (1/44) to each of  the  various
11             counties; and
12             (ii)  The  balance  of such amount shall be paid to the various coun-
13             ties, and each county shall be entitled to an amount in  the  propor-
14             tion  that  the  population of that county bears to the population of
15             the state.
16        (h)  Any moneys remaining over and  above  those  necessary  to  meet  and
17    reserve for payments under other subsections of this section shall be distrib-
18    uted to the general account.

19        SECTION  3.  That  Chapter  7,  Title  57, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
20    hereby amended by the addition thereto of a  NEW SECTION  ,  to  be
21    known and designated as Section 57-728, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

22        57-728.  CREDIT  ENHANCEMENT  PROGRAM  FOR  SCHOOL DISTRICT BONDS. (1) The
23    endowment fund investment board shall administer a school district bond credit
24    enhancement program in accordance with this section and  in  conjunction  with
25    chapter  53,  title  33, Idaho Code, and may promulgate rules to implement it.
26    This program applies to voter approved bonds issued by school  districts.  The
27    program  is intended to benefit school districts by purchasing notes issued by
28    the state of Idaho, whereby the state may guarantee payment of school district
29    bonded indebtedness in order to avoid an imminent  default,   providing  lower
30    interest rates  at which the bonds may be issued.
31        (2)  A  school  district that seeks the guarantee of bonds under this pro-
32    gram shall apply to the state treasurer pursuant  to  section  33-5304,  Idaho
33    Code.  The  state  treasurer  shall  transmit all approved applications to the
34    board. The board may challenge an approved application within three (3)  busi-
35    ness days of their receipt of the same. If no challenge is issued within three
36    (3)  business  days  the application shall be deemed approved by the board. In
37    the event of a challenge in writing to the state treasurer, the treasurer  and
38    the  board shall have ten (10) business days to mutually approve  the applica-
39    tion. If after a challenge by the  board,  the  application  is  not  mutually
40    approved  within  the  ten (10) business days, the application shall be deemed
41    rejected. Nothing contained herein  shall  prohibit  a  school  district  from
42    reapplying following a rejected application.
43        (3)  Upon  approval  of the credit enhancement program under this section,
44    the following shall be in effect in  the  event  moneys  from  the  sales  tax
45    account  or  from  the provisions of section 33-5309, Idaho Code, are insuffi-
46    cient to pay the principal of and interest on the notes issued  by  the  state
47    pursuant to section 33-5308, Idaho Code, the endowment fund shall purchase new
48    notes from the state, in accordance with section 33-5308, Idaho Code, the pro-
49    ceeds of which shall be sufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on
50    the original notes as they become due pursuant to section 33-5308, Idaho Code.
51    The new notes shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
52        (a)  The  notes  shall bear interest at a rate equal to an annual rate ten
53        percent (10%) higher than the average interest earned on  the  investments


                                          11

 1        of  the  public  school  permanent endowment fund in the four (4) calendar
 2        quarters preceding the quarter in which the loan occurred and if this fig-
 3        ure is not equal to the percentage return of the fund's  highest  category
 4        of  investments  in its portfolio, then the interest rate shall equal that
 5        percentage return on investment, plus all additional administrative  costs
 6        related to these investments;
 7        (b)  The notes, including principal and interest, shall be repaid from the
 8        district's  next  payments pursuant to chapter 8, title 33, Idaho Code, as
 9        collected by the state treasurer;
10        (c) The state may make additional payments on the note;
11        (d)  The endowment fund investment board may require the  state  treasurer
12        to  compel the school district to modify its fiscal practices and its gen-
13        eral operations if the board determines that there is a substantial  like-
14        lihood that the district will not be able to make future payments required
15        under this section.
16        (4)  The  provisions of this section shall not be deemed to interfere with
17    the state treasurer's ability in chapter 53, title 33, Idaho Code,  to  obtain
18    repayment of a delinquent obligation.
19        (5)  For  purposes  of  administering  the provisions of this section, the
20    board shall make available the sum of at least  one  hundred  million  dollars
21    ($100,000,000)  from  the public school permanent endowment fund, for purposes
22    of purchasing notes as authorized by this section.

23        SECTION 4.  An emergency existing  therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
24    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
25    passage and approval.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                         STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                                    
                              RS 09120C1
                                    
 The purpose of this proposed legislation is to enact "the Idaho
 School Bond Guaranty Act." There are similar mechanisms in place
 in other states which guarantee the debt of school districts for
 building new classroom facilities. This allows the districts to
 get lower interest rates and thereby reduces costs to property
 taxpayers. This also may serve as an additional incentive for the
 local voters to pass bond issues. This legislation is companion
 legislation to the constitutional amendment that was
 overwhelmingly adopted by the voters of Idaho in November 1998.
 The mechanism for guarantee of payment is the state sales tax
 account and the Public School Permanent Endowment Fund. If a
 district does default and the state is required to step in, the
 state shall intercept the school foundation support moneys or take
 other legal action against the district to recover moneys expended
 for the guarantee to the bondholders.
 
 
                              FISCAL NOTE
                                   
                                    This mechanism is intended to have a negative fiscal impact by
 saving Idaho property taxpayers money by reducing interest rates.
 
 
 CONTACT: Senator John Sandy
 Office 332-1305
           
 
 
 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE
 S1236