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H0179.........................................by TRANSPORTATION AND DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION - Adds to and amends existing law to provide that the Idaho Housing and Finance Association may issue bonds or notes to finance transportation projects that have been approved and recommended by the Idaho Transportation Board and the germane transportation committees of the Legislature; and to provide for repayment of the bonds, interest and related costs using federal highway funds allocated annually to the state of Idaho. 02/11 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing 02/14 Rpt prt - to Transp
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]] Fifty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session - 2005IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 179 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DEFENSE COMMITTEE 1 AN ACT 2 RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION PROJECT FINANCING; AMENDING CHAPTER 3, TITLE 40, 3 IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 40-315, IDAHO CODE, TO SET 4 FORTH POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE IDAHO TRANSPORTATION BOARD RELATING TO 5 FEDERALLY-FUNDED HIGHWAY PROJECT FINANCING; AMENDING SECTION 40-702, IDAHO 6 CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE HIGHWAY ACCOUNT SHALL INCLUDE CERTAIN FED- 7 ERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS; AMENDING SECTION 40-707, IDAHO CODE, TO 8 PROVIDE FOR APPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION MONEYS IN THE 9 STATE HIGHWAY ACCOUNT; AMENDING SECTION 67-6201, IDAHO CODE, TO EXPAND THE 10 PURPOSE OF THE IDAHO HOUSING AND FINANCE ASSOCIATION AND TO MAKE A TECHNI- 11 CAL CORRECTION; AMENDING SECTION 67-6205, IDAHO CODE, TO DEFINE THE TERMS 12 "MUNICIPALITY," "STATE," "STATE BODY," "TRANSPORTATION BOARD," 13 "TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT" AND "TRANSPORTATION PROJECT"; AMENDING SECTION 14 67-6206, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL POWERS OF THE IDAHO HOUSING AND 15 FINANCE ASSOCIATION; AMENDING CHAPTER 62, TITLE 67, IDAHO CODE, BY THE 16 ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 67-6206A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR COOPERATION 17 WITH MUNICIPALITIES OR STATE BODIES FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS; AMENDING 18 SECTION 67-6210, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT IDAHO TRANSPORTATION BOARD 19 AND LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL AND LOCAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING NOTES OR BONDS OR 20 ANY ISSUE THEREOF MAY CONTAIN PROVISIONS WHICH SHALL BE PART OF A CON- 21 TRACT, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ASSOCIATION SHALL NOT ISSUE BONDS OR NOTES TO 22 FINANCE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS UNLESS CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET AND TO 23 PLACE LIMITS ON REISSUE OF BONDS AND NOTES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 25 SECTION 1. That Chapter 3, Title 40, Idaho Code, be, and the same is 26 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des- 27 ignated as Section 40-315, Idaho Code, and to read as follows: 28 40-315. POWERS AND DUTIES -- FEDERALLY-FUNDED HIGHWAY PROJECT FINANCING. 29 In order to address the increasing need for timely improvements to Idaho's 30 highway transportation infrastructure, the board may: 31 (1) Enter into agreements with the Idaho housing and finance association 32 in connection with the funding of highway transportation projects qualifying 33 for reimbursement from federal funds. 34 (2) Approve and recommend federal highway transportation projects to the 35 Idaho housing and finance association for financing by the association. 36 (3) Prior to issuance by the Idaho housing and finance association of any 37 bonds or notes to finance highway transportation projects, certify to the 38 association that sufficient federal transportation funds are available to make 39 any payments required for such bonds or notes. The board shall limit debt ser- 40 vice on federally-funded highway project financing to twenty percent (20%) of 41 anticipated annual revenues from federal transportation funds. 42 (4) Prior to issuance by the Idaho housing and finance association of any 43 bonds or notes to finance highway transportation projects, the board shall 2 1 present the project-specific proposal to a joint meeting of the house trans- 2 portation and defense committee and the senate transportation committee of the 3 legislature for approval. With a quorum from each committee in attendance, 4 during a regular legislative session or a special joint meeting of the two (2) 5 germane transportation committees called specifically for said purpose, legis- 6 lative approval shall be by a majority of votes cast by each committee in 7 favor of a motion supporting the project-specific proposal of the Idaho trans- 8 portation board and the Idaho housing and finance association. 9 (5) No issue of bonds or notes by the Idaho housing and finance associa- 10 tion shall be reissued, extended, rewritten, or in any way altered from the 11 original issue unless both the board and the germane committees of the legis- 12 lature have approved the action as provided in this section. 13 SECTION 2. That Section 40-702, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 14 amended to read as follows: 15 40-702. STATE HIGHWAY ACCOUNT -- ESTABLISHMENT. For the purpose of carry- 16 ing out the provisions of this title, there is established in the dedicated 17 fund of the state treasury an account to be known as the state highway 18 account, which account shall include: 19 (1) All moneys received by the state treasurer for deposit to the state 20 highway account. 21 (2) All fines, penalties and forfeitures incurred and collected for 22 violations of the provisions of this title, except as otherwise provided. 23 (3) All donations to the state from any source for the construction and 24 improvement of highways. 25 (4) All moneys received from local boards under joint contracts for the 26 construction of state highways. 27 (5) All federal surface transportation funds received from the U.S. gov- 28 ernment including, but not limited to, funds received pursuant to chapter 1 of 29 title 23, United States Code, for the national highway systems program, the 30 surface transportation program, the highway bridge program, the minimum guar- 31 antee program, the federal lands highway program and other similar programs 32 under successor laws. 33 (6) Other moneys which may be provided by law for the construction and 34 improvement of state highways. 35 (67) Interest earned on the investment of idle moneys in the state high- 36 way account shall be paid to the state highway account. 37 SECTION 3. That Section 40-707, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 38 amended to read as follows: 39 40-707. APPROPRIATION OF MONEYS IN STATE HIGHWAY ACCOUNT. (1) From fed- 40 eral funds in the state highway account, there are hereby continually allo- 41 cated and appropriated first such amounts as from time to time shall be certi- 42 fied by the Idaho housing and finance association as necessary for payment of 43 principal, interest and other amounts required for transportation bonds or 44 notes of the Idaho housing and finance association in accordance with chapter 45 62, title 67, Idaho Code, which amounts shall be paid over as directed by the 46 association. Federal funds remaining in the state highway account not needed 47 for such bonds or notes shall then be applied as set forth in subsection (2) 48 of this section. Any proceeds of the transportation bonds or notes issued by 49 the Idaho housing and finance association which are paid over to the depart- 50 ment or the board are hereby continuously appropriated for the transportation 51 projects approved and recommended by the board, subject to approval of the 3 1 legislature as provided in section 40-315, Idaho Code. 2 (2) One-half of one percent (.5%) of the moneys in the state highway 3 account may be utilized to encourage the use of recycled materials including, 4 but not limited to, recycled glass, reclaimed asphalt, asphalt containing 5 recycled plastic, recycled rubber tires and paper in highway construction and 6 maintenance projects. All other moneys at any time in the state highway 7 account, except those as are otherwise required by law to be placed in the 8 state highway redemption account, are hereby appropriated for the purpose of 9 defraying the expenses, debts and costs incurred in carrying out the powers 10 and duties of the highway board as provided by law, and for defraying adminis- 11 trative expenses of the department, including salaries of the board, the sal- 12 ary of the director, and salaries and wages of employees of the department and 13 board and expenses for traveling. Communication supplies, equipment, fixed 14 charges and all other necessary expenses of the department and board, not 15 otherwise provided for and all claims against the state highway account shall 16 be examined by the department and certified to the state controller, who 17 shall, upon approval of the board of examiners, draw his warrant against the 18 state highway account for all bills and claims allowed by the board. 19 SECTION 4. That Section 67-6201, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 20 amended to read as follows: 21 67-6201. PURPOSE. It is hereby declared: 22 (a) That within the state there is a shortage of safe or sanitary dwell- 23 ing accommodations available which persons of low incomes can afford and that 24 such persons are forced to occupy overcrowded and congested dwelling accommo- 25 dations; that the aforesaid conditions cause an increase in and spread of dis- 26 ease and crime, and constitute a menace to the health, safety, morals and wel- 27 fare of the residents of the state and impair economic values; that these con- 28 ditions necessitate excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public 29 funds for crime prevention and punishment, public health and safety, fire and 30 accident protection, and other public services and facilities. 31 (b) That private enterprise has not been able to provide, without assis- 32 tance, an adequate supply of safe and sanitary dwellings at prices or rents 33 which persons and families of low income can afford, or to achieve rehabilita- 34 tion of much of the present low-income housing. It is imperative that the sup- 35 ply of housing for persons and families of low income be increased and that 36 coordination and cooperation among private enterprise, state and local govern- 37 ment be encouraged to sponsor, build and rehabilitate residential housing for 38 such persons and families. 39 (c) That the clearance, replanning and reconstruction of the areas in 40 which unsanitary or unsafe housing conditions exist, and the providing of safe 41 and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low incomes (which 42 dwelling-accommodations need not be solely for persons of low incomes in order 43 to avoid concentrations of such persons in specific localities), are public 44 uses, and uses and purposes for which public money may be spent and private 45 property acquired, and are governmental functions. 46 (d) It is also declared and the legislature hereby finds that charitable, 47 educational, human service, cultural and other purposes pursued by nonprofit 48 corporations are important public functions and public purposes that should be 49 encouraged and that financing of nonprofit facilities for these purposes 50 should be encouraged, without using state funds or lending the credit of the 51 state, through the issuance of nonrecourse revenue bonds and the lending of 52 the proceeds thereof to nonprofit corporations to promote their purposes. 53 (e) It is further declared that in this state: 4 1 (1) There exists an inadequate supply of funds at interest rates suffi- 2 ciently low to enable persons engaged in agriculture in this state, par- 3 ticularly beginning farmers and ranchers, to pursue agricultural opera- 4 tions at present levels; 5 (2) That such inability to pursue agricultural operationslessensreduces 6 the supply of agricultural commodities available to fulfill the needs of 7 the citizens of this state; 8 (3) That such inability to continue operations decreases available 9 employment in the agricultural sector of the state and results in unem- 10 ployment and its attendant problems; 11 (4) That such conditions prevent the acquisition of an adequate capital 12 stock of farm and ranch equipment and machinery, therefore impairing the 13 productivity of agricultural land; 14 (5) That such conditions are conducive to consolidation of acreage of 15 agricultural land with fewer individuals living and farming and ranching 16 on the traditional family farm and ranch; 17 (6) That these conditions result in a loss in population, unemployment 18 and movement of persons from rural to urban areas accompanied by added 19 costs to communities for creation of new public facilities and services; 20 (7) That there have been recurrent shortages of funds from private market 21 sources at reasonable rates of interest; 22 (8) That these shortages have made the sale and purchase of agricultural 23 land to beginning farmers and ranchers a virtual impossibility in many 24 parts of the state; 25 (9) That the ordinary operations of private enterprise have not in the 26 past corrected these conditions; and 27 (10) That a stable supply of adequate funds for agricultural financing is 28 required to encourage beginning farmers and ranchers in an orderly and 29 sustained manner and to reduce the problems described herein. 30 (f) It is hereby further declared that: 31 (1) The growth of the economy of this state has prompted new and ever- 32 increasing uses of public highways, roads, and other transportation infra- 33 structure, and that the existing transportation infrastructure of this 34 state and its municipalities cannot adequately accommodate such greatly 35 increased uses; 36 (2) One (1) of the major concerns of the citizens of this state is the 37 ability of the state and its municipalities to address the long-term 38 transportation infrastructure needs of this state and its municipalities 39 that are critical to the continued growth of the state's economy and the 40 maintenance of citizens' quality of life; 41 (3) Utilizing bonds or notes to finance projects for transportation in- 42 frastructure results in significant cost savings to the state and its 43 municipalities, since such transportation projects can be completed at 44 present day costs and at an accelerated pace, but such bonds and notes 45 need to be issued promptly in order to realize these cost savings; and 46 (4) It is reasonable and necessary to utilize such bonds or notes for the 47 financing of transportation projects which meet criteria for advancing a 48 substantial statewide interest. To safeguard substantial statewide inter- 49 est, such interest shall be determined by the affirmative action of the 50 legislature pursuant to section 40-315, Idaho Code. To safeguard substan- 51 tial jurisdictional interest at the local level, such interest shall be 52 determined by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of any local governing body 53 larger than three (3) members, or by unanimous approval in the case of a 54 three (3) member governing body, voting on a resolution or ordinance in 55 support of a transportation infrastructure project. 5 1 (g) It is hereby further declared that all of the foregoing are public 2 purposes and uses for which public moneys may be borrowed, expended or granted 3 and that such activities are governmental functions and serve a public purpose 4 in improving or otherwise benefiting the people of this state; that the neces- 5 sity of enacting the provisions hereinafter set forth is in the public inter- 6 est and is hereby so declared as a matter of express legislative determina- 7 tion. 8 SECTION 5. That Section 67-6205, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 9 amended to read as follows: 10 67-6205. DEFINITIONS. The following terms, wherever used or referred to 11 in this chapter, shall have the following respective meanings, unless a dif- 12 ferent meaning clearly appears from the context: 13 (a) "Association" or "housing association" shall mean the Idaho housing 14 and finance association created by section 67-6202, Idaho Code. 15 (b) "Housing project" shall mean any work or undertaking: 16 (1) To demolish, clear or remove buildings from any slum area; such work 17 or undertaking may embrace the adoption of such area to public purposes, 18 including parks or other recreational or community purposes; or 19 (2) To construct, sell, lease, finance, improve, operate or otherwise 20 provide decent, safe and sanitary urban or rural dwellings, apartments or 21 other living accommodations for persons of low income; such work or under- 22 taking may include buildings, land, equipment, facilities and other real 23 or personal property which are necessary, convenient or desirable appurte- 24 nances, such as, but not limited to, streets, sewers, water service, 25 parks, site preparation, gardening, administrative, community, health, 26 recreational, and welfare or other purposes; or 27 (3) To accomplish a combination of the foregoing. The term "housing proj- 28 ect" also may be applied to the planning of the buildings and improve- 29 ments, for either single or multi-family housing, the acquisition of prop- 30 erty, the demolition of existing structures, the construction, reconstruc- 31 tion, rehabilitation, alteration and repair of the buildings and improve- 32 ments and all other work in connection therewith. 33 (c) "Governing body" shall mean the city council, board of commissioners, 34 board of trustees or other body having charge of the locality in which the 35 association desires to undertake a housing project. 36 (d) "Federal government" shall include the United States of America, or 37 any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United 38 States of America. 39 (e) "City" shall mean any city in the state of Idaho, including each city 40 having a special charter. 41 (f) "County" or "counties" shall include all counties in the state of 42 Idaho as designated in chapter 1, title 31, Idaho Code. 43 (g) "Clerk" shall mean the clerk of the city or county as the case may be 44 or the officer charged with the duties customarily imposed on such clerk. 45 (h) "Area of operation" shall mean the state of Idaho. 46 (i) "Slum" shall mean any area where dwellings predominate which, by rea- 47 son of dilapidation, overcrowding, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary 48 facilities or any combination of these factors, are detrimental to safety, 49 health or morals. 50 (j) "Person of low-income" means persons deemed by the association, 51 including those defined as "elderly" in the United States Housing Act of 1937 52 [42 U.S.C., sec. 1437--1437dd], as amended, to require assistance available 53 under this act on account of insufficient personal or family income, to pay 6 1 the rents or carrying charges required by the unaided operation of private 2 enterprise in providing an adequate supply of decent, safe and sanitary hous- 3 ing and in making such determination the association shall take into consider- 4 ation, without limitation, such factors as: 5 (1) The amount of the total income of such persons available for housing 6 needs; 7 (2) The size of the family; 8 (3) The cost and condition of housing facilities available; 9 (4) Standards established for various federal programs determining eligi- 10 bility based on income of such persons; and 11 (5) The ability of such persons to compete successfully in the normal 12 housing market and to pay the amounts at which private enterprise is pro- 13 viding decent, safe and sanitary housing. 14 (k) "Bonds," "notes" or "bond anticipation notes," and "obligations" 15 shall mean any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures or other evi- 16 dences of financial indebtedness issued by the association pursuant to this 17 chapter. 18 (l) "Real property" shall include all lands, including improvements and 19 fixtures thereon, and property of any nature, appurtenant thereto, or used in 20 connection therewith, and every estate, interest and right, legal or equita- 21 ble, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage 22 or otherwise and the indebtedness secured by such liens. 23 (m) "Housing authority" or "authority" means a housing authority estab- 24 lished pursuant to the "housing authorities and cooperation law" constituting 25 chapter 19, title 50, Idaho Code. 26 (n) "Rent" shall mean the periodic payment made by a person of low-income 27 in a housing project whether such money is being used as rent, or for the 28 development of equity by such person. 29 (o) "Interim financing" means a short-term construction loan for planning 30 and/or development of residential housing for persons of low-income and other 31 persons which loan shall run until financing can be assumed through other fed- 32 eral, state or private financing. 33 (p) "Housing sponsor" means individuals, joint ventures, partnerships, 34 limited partnerships, public bodies, trusts, firms, associations, or other 35 legal entities or any combination thereof, and corporations, cooperatives, and 36 condominiums, approved by the association as qualified either to own, con- 37 struct, acquire, rehabilitate, operate, manage or maintain a housing project, 38 subject to the regulatory powers of the association and other terms and condi- 39 tions set forth in this chapter. A "housing sponsor" shall be either a 40 "limited profit" sponsor or a "nonprofit" sponsor. 41 (q) "Mortgage lender" means any bank or trust company, savings bank, 42 mortgage company, mortgage banker, credit union, national banking association, 43 savings and loan association, building and loan association, life insurance 44 company, and any other financial institution authorized to transact business 45 in the state. 46 (r) "Mortgage loan" means an interest-bearing obligation secured by a 47 deed of trust, a mortgage, bond, note, or other instrument which is a lien on 48 property in the state except in the case of loans insured by the federal hous- 49 ing administration or the association and which are made for the rehabilita- 50 tion or improvement of existing dwellings; in such case the loans need not be 51 secured by an instrument constituting a lien on property in the state. 52 (s) "Mixed income housing project" means a housing project which contains 53 dwellings occupied or to be occupied by persons of low-income constituting at 54 least twenty percent (20%) of such occupancy. 55 (t) "Facilities" means land, rights in land, buildings, structures, 7 1 equipment, landscaping, utilities, approaches, roadways and parking, handling 2 and storage areas, and portions of any of the foregoing and similar ancillary 3 facilities. 4 (u) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonprofit corporation organized and 5 operating in accordance with Idaho law or a nonprofit corporation organized 6 and operating in accordance with comparable laws within another state or ter- 7 ritory of the United States. 8 (v) "Nonprofit facilities" means facilities owned or used by a nonprofit 9 corporation for a nonprofit purpose of the corporation; provided that facili- 10 ties for health facilities which may be funded pursuant to chapter 14, title 11 39, Idaho Code, shall not be included in this definition, except for such 12 health facilities as may be specifically approved by the Idaho health facili- 13 ties authority. Facilities owned or used, consistent with its nonprofit pur- 14 pose, by a nonprofit corporation recognized by a state institution of higher 15 education as its college or university foundation shall be considered non- 16 profit facilities under this chapter. 17 (w) "Project costs of a nonprofit facility" means costs of: 18 (1) Acquisition, construction and improvement of any facilities included 19 in a nonprofit facility; 20 (2) Architectural, engineering, consulting, accounting and legal costs 21 related directly to the development, financing and construction of a non- 22 profit facility, including costs of studies assessing the feasibility of a 23 nonprofit facility; 24 (3) Finance costs, including discounts, if any, the costs of issuing 25 bonds, and costs incurred in carrying out any provisions thereof; 26 (4) Interest during construction and during the six (6) months after 27 estimated completion of construction, and capitalized debt service or 28 repair and replacement or other appropriate reserves; 29 (5) The refunding of any outstanding obligations incurred for any of the 30 costs outlined in this subsection; and 31 (6) Other costs incidental to any of the costs listed in this section. 32 (x) "Agricultural facility or facilities" means land, any building or 33 other improvement thereon or thereto, to be owned by a beginning farmer or 34 rancher and any personal properties deemed necessary or suitable for use, 35 whether or not now in existence in farming or ranching, the production of 36 agricultural commodities, including, without limitation, the products of aqua- 37 culture, hydroponics and silviculture, or the treating, processing or storing 38 of such agricultural commodities when such activities are customarily engaged 39 in by beginning farmers or ranchers as a part of farming or ranching. 40 (y) "Municipality" means any county, municipal corporation, highway dis- 41 trict, taxing district or other political subdivision of this state having 42 charge of the locality in which the association desires to undertake a trans- 43 portation project. 44 (z) "State" means the state of Idaho. 45 (aa) "State body" means any department, board, commission or agency of the 46 state of Idaho. 47 (bb) "Transportation board" means the Idaho transportation board and its 48 successors. 49 (cc) "Transportation department" means the Idaho transportation department 50 and its successors. 51 (dd) "Transportation project" means any transportation infrastructure 52 project including, without limitation, a road, street, parkway, right-of-way, 53 bridge, railroad crossing, drainage structure, sign, guardrail, structure, 54 interstate, surface, resurface, shoulder, roadside, or any other work, and any 55 planning development, management and construction related thereto, all as 8 1 approved or recommended to the association by the transportation board. 2 SECTION 6. That Section 67-6206, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 3 amended to read as follows: 4 67-6206. POWERS OF ASSOCIATION. The housing and finance association is an 5 independent public body corporate and politic, exercising public and essential 6 governmental functions, and having all the powers which are hereby declared to 7 be public purposes necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the 8 purposes and provisions of this act, including the following powers in addi- 9 tion to others herein granted: 10 (a) To sue and to be sued; to have a seal and to alter the same at pleas- 11 ure; to have perpetual succession; to make and execute contracts and other 12 instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the asso- 13 ciation; and to make and from time to time amend and repeal bylaws, rules, not 14 inconsistent with this act, to carry into effect the powers and purposes of 15 the association. 16 (b) To conduct its operations within any or all of the counties of the 17 state. 18 (c) To cooperate with housing authorities throughout Idaho in the devel- 19 opment of housing projects. 20 (d) To assign priorities for action and revise or modify said priorities 21 from time to time. 22 (e) To make and execute agreements, contracts and other instruments nec- 23 essary or convenient in the exercise of the powers and functions of the asso- 24 ciation under this act, including contracts with any housing sponsor, mortgage 25 lender, person, firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity; and 26 to include in any contract let in connection with a project, stipulations 27 requiring that the contractor and any subcontractors comply with requirements 28 as to minimum wages and maximum hours of labor, and comply with any conditions 29 which the federal government may have attached to its financial aid of the 30 project and to designate mortgage lenders to act for and in behalf of the 31 association, with respect to originating or servicing and processing mortgage 32 loans of the association, and to pay the reasonable value of service rendered 33 to the association by such mortgage lenders pursuant to contracts with mort- 34 gage lenders. 35 (f) To lease, sell, construct, finance, reconstruct, restore, rehabili- 36 tate, operate or rent any housing projects, nonprofit facilities or any dwell- 37 ings, houses, accommodations, lands, buildings, structures or facilities 38 embraced in any housing project or nonprofit facilities and, subject to the 39 limitations contained in this act, to establish and revise the rents or 40 charges therefor. 41 (g) To own, hold and improve real or personal property; to purchase, 42 lease, obtain options upon, acquire by gift, grant, bequest, devise, eminent 43 domain or otherwise, any real or personal property or any interest therein. 44 (h) To acquire any real property; to sell, lease, exchange, transfer, 45 assign, pledge or dispose of any real or personal property or any interest 46 therein. 47 (i) To insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal prop- 48 erty or operation of the association against any risks or hazards, and to pro- 49 cure or agree to the procurement of insurance or guarantees from the federal 50 government or other source for the payment or purchase of any bonds or parts 51 thereof issued by the association, including the power to pay for any such 52 insurance or guarantees. 53 (j) To invest any funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or any funds 9 1 not required for immediate disbursement, in property or securities in which a 2 bank, as defined in the "bank act," title 26, Idaho Code, may legally invest 3 funds including without limitation, to agree to purchase the obligations of 4 any federal, state or local government upon such conditions as the association 5 may determine to be prudent and in its best interest. 6 (k) Within its area of operation: to investigate into living, dwelling 7 and housing conditions and into the means and methods of improving such condi- 8 tions; to determine where slum areas exist or where there is a shortage of 9 adequate, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low-income; 10 to make studies and recommendations relating to the problem of clearing, 11 replanning and reconstruction of slum areas and the problem of providing 12 dwelling accommodations for persons of low-income, and to cooperate with the 13 city, the county, the state or any political subdivision thereof in action 14 taken in connection with such problems; and to engage in research, studies and 15 experimentation on the subject of housing. 16 (l) To participate in cooperative ventures with any agencies, organiza- 17 tions and individuals in order to undertake the provision of housing for per- 18 sons of low-income, to undertake the provision of nonprofit facilities or 19 agricultural facilities. 20 (m) To provide research and technical assistance to eligible agencies, 21 organizations and individuals eligible to develop low cost housing and to 22 research new low cost housing development and construction methods. 23 (n) To make and undertake commitments to make or participate in the mak- 24 ing of mortgage loans to persons of low-income and to housing sponsors, 25 including without limitation federally insured mortgage loans, and to make 26 temporary loans and advances in anticipation of permanent loans to housing 27 sponsors; said mortgage loans to housing sponsors shall be made to finance the 28 construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of housing projects for persons 29 of low-income, and/or mixed income housing projects upon the terms and condi- 30 tions set forth in this act; provided, however, that such loans shall be made 31 only upon the determination by the association that mortgage loans are not 32 otherwise available, wholly or in part, from private lenders upon reasonably 33 equivalent terms and conditions. 34 (o) To purchase, or make commitments to purchase or participate in the 35 purchase of mortgage loans from mortgage lenders which loans have been made 36 for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of housing projects for 37 persons of low-income and/or mixed income housing projects or loans which have 38 been made to persons of low-income for residential housing, upon terms set 39 forth in this act; provided, however, that any such purchase shall be made 40 only upon the determination by the association that the mortgage loans to be 41 made are not otherwise being made by mortgage lenders upon reasonably equiva- 42 lent terms and conditions. Also, to purchase, or make commitments to purchase 43 or participate in the purchase of mortgage loans from mortgage lenders whether 44 or not said loans were made to persons of low-income, upon terms set forth in 45 this act; provided, however, that the proceeds from such purchase or the 46 equivalent thereof shall be reinvested in obligations of the association, in 47 mortgage loans to persons of low-income or in mortgage loans for housing proj- 48 ects for persons of low-income and/or mixed income housing projects, and pro- 49 vided that any such purchase shall be made only upon the determination by the 50 association that the mortgage loans to be made are not otherwise being made by 51 mortgage lenders upon reasonably equivalent terms and conditions. 52 (p) To provide interim financing for housing projects including mixed 53 income housing projects approved by the association, provided that the associ- 54 ation has determined that such financing is not otherwise available from mort- 55 gage lenders upon reasonably equivalent terms and conditions. 10 1 (q) To prescribe rules and policies in connection with the performance of 2 its functions and duties. 3 (r) To do all other things deemed necessary and desirable to accomplish 4 the objectives of this act. 5 (s) To borrow money and issue bonds and notes or other obligations, to 6 invest the proceeds thereof in any lawful manner and to fund or refund the 7 same, and to provide for the rights of the holders of its obligations as pro- 8 vided in this act and in connection therewith, to waive, by resolution or 9 other document of the association, the exemption from federal income taxation 10 of interest on any of the association's obligations under existing or future 11 federal law and to establish, maintain and preserve the association's general 12 obligation rating and any rating on its bonds, notes or other obligations. 13 (t) To receive and accept aid or contributions from any source. 14 (u) To employ architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, housing con- 15 struction and financial experts and such other advisors, consultants and 16 agents as may be necessary in its judgment and to fix their compensation. 17 (v) To insure mortgage payments of any mortgage loan made for the purpose 18 of constructing, rehabilitating, purchasing, leasing, or refinancing housing 19 projects upon such terms and conditions as the association may prescribe. 20 (w) To fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect fees and 21 charges in connection with loans made or other services provided by the asso- 22 ciation pursuant to this act, and to make and publish rules respecting the 23 making and purchase of mortgage loans. 24 (x) To organize a nonprofit corporation to assist the association in pro- 25 viding for housing projects. 26 (y) To enter upon and inspect any housing project, including housing 27 projects undertaken by housing sponsors, for the purpose of investigating the 28 physical and financial condition thereof, and its construction, rehabilita- 29 tion, operation, management and maintenance, and to examine all books and 30 records with respect to capitalization, income and other matters relating 31 thereto. 32 (z) To order such alterations, changes or repairs as may be necessary to 33 protect the security of its investment in a housing project or the health, 34 safety, and welfare of the occupants thereof. 35 (aa) To make or purchase secured loans for the purpose of providing tempo- 36 rary or permanent financing or refinancing of all or part of the project costs 37 of any nonprofit facility or agricultural facility, including the refunding of 38 any outstanding obligations, mortgages or advances issued, made or given by 39 any person for the project costs of a nonprofit facility or agricultural 40 facility; and to charge and collect interest on the loans for the loan pay- 41 ments upon such terms and conditions, including without limitation bond rating 42 and issuance conditions, as the board of commissioners considers advisable 43 which are not in conflict with this chapter. 44 (bb) As security for the payment of the principal of and interest on any 45 revenue bonds issued and any agreements made in connection therewith, to mort- 46 gage, pledge, or otherwise encumber any or all of nonprofit facilities or 47 agricultural facilities or any part or parts thereof, whether then owned or 48 thereafter acquired, and to assign any mortgage and repledge any security con- 49 veyed to the association, to secure any loan made by the association and to 50 pledge the revenues and receipts therefrom. 51 (cc) To issue bonds for the purpose of financing all or part of the proj- 52 ect cost on any nonprofit facility or agricultural facility and to secure the 53 payment of the bonds as provided in this chapter. 54 (dd) To purchase or sell by installment contract or otherwise, and convey 55 all or any part of any nonprofit facility or agricultural facility for such 11 1 purchase price and upon such terms and conditions as this board of commission- 2 ers considers advisable which are not in conflict with this chapter. 3 (ee) To lease all or any part of any nonprofit facility or agricultural 4 facility for such rentals and upon such terms and conditions, including 5 options to purchase, as the board of commissioners considers advisable and not 6 in conflict with this chapter. 7 (ff) To construct and maintain one (1) or more nonprofit facilities or 8 agricultural facilities, provided that the association shall not operate any 9 nonprofit facility or agricultural facility as a business other than as les- 10 sor, seller or lender. The purchase, holding and enforcing of mortgages, deeds 11 of trust, or other security interests and contracting for any servicing 12 thereof is not considered the operation of a nonprofit facility or agricul- 13 tural facility as a business. 14 (gg) To act as the designated housing resource clearinghouse in the state 15 for matters relating to affordable housing. 16 (hh) To coordinate the development and maintenance of a housing policy for 17 the state. 18 (ii) To enter into agreements or other transactions and accept grants, 19 reimbursements or other payments, with the cooperation of the United States or 20 any agency thereof or of the state of Idaho or any agency thereof or munici- 21 pality of the state in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, including, 22 but not limited to, the development, maintenance, operation and financing of 23 any transportation project and to do any and all things necessary in order to 24 avail the association of such aid and cooperation. 25 (jj) To borrow money and issue bonds and notes or other evidences of 26 indebtedness thereof not exceeding a maturity date of eighteen (18) years as 27 hereinafter provided to finance transportation projects approved and recom- 28 mended by the Idaho transportation board and the germane committees of the 29 legislature. 30 SECTION 7. That Chapter 62, Title 67, Idaho Code, be, and the same is 31 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des- 32 ignated as Section 67-6206A, Idaho Code, and to read as follows: 33 67-6206A. COOPERATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES OR STATE BODIES FOR TRANSPORTA- 34 TION PROJECTS. (a) The association may obtain the aid and cooperation of, and 35 contract with, the municipalities in which transportation projects are to be 36 located and shall have the power to enter into such agreements and arrange- 37 ments as the association deems necessary or advisable to provide for the 38 financing thereof or to obtain such aid and cooperation in order to carry out 39 the provisions of this chapter relating to transportation projects. 40 (b) The association, the Idaho transportation department, the Idaho 41 transportation board or any state body or municipality may join or cooperate 42 with each other, either jointly or otherwise, in the exercise of any of their 43 powers for the purposes of financing or facilitating transportation projects. 44 SECTION 8. That Section 67-6210, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 45 amended to read as follows: 46 67-6210. POWER TO ISSUE BONDS. The association shall have power and is 47 hereby authorized to issue, from time to time, its negotiable notes and bonds 48 in conformity with the applicable provisions of the uniform commercial code in 49 such principal amount as the association shall determine to be necessary for 50 sufficient funds for achieving any of its corporate purposes, including the 51 payment of interest on notes and bonds of the association, establishment of 12 1 reserves to secure such notes and bonds, and all other expenditures of the 2 association incidental and necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate 3 purposes and powers; provided, however, that the association shall provide in 4 its resolution authorizing such bonds that all revenues received by the asso- 5 ciation as a result of the issuance of such bonds shall be pledged first to 6 the payment of principal and interest on such bonds. 7 (a) The association shall have the power, from time to time, to issue: 8 (1) notes to renew notes and 9 (2) bonds to pay notes, including the interest thereon, and 10 (3) whenever it deems refunding expedient, to refund any bonds by the 11 issuance of new bonds, whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not 12 matured, and to issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and 13 partly for any of its corporate purposes. 14 The refunding bonds may be: 15 (1) exchanged for the bonds to be refunded or 16 (2) sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption or payment 17 of such bonds. 18 (b) Except as may otherwise be expressly provided by the association, 19 every issue of its notes and bonds shall be payable exclusively from the reve- 20 nues or income of the association, including grants and contributions from the 21 United States of America, subject only to any agreements with the holders of 22 particular notes or bonds pledging any particular revenues. 23 (c) The notes and bonds shall be authorized by resolution or resolutions 24 of the association, shall bear such date or dates and shall mature at such 25 time or times as such resolution or resolutions may provide. The bonds may be 26 issued as serial bonds payable in annual installments or as term bonds or as a 27 combination thereof. The notes and bonds shall bear interest at such rate or 28 rates, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, 29 carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in 30 such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms 31 of redemption as such resolution or resolutions may provide. The notes and 32 bonds of the association may be sold by the association, at public or private 33 sale, at such price or prices as the association shall determine. 34 (d) Any resolution or resolutions or Idaho transportation board and leg- 35 islative approval pursuant to section 40-315, Idaho Code, or local ordinance 36 authorizing any notes or bonds or any issue thereof may contain provisions, 37 which shall be a part of the contract or contracts with the holders thereof, 38 as to: 39 (1) pledging all or any part of the revenues to secure the payment of the 40 notes or bonds or of any issue thereof, subject to such agreements with 41 noteholders or bondholders as may then exist; 42 (2) pledging all or any part of the assets of the association including 43 mortgages and obligations securing the same, to secure the payment of the 44 notes or bonds or of any issue of notes or bonds, subject to such agree- 45 ments with noteholders or bondholders as may then exist; 46 (3) the use and disposition of the gross income from mortgages owned by 47 the association and payment of principal of mortgages owned by the associ- 48 ation; 49 (4) the setting aside of reserves or sinking funds and the regulation and 50 disposition thereof; 51 (5) limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of notes or 52 bonds may be applied and pledging such proceeds to secure the payment of 53 the notes or bonds or of any issue thereof; 54 (6) limitations on the issuance of additional notes or bonds; the terms 55 upon which additional notes or bonds may be issued and secured; and the 13 1 refunding of outstanding or other notes or bonds; 2 (7) the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with 3 noteholders or bondholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of 4 notes or bonds the holders of which must consent thereto; and the manner 5 in which such consent may be given; 6 (8) limitations on the amount of moneys to be expended by the association 7 for operating expenses of the association; 8 (9) vesting in a trustee or trustees such property, rights, powers and 9 duties in trust as the association may determine, which may include any or 10 all of the rights, powers and duties of the trustee appointed by the bond- 11 holders pursuant to this act; and limiting or abrogating the right of the 12 bondholders to appoint a trustee under this act, or limiting the rights, 13 powers and duties of such trustee; 14 (10) defining the acts or omissions to act which shall constitute a 15 default in the obligations and duties of the association to the holders of 16 the notes or bonds and providing for the rights and remedies of the hold- 17 ers of the notes or bonds in the event of such default, including as a 18 matter of right the appointment of a receiver; provided, however, that 19 such rights and remedies shall not be inconsistent with the general laws 20 of the state and the other provisions of this act; 21 (11) pledging all or any part of funds allocated to the association under 22 Idaho law or other revenues or the proceeds of notes or bonds to secure 23 the payment of notes or bonds issued to finance transportation projects, 24 subject to such agreements with noteholders or bondholders as may then 25 exist; 26 (12) setting forth the provisions for any contracts relating to its bonds 27 or notes, including without limitation, any investment or interest rate 28 contracts, or any contract providing for a credit enhancement, including, 29 but not limited to, letters of credit, bond insurance and surety bonds 30 provided by private financial institutions; 31 (13) setting forth the provisions for representations or certifications to 32 be made by an officer of the association with respect to funds to be allo- 33 cated to the association for transportation projects and provisions for 34 the disbursements of the proceeds of the bonds or notes for payment of the 35 costs of a transportation project, costs of issuance and other related 36 costs; 37 (14) any other matters, of like or different character, which in any way 38 affect the security or protection of the holders of the notes or bonds. 39 (e) Any pledge made by the association shall be valid and binding from 40 the time when the pledge is made; the revenues, moneys or property so pledged 41 and thereafter received by the association shall immediately be subject to the 42 lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and 43 the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties 44 having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the associa- 45 tion, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the 46 resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be 47 recorded. 48 (f) Neither the commissioners of the association nor any other person 49 executing such notes or bonds shall be subject to any personal liability or 50 accountability by reason of the issuance thereof. 51 (g) The association, subject to such agreements with noteholders or bond- 52 holders as may then exist, shall have power out of any funds available there- 53 for to purchase notes or bonds of the association, which shall thereupon be 54 canceled, at a price not exceeding: 55 (1) if the notes or bonds are then redeemable, the redemption price then 14 1 applicable plus accrued interest to the next interest payment thereon, or 2 (2) if the notes or bonds are not then redeemable, the redemption price 3 applicable on the first date after such purchase upon which the notes or 4 bonds become subject to redemption plus accrued interest to such date. 5 (h) In the discretion of the association, the bonds may be secured by a 6 trust indenture by and between the association and a corporate trustee, which 7 may be any trust company or bank having the power of a trust company in the 8 state. Such trust indenture may contain such provisions for protecting and 9 enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders as may be reasonable and 10 proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the 11 duties of the association in relation to the exercise of its corporate powers 12 and the custody, safeguarding and application of all moneys. The association 13 may provide by such trust indenture for the payment of the proceeds of the 14 bonds and the revenues to the trustee under such trust indenture or other 15 depository, and for the method of disbursement thereof, with such safeguards 16 and restrictions as it may determine. All expenses incurred in carrying out 17 such trust indenture may be treated as a part of the operating expenses of the 18 association. If the bonds shall be secured by a trust indenture, the bondhold- 19 ers shall have no authority to appoint a separate trustee to represent them. 20 (i) Whether or not the notes and bonds are of such form and character as 21 to be negotiable instruments under the terms of the uniform commercial code, 22 the notes and bonds are hereby made negotiable instruments within the meaning 23 of and for all the purposes of the uniform commercial code, subject only to 24 the provisions of the notes and bonds for registration. 25 (j) In case any of the commissioners or officers of the association whose 26 signatures appear on any notes or bonds or coupons shall cease to be such com- 27 missioners or officers before the delivery of such notes or bonds, such signa- 28 tures shall, nevertheless, be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same 29 as if such commissioners or officers had remained in office until such deliv- 30 ery. 31 (k) The association shall not issue any bonds or notes to finance trans- 32 portation projects unless: 33 (1) both the Idaho transportation board and the germane committees of the 34 legislature have approved and recommended the transportation projects for 35 financing through the association; 36 (2) the Idaho transportation board has certified to the association that 37 sufficient funds are available to make the payments required for the bonds 38 or notes to be issued to finance the transportation projects; and 39 (3) the association and the Idaho transportation board have entered into 40 an agreement for the association to provide financing of the transporta- 41 tion projects. 42 (l) The association shall not reissue, extend, rewrite, or in any way 43 alter the original issue of bonds or notes which provide financing of trans- 44 portation projects unless both the Idaho transportation board and the germane 45 committees of the legislature have approved the action. 46 SECTION 9. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby 47 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its 48 passage and approval.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE RS 14766 This legislation would amend various sections of Title 40, Chapter 3, Idaho Code, Title 40, Chapter 7, Idaho Code, and Title 67, Chapter 62, Idaho Code, to allow the Idaho Transportation Board, with concurrence of the House and Senate Transportation committees, the authority to use federal-aid highway funds to pay the principal, interest, and other costs associated with borrowing by the State to finance specific eligible highway projects. The board may select and designate a transportation project to be funded with bond proceeds and present the proposal to the joint transportation committees. After approval by a majority of both committees, the requirement for "substantial statewide interest" is deemed to have been satisfied and the board may proceed with bonding through the Idaho Housing Finance Association. A 1995 federal law (Title 23, US Code, Section 122) allows states to use their apportioned federal-aid funds as a debt-financing instrument known as "GARVEE" (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) Bonds. The term of most bonds will likely be eighteen years and eighteen years is the limit without extension authorized by consent of the two Legislative Transportation committees. At current municipal interest rates, Idaho receives approximately $220 million a year from federal fuel tax revenues. Bonding shall be designed so that debt service shall not exceed 20 percent of the annual allocation of Federal funds to Idaho. The Idaho Housing Finance Association (IHFA) is authorized in this legislation to issue the bonds approved by the Board as well as manage the issuance and servicing of the bonds. IHFA has in-house the trained personnel and systems needed to handle this work. This legislation amends the IHFA enabling statute to authorize its participation. Local highway jurisdictions may also use GARVEE bonding at their discretion. FISCAL NOTE This legislation increases no taxes. It is anticipated that the bonding debt service would require the dedication in a range of 10 to 20 percent of the department's total annual budget in the peak year of debt service. Delaying construction of needed road infrastructure projects generally results in substantially higher project costs, due to inflation in construction costs and right-of-way acquisitions. These savings, by accelerated construction, must be weighted against the cost of debt service, administration of the bonds, and bond counsel costs. Contact Name: Rep. Leon Smith Phone: 332-1000 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE H 179