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H.B. 18

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HIGHER EDUCATION REVENUE BONDS

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1997 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Sponsor: Fred R. Hunsaker

5    AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT THE CHAIR OF THE
6    BOARD OF REGENTS SHALL CERTIFY ANNUALLY AMOUNTS REQUIRED TO
7    RESTORE DEBT SERVICE RESERVE FUNDS OR MEET PROJECTED SHORTFALLS
8    OF PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL OR INTEREST ON REVENUE BONDS; AND PROVIDING
9    THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY REQUEST AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE
10    LEGISLATURE TO COVER THE AMOUNTS CERTIFIED BY THE CHAIR.
11    This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
12    AMENDS:
13         53B-21-102, as last amended by Chapter 67, Laws of Utah 1993
14    Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
15        Section 1. Section 53B-21-102 is amended to read:
16         53B-21-102. Bonds do not create state indebtedness -- Special obligations --
17     Discharge of bonded indebtedness -- Agreements and covenants by the board regarding
18     bonds -- Enforcement by court action.
19        (1) (a) The bonds issued under this chapter are not an indebtedness of the state, of the
20    institution for which they are issued, or of the board.
21        (b) They are special obligations payable solely from the revenues derived from the
22    operation of the building and student building fees, land grant interest, net profits from proprietary
23    activities, and any other revenues pledged other than appropriations by the Legislature as provided
24    in Sections 53B-21-101 and 53B-21-111.
25        (c) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the chair of the board shall certify
26    annually by December 1 any amount required to:
27        (A) restore any debt service reserve funds established by the board for bonds issued under


1    this chapter to the amount required by the related authorizing proceedings; or
2        (B) meet projected shortfalls of payment of principal or interest or both for the following
3    year on any bonds issued under this chapter.
4        (ii) The governor may request from the Legislature an appropriation of the amount
5    certified under Subsection (c)(i) to restore the debt service h RESERVE h funds to their required
5a    amounts or to
6    meet any h PROJECTED h principal or interest payment deficiency.
7        (d) (i) The state may not alter, impair, or limit the rights of bondholders or persons
8    contracting with the board until the bonds, including interest and other contractual obligations, are
9    fully met and discharged.
10        (ii) Nothing in this chapter precludes an alteration, impairment, or limitation if provision
11    is made by law for the protection of bondholders or persons entering into contracts with the board.
12        (2) The board shall pledge all or any part of the revenues to the payment of principal of
13    and interest on the bonds.
14        (3) In order to secure the prompt payment of principal and interest and the proper
15    application of the revenues pledged, the board may, by appropriate provisions in the resolution
16    authorizing the bonds:
17        (a) covenant as to the use and disposition of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds;
18        (b) covenant as to the operation of the building and the collection and disposition of the
19    revenues derived from the operation;
20        (c) collect student building fees from all students, and pledge the fees to the payment of
21    building bonds;
22        (d) covenant as to the rights, liabilities, powers, and duties arising from the breach of any
23    covenant or agreement into which it may enter in authorizing and issuing the bonds;
24        (e) covenant and agree to carry insurance on the building, and its use and occupancy, and
25    provide that the cost of any insurance is part of the expense of operating the building;
26        (f) vest in a trustee:
27        (i) the right to receive all or any part of the income and revenues pledged and assigned to
28    or for the benefit of the holder or holders of the bonds issued under this chapter, and to hold, apply,
29    and dispose of the income and revenue; and
30        (ii) the right to:
31        (A) enforce any covenant made to secure the bonds;
lilac-January 27, 1997

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1        (B) execute and deliver a trust agreement which sets forth the powers and duties and the
2    remedies available to the trustee and limits the trustee's liabilities; and
3        (C) prescribe the terms and conditions upon which the trustee or the holders of the bonds
4    in any specified amount or percentage may exercise such rights and enforce any or all covenants
5    and resort to any appropriate remedies;
6        (g) (i) fix rents, charges, and fees, including student building fees, to be imposed in
7    connection with and for the use of the building and its facilities, which are:
8        (A) income and revenues derived from the operation of the building; and
9        (B) expressly required to be fully sufficient either by themselves or with land grant interest
10    and net profits from proprietary activities, or from sources other than by appropriations by the
11    Legislature to such issuing institutions to assure the prompt payment of principal of and interest
12    on the bonds as each becomes due; and
13        (ii) make and enforce rules with reference to the use of the building and with reference to
14    requiring any class or classes of students to use the building as desirable for the welfare of the
15    institution and its students or for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;
16        (h) covenant to maintain a maximum percentage of occupancy of the building;
17        (i) covenant against the issuance of any other obligations payable from the revenues to be
18    derived from the building, unless subordinated;
19        (j) make provision for refunding;
20        (k) covenant as to the use and disposition of sources of revenue other than those derived
21    from appropriations by the Legislature, and pledge those sources of revenues to the payment of
22    bonds issued under this chapter;
23        (l) make other covenants considered necessary or advisable to effect the purposes of this
24    chapter; and
25        (m) delegate to the chair, vice-chair, or chair of the Budget and Finance Subcommittee the
26    authority:
27        (i) to approve any changes with respect to interest rate, price, amount, redemption features,
28    and other terms of the bonds as are within reasonable parameters set forth in the resolution; and
29        (ii) to approve and execute all documents relating to the issuance of the bonds.
30        (4) (a) The agreements and covenants entered into by the board under this section are
31    binding in all respects upon the board and its officials, agents, and employees, and upon its

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1    successors.
2        (b) They are enforceable by appropriate action or suit at law or in equity brought by any
3    holder or holders of bonds issued under this chapter.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 11-22-96 10:49 AM


A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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