(70 ILCS 5/22.4)

Sec. 22.4. Bonds and notes.

(a) The Rail Authority shall have the power to borrow money and to issue its negotiable bonds or notes as provided in this Section. Unless otherwise indicated in this Section, the term "notes" also includes bond anticipation notes, which are notes that by their terms provide for their payment from the proceeds of bonds subsequently to be issued. Bonds or notes of the Rail Authority may be issued for any or all of the following purposes: to pay costs to the Rail Authority of constructing or acquiring any rail facilities or related facilities, to pay interest on bonds or notes during any period of construction or acquisition of rail facilities or related facilities, to establish a debt service reserve fund, to pay costs of issuance of the bonds or notes, and to refund its bonds or notes.

(b) The issuance of any bonds or notes shall be authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Rail Authority. The resolution providing for the issuance of any such bonds or notes shall fix their date or dates of maturity, the dates on which interest is payable, any sinking fund account or reserve fund account provisions, and all other details of the bonds or notes and may provide for such covenants or agreements necessary or desirable with regard to the issue, sale, and security of the bonds or notes. The rate or rates of interest on the bonds or notes may be fixed or variable and the Rail Authority shall determine or provide for the determination of the rate or rates of interest of its bonds or notes issued under this Act in a resolution adopted prior to their issuance, none of which rates of interest shall exceed that permitted in the Bond Authorization Act. Bonds and notes issued under this Section may be issued as serial or term obligations, shall be of such denomination or denominations and form, shall be executed in such manner, shall be payable at such place or places and bear such date as the Rail Authority shall fix by the resolution authorizing such bonds or notes and shall mature at such time or times, within a period not to exceed 40 years from their date of issue, and may be redeemable prior to maturity, with or without premium, at the option of the Rail Authority, upon such terms and conditions as the Rail Authority shall fix by the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or notes. In case any officer whose signature appears on any bonds or notes authorized pursuant to this Section shall cease to be an officer before delivery of such bonds or notes, the signature shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if the officer had remained in office until the delivery.

(c) Bonds or notes of the Rail Authority issued pursuant to this Section shall have a claim for payment as to principal and interest from such sources as provided by the resolution authorizing such bonds or notes. Such bonds or notes shall be secured as provided in the authorizing resolution of the Board of Directors of the Rail Authority, which may, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, include in addition to any other security, a specific pledge or assignment of and lien on or security interest in any or all receipts of the Rail Authority and on any or all other revenues or money of the Rail Authority from whatever source, which may by law be utilized for debt service purposes, as well as any funds or accounts established or provided for the payment of such debt service, by the resolution of the Rail Authority authorizing the issuance of the bonds or notes. Any such pledge, assignment, lien, or security interest for the benefit of holders of bonds or notes of the Rail Authority shall be valid and binding from the time the bonds or notes are issued without any physical delivery or further act and shall be valid and binding as against and prior to the claims of all other parties having claims of any kind against the Rail Authority or any other person irrespective of whether such other parties have notice of such pledge, assignment, lien, or security interest. The resolution of the Board of Directors of the Rail Authority authorizing the issuance of any bonds or notes may provide additional security for such bonds or notes by providing for appointment of a corporate trustee (which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within Illinois) with respect to the bonds or notes. The resolution shall prescribe the rights, duties, and powers of the trustee to be exercised for the benefit of the Rail Authority and the protection of the owners of such bonds or notes. The resolution may provide for the trustee to hold in trust, invest, and use amounts in funds and accounts created as provided by the resolution with respect to the bonds or notes.

(Source: P.A. 95-641, eff. 10-11-07.)