Public Act 095-0470
 
SB0066 Enrolled LRB095 04920 HLH 24986 b

    AN ACT concerning finance.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Finance Authority Act is amended by
changing Sections 801-40, 825-65, 825-75 and by adding Section
801-50 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 3501/801-40)
    Sec. 801-40. In addition to the powers otherwise authorized
by law and in addition to the foregoing general corporate
powers, the Authority shall also have the following additional
specific powers to be exercised in furtherance of the purposes
of this Act.
    (a) The Authority shall have power (i) to accept grants,
loans or appropriations from the federal government or the
State, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, to be used for
the operating expenses of the Authority, or for any purposes of
the Authority, including the making of direct loans of such
funds with respect to projects, and (ii) to enter into any
agreement with the federal government or the State, or any
agency or instrumentality thereof, in relationship to such
grants, loans or appropriations.
    (b) The Authority shall have power to procure and enter
into contracts for any type of insurance and indemnity
agreements covering loss or damage to property from any cause,
including loss of use and occupancy, or covering any other
insurable risk.
    (c) The Authority shall have the continuing power to issue
bonds for its corporate purposes. Bonds may be issued by the
Authority in one or more series and may provide for the payment
of any interest deemed necessary on such bonds, of the costs of
issuance of such bonds, of any premium on any insurance, or of
the cost of any guarantees, letters of credit or other similar
documents, may provide for the funding of the reserves deemed
necessary in connection with such bonds, and may provide for
the refunding or advance refunding of any bonds or for accounts
deemed necessary in connection with any purpose of the
Authority. The bonds may bear interest payable at any time or
times and at any rate or rates, notwithstanding any other
provision of law to the contrary, and such rate or rates may be
established by an index or formula which may be implemented or
established by persons appointed or retained therefor by the
Authority, or may bear no interest or may bear interest payable
at maturity or upon redemption prior to maturity, may bear such
date or dates, may be payable at such time or times and at such
place or places, may mature at any time or times not later than
40 years from the date of issuance, may be sold at public or
private sale at such time or times and at such price or prices,
may be secured by such pledges, reserves, guarantees, letters
of credit, insurance contracts or other similar credit support
or liquidity instruments, may be executed in such manner, may
be subject to redemption prior to maturity, may provide for the
registration of the bonds, and may be subject to such other
terms and conditions all as may be provided by the resolution
or indenture authorizing the issuance of such bonds. The holder
or holders of any bonds issued by the Authority may bring suits
at law or proceedings in equity to compel the performance and
observance by any person or by the Authority or any of its
agents or employees of any contract or covenant made with the
holders of such bonds and to compel such person or the
Authority and any of its agents or employees to perform any
duties required to be performed for the benefit of the holders
of any such bonds by the provision of the resolution
authorizing their issuance, and to enjoin such person or the
Authority and any of its agents or employees from taking any
action in conflict with any such contract or covenant.
Notwithstanding the form and tenor of any such bonds and in the
absence of any express recital on the face thereof that it is
non-negotiable, all such bonds shall be negotiable
instruments. Pending the preparation and execution of any such
bonds, temporary bonds may be issued as provided by the
resolution. The bonds shall be sold by the Authority in such
manner as it shall determine. The bonds may be secured as
provided in the authorizing resolution by the receipts,
revenues, income and other available funds of the Authority and
by any amounts derived by the Authority from the loan agreement
or lease agreement with respect to the project or projects; and
bonds may be issued as general obligations of the Authority
payable from such revenues, funds and obligations of the
Authority as the bond resolution shall provide, or may be
issued as limited obligations with a claim for payment solely
from such revenues, funds and obligations as the bond
resolution shall provide. The Authority may grant a specific
pledge or assignment of and lien on or security interest in
such rights, revenues, income, or amounts and may grant a
specific pledge or assignment of and lien on or security
interest in any reserves, funds or accounts established in the
resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds. Any such pledge,
assignment, lien or security interest for the benefit of the
holders of the Authority's bonds shall be valid and binding
from the time the bonds 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 against the Authority or any other person irrespective
of whether the other parties have notice of the pledge,
assignment, lien or security interest. As evidence of such
pledge, assignment, lien and security interest, the Authority
may execute and deliver a mortgage, trust agreement, indenture
or security agreement or an assignment thereof. A remedy for
any breach or default of the terms of any such agreement by the
Authority may be by mandamus proceedings in any court of
competent jurisdiction to compel the performance and
compliance therewith, but the agreement may prescribe by whom
or on whose behalf such action may be instituted. It is
expressly understood that the Authority may, but need not,
acquire title to any project with respect to which it exercises
its authority.
    (d) With respect to the powers granted by this Act, the
Authority may adopt rules and regulations prescribing the
procedures by which persons may apply for assistance under this
Act. Nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude the Authority,
prior to the filing of any formal application, from conducting
preliminary discussions and investigations with respect to the
subject matter of any prospective application.
    (e) The Authority shall have power to acquire by purchase,
lease, gift or otherwise any property or rights therein from
any person useful for its purposes, whether improved for the
purposes of any prospective project, or unimproved. The
Authority may also accept any donation of funds for its
purposes from any such source. The Authority shall have no
independent power of condemnation but may acquire any property
or rights therein obtained upon condemnation by any other
authority, governmental entity or unit of local government with
such power.
    (f) The Authority shall have power to develop, construct
and improve either under its own direction, or through
collaboration with any approved applicant, or to acquire
through purchase or otherwise, any project, using for such
purpose the proceeds derived from the sale of its bonds or from
governmental loans or grants, and to hold title in the name of
the Authority to such projects.
    (g) The Authority shall have power to lease pursuant to a
lease agreement any project so developed and constructed or
acquired to the approved tenant on such terms and conditions as
may be appropriate to further the purposes of this Act and to
maintain the credit of the Authority. Any such lease may
provide for either the Authority or the approved tenant to
assume initially, in whole or in part, the costs of
maintenance, repair and improvements during the leasehold
period. In no case, however, shall the total rentals from any
project during any initial leasehold period or the total loan
repayments to be made pursuant to any loan agreement, be less
than an amount necessary to return over such lease or loan
period (1) all costs incurred in connection with the
development, construction, acquisition or improvement of the
project and for repair, maintenance and improvements thereto
during the period of the lease or loan; provided, however, that
the rentals or loan repayments need not include costs met
through the use of funds other than those obtained by the
Authority through the issuance of its bonds or governmental
loans; (2) a reasonable percentage additive to be agreed upon
by the Authority and the borrower or tenant to cover a properly
allocable portion of the Authority's general expenses,
including, but not limited to, administrative expenses,
salaries and general insurance, and (3) an amount sufficient to
pay when due all principal of, interest and premium, if any on,
any bonds issued by the Authority with respect to the project.
The portion of total rentals payable under clause (3) of this
subsection (g) shall be deposited in such special accounts,
including all sinking funds, acquisition or construction
funds, debt service and other funds as provided by any
resolution, mortgage or trust agreement of the Authority
pursuant to which any bond is issued.
    (h) The Authority has the power, upon the termination of
any leasehold period of any project, to sell or lease for a
further term or terms such project on such terms and conditions
as the Authority shall deem reasonable and consistent with the
purposes of the Act. The net proceeds from all such sales and
the revenues or income from such leases shall be used to
satisfy any indebtedness of the Authority with respect to such
project and any balance may be used to pay any expenses of the
Authority or be used for the further development, construction,
acquisition or improvement of projects. In the event any
project is vacated by a tenant prior to the termination of the
initial leasehold period, the Authority shall sell or lease the
facilities of the project on the most advantageous terms
available. The net proceeds of any such disposition shall be
treated in the same manner as the proceeds from sales or the
revenues or income from leases subsequent to the termination of
any initial leasehold period.
    (i) The Authority shall have the power to make loans to
persons to finance a project, to enter into loan agreements
with respect thereto, and to accept guarantees from persons of
its loans or the resultant evidences of obligations of the
Authority.
    (j) The Authority may fix, determine, charge and collect
any premiums, fees, charges, costs and expenses, including,
without limitation, any application fees, commitment fees,
program fees, financing charges or publication fees from any
person in connection with its activities under this Act.
    (k) In addition to the funds established as provided
herein, the Authority shall have the power to create and
establish such reserve funds and accounts as may be necessary
or desirable to accomplish its purposes under this Act and to
deposit its available monies into the funds and accounts.
    (l) At the request of the governing body of any unit of
local government, the Authority is authorized to market such
local government's revenue bond offerings by preparing bond
issues for sale, advertising for sealed bids, receiving bids at
its offices, making the award to the bidder that offers the
most favorable terms or arranging for negotiated placements or
underwritings of such securities. The Authority may, at its
discretion, offer for concurrent sale the revenue bonds of
several local governments. Sales by the Authority of revenue
bonds under this Section shall in no way imply State guarantee
of such debt issue. The Authority may require such financial
information from participating local governments as it deems
necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this subsection
(1).
    (m) The Authority may make grants to any county to which
Division 5-37 of the Counties Code is applicable to assist in
the financing of capital development, construction and
renovation of new or existing facilities for hospitals and
health care facilities under that Act. Such grants may only be
made from funds appropriated for such purposes from the Build
Illinois Bond Fund.
    (n) The Authority may establish an urban development action
grant program for the purpose of assisting municipalities in
Illinois which are experiencing severe economic distress to
help stimulate economic development activities needed to aid in
economic recovery. The Authority shall determine the types of
activities and projects for which the urban development action
grants may be used, provided that such projects and activities
are broadly defined to include all reasonable projects and
activities the primary objectives of which are the development
of viable urban communities, including decent housing and a
suitable living environment, and expansion of economic
opportunity, principally for persons of low and moderate
incomes. The Authority shall enter into grant agreements from
monies appropriated for such purposes from the Build Illinois
Bond Fund. The Authority shall monitor the use of the grants,
and shall provide for audits of the funds as well as recovery
by the Authority of any funds determined to have been spent in
violation of this subsection (n) or any rule or regulation
promulgated hereunder. The Authority shall provide technical
assistance with regard to the effective use of the urban
development action grants. The Authority shall file an annual
report to the General Assembly concerning the progress of the
grant program.
    (o) The Authority may establish a Housing Partnership
Program whereby the Authority provides zero-interest loans to
municipalities for the purpose of assisting in the financing of
projects for the rehabilitation of affordable multi-family
housing for low and moderate income residents. The Authority
may provide such loans only upon a municipality's providing
evidence that it has obtained private funding for the
rehabilitation project. The Authority shall provide 3 State
dollars for every 7 dollars obtained by the municipality from
sources other than the State of Illinois. The loans shall be
made from monies appropriated for such purpose from the Build
Illinois Bond Fund. The total amount of loans available under
the Housing Partnership Program shall not exceed $30,000,000.
State loan monies under this subsection shall be used only for
the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing buildings
containing 4 or more dwelling units. The terms of any loan made
by the municipality under this subsection shall require
repayment of the loan to the municipality upon any sale or
other transfer of the project.
    (p) The Authority may award grants to universities and
research institutions, research consortiums and other
not-for-profit entities for the purposes of: remodeling or
otherwise physically altering existing laboratory or research
facilities, expansion or physical additions to existing
laboratory or research facilities, construction of new
laboratory or research facilities or acquisition of modern
equipment to support laboratory or research operations
provided that such grants (i) be used solely in support of
project and equipment acquisitions which enhance technology
transfer, and (ii) not constitute more than 60 percent of the
total project or acquisition cost.
    (q) Grants may be awarded by the Authority to units of
local government for the purpose of developing the appropriate
infrastructure or defraying other costs to the local government
in support of laboratory or research facilities provided that
such grants may not exceed 40% of the cost to the unit of local
government.
    (r) The Authority may establish a Direct Loan Program to
make loans to individuals, partnerships or corporations for the
purpose of an industrial project, as defined in Section 801-10
of this Act. For the purposes of such program and not by way of
limitation on any other program of the Authority, the Authority
shall have the power to issue bonds, notes, or other evidences
of indebtedness including commercial paper for purposes of
providing a fund of capital from which it may make such loans.
The Authority shall have the power to use any appropriations
from the State made especially for the Authority's Direct Loan
Program for additional capital to make such loans or for the
purposes of reserve funds or pledged funds which secure the
Authority's obligations of repayment of any bond, note or other
form of indebtedness established for the purpose of providing
capital for which it intends to make such loans under the
Direct Loan Program. For the purpose of obtaining such capital,
the Authority may also enter into agreements with financial
institutions and other persons for the purpose of selling loans
and developing a secondary market for such loans. Loans made
under the Direct Loan Program may be in an amount not to exceed
$300,000 and shall be made for a portion of an industrial
project which does not exceed 50% of the total project. No loan
may be made by the Authority unless approved by the affirmative
vote of at least 8 members of the board. The Authority shall
establish procedures and publish rules which shall provide for
the submission, review, and analysis of each direct loan
application and which shall preserve the ability of each board
member to reach an individual business judgment regarding the
propriety of making each direct loan. The collective discretion
of the board to approve or disapprove each loan shall be
unencumbered. The Authority may establish and collect such fees
and charges, determine and enforce such terms and conditions,
and charge such interest rates as it determines to be necessary
and appropriate to the successful administration of the Direct
Loan Program. The Authority may require such interests in
collateral and such guarantees as it determines are necessary
to project the Authority's interest in the repayment of the
principal and interest of each loan made under the Direct Loan
Program.
    (s) The Authority may guarantee private loans to third
parties up to a specified dollar amount in order to promote
economic development in this State.
    (t) The Authority may adopt rules and regulations as may be
necessary or advisable to implement the powers conferred by
this Act.
    (u) The Authority shall have the power to issue bonds,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness, which may be used to
make loans to units of local government which are authorized to
enter into loan agreements and other documents and to issue
bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness for the
purpose of financing the protection of storm sewer outfalls,
the construction of adequate storm sewer outfalls, and the
provision for flood protection of sanitary sewage treatment
plans, in counties that have established a stormwater
management planning committee in accordance with Section
5-1062 of the Counties Code. Any such loan shall be made by the
Authority pursuant to the provisions of Section 820-5 to 820-60
of this Act. The unit of local government shall pay back to the
Authority the principal amount of the loan, plus annual
interest as determined by the Authority. The Authority shall
have the power, subject to appropriations by the General
Assembly, to subsidize or buy down a portion of the interest on
such loans, up to 4% per annum.
    (v) The Authority may accept security interests as provided
in Sections 11-3 and 11-3.3 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
    (w) Moral Obligation. In the event that the Authority
determines that monies of the Authority will not be sufficient
for the payment of the principal of and interest on its bonds
during the next State fiscal year, the Chairperson, as soon as
practicable, shall certify to the Governor the amount required
by the Authority to enable it to pay such principal of and
interest on the bonds. The Governor shall submit the amount so
certified to the General Assembly as soon as practicable, but
no later than the end of the current State fiscal year. This
subsection shall apply only to any bonds or notes as to which
the Authority shall have determined, in the resolution
authorizing the issuance of the bonds or notes, that this
subsection shall apply. Whenever the Authority makes such a
determination, that fact shall be plainly stated on the face of
the bonds or notes and that fact shall also be reported to the
Governor. In the event of a withdrawal of moneys from a reserve
fund established with respect to any issue or issues of bonds
of the Authority to pay principal or interest on those bonds,
the Chairperson of the Authority, as soon as practicable, shall
certify to the Governor the amount required to restore the
reserve fund to the level required in the resolution or
indenture securing those bonds. The Governor shall submit the
amount so certified to the General Assembly as soon as
practicable, but no later than the end of the current State
fiscal year. The Authority shall obtain written approval from
the Governor for any bonds and notes to be issued under this
Section. In addition to any other bonds authorized to be issued
under Sections 825-60, 825-65(e), 830-25 and 845-5, the
principal amount of Authority bonds outstanding issued under
this Section 801-40(w) or under 20 ILCS 3850/1-80 or 30 ILCS
360/2-6(c), which have been assumed by the Authority, shall not
exceed $150,000,000.
    (x) The Authority may enter into agreements or contracts
with any person necessary or appropriate to place the payment
obligations of the Authority under any of its bonds in whole or
in part on any interest rate basis, cash flow basis, or other
basis desired by the Authority, including without limitation
agreements or contracts commonly known as "interest rate swap
agreements", "forward payment conversion agreements", and
"futures", or agreements or contracts to exchange cash flows or
a series of payments, or agreements or contracts, including
without limitation agreements or contracts commonly known as
"options", "puts", or "calls", to hedge payment, rate spread,
or similar exposure; provided that any such agreement or
contract shall not constitute an obligation for borrowed money
and shall not be taken into account under Section 845-5 of this
Act or any other debt limit of the Authority or the State of
Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04; 94-91, eff. 7-1-05.)
 
    (20 ILCS 3501/801-50 new)
    Sec. 801-50. Pledge of revenues by the Authority;
non-impairment. Any pledge of revenues or other moneys made by
the Authority shall be binding from the time the pledge is
made. Revenues and other moneys so pledged shall be held
outside of the State treasury and in the custody of either the
Treasurer of the Authority or a trustee or a depository
appointed by the Authority. Revenues or other moneys so pledged
and thereafter received by the Authority or trustee or
depository shall immediately be subject to the lien of the
pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act,
and the lien of any pledge shall be binding against all parties
having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise
against the Authority, irrespective of whether the parties have
notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument
by which a pledge is created need be filed or recorded except
in the records of the Authority. The State pledges and agrees
with the holders of bonds or other obligations of the Authority
that the State will not limit or restrict the rights hereby
vested in the Authority to purchase, acquire, hold, sell, or
dispose of investments or to establish and collect such fees or
other charges as may be convenient or necessary to produce
sufficient revenues to meet the expenses of operation to the
Authority, and to fulfill the terms of any agreement made with
the holders of the bonds or other obligations of the Authority
or in any way impair the rights or remedies of the holders of
those bonds or other obligations of the Authority until such
bonds or other obligations are fully paid and discharged or
provision for their payment has been made.
 
    (20 ILCS 3501/825-65)
    Sec. 825-65. Clean Coal and Energy Project Financing.
    (a) Findings and declaration of policy. It is hereby found
and declared that Illinois has abundant coal resources and, in
some areas of Illinois, the demand for power exceeds the
generating capacity. Incentives to encourage the construction
of coal-fired electric generating plants in Illinois to ensure
power generating capacity into the future and to advance clean
coal technology and the use of Illinois coal are in the best
interests of all of the citizens of Illinois. The Authority is
authorized to issue bonds to help finance Clean Coal and Energy
projects pursuant to this Section.
    (b) Definition. "Clean Coal and Energy projects" means new
electric generating facilities or new gasification facilities,
as defined in Section 605-332 of the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of
Illinois, which may include mine-mouth power plants, projects
that employ the use of clean coal technology, projects to
provide scrubber technology for existing energy generating
plants, or projects to provide electric transmission
facilities or new gasification facilities.
    (c) Creation of reserve funds. The Authority may establish
and maintain one or more reserve funds to enhance bonds issued
by the Authority for Clean Coal and Energy projects to develop
alternative energy sources, including renewable energy
projects, projects to provide scrubber technology for existing
energy generating plants or projects to provide electric
transmission facilities. There may be one or more accounts in
these reserve funds in which there may be deposited:
        (1) any proceeds of the bonds issued by the Authority
    required to be deposited therein by the terms of any
    contract between the Authority and its bondholders or any
    resolution of the Authority;
        (2) any other moneys or funds of the Authority that it
    may determine to deposit therein from any other source; and
        (3) any other moneys or funds made available to the
    Authority. Subject to the terms of any pledge to the owners
    of any bonds, moneys in any reserve fund may be held and
    applied to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and
    interest of such bonds.
    (d) Powers and duties. The Authority has the power:
        (1) To issue bonds in one or more series pursuant to
    one or more resolutions of the Authority for any Clean Coal
    and Energy projects authorized under this Section, within
    the authorization set forth in subsections (e) and (f).
        (2) To provide for the funding of any reserves or other
    funds or accounts deemed necessary by the Authority in
    connection with any bonds issued by the Authority.
        (3) To pledge any funds of the Authority or funds made
    available to the Authority that may be applied to such
    purpose as security for any bonds or any guarantees,
    letters of credit, insurance contracts or similar credit
    support or liquidity instruments securing the bonds.
        (4) To enter into agreements or contracts with third
    parties, whether public or private, including, without
    limitation, the United States of America, the State or any
    department or agency thereof, to obtain any
    appropriations, grants, loans or guarantees that are
    deemed necessary or desirable by the Authority. Any such
    guarantee, agreement or contract may contain terms and
    provisions necessary or desirable in connection with the
    program, subject to the requirements established by the
    Act.
        (5) To exercise such other powers as are necessary or
    incidental to the foregoing.
    (e) Clean Coal and Energy bond authorization and financing
limits. In addition to any other bonds authorized to be issued
under Sections 801-40(w), 825-60, 830-25 and 845-5, the
Authority may have outstanding, at any time, bonds for the
purpose enumerated in this Section 825-65 in an aggregate
principal amount that shall not exceed $2,700,000,000, of which
no more than $300,000,000 may be issued to finance transmission
facilities, no more than $500,000,000 may be issued to finance
scrubbers at existing generating plants, no more than
$500,000,000 may be issued to finance alternative energy
sources, including renewable energy projects and no more than
$1,400,000,000 may be issued to finance new electric generating
facilities or new gasification facilities, as defined in
Section 605-332 of the Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois,
which may include mine-mouth power plants. An application for a
loan financed from bond proceeds from a borrower or its
affiliates for a Clean Coal and Energy project may not be
approved by the Authority for an amount in excess of
$450,000,000 for any borrower or its affiliates. These bonds
shall not constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the State
of Illinois and it shall be plainly stated on the face of each
bond that it does not constitute an indebtedness or obligation
of the State of Illinois, but is payable solely from the
revenues, income or other assets of the Authority pledged
therefor.
    (f) Additional Clean Coal and Energy bond authorization and
financing limits. In addition to any other bonds authorized to
be issued under this Act, the Authority may issue bonds for the
purpose enumerated in this Section 825-65 in an aggregate
principal amount that shall not exceed $300,000,000.
(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    (20 ILCS 3501/825-75)
    Sec. 825-75. Additional Security. In the event that the
Authority determines that monies of the Authority will not be
sufficient for the payment of the principal of and interest on
any bonds issued by the Authority under Sections 825-65 through
825-75 of this Act for new electric generating facilities or
new gasification facilities for energy generation projects
that advance clean coal technology and the use of Illinois coal
during the next State fiscal year, the Chairperson, as soon as
practicable, shall certify to the Governor the amount required
by the Authority to enable it to pay such principal, premium,
if any, and interest on such bonds. The Governor shall submit
the amount so certified to the General Assembly as soon as
practicable, but no later than the end of the current State
fiscal year. This subsection shall not apply to any bonds or
notes as to which the Authority shall have determined, in the
resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or notes, that
this subsection shall not apply. Whenever the Authority makes
such a determination, that fact shall be plainly stated on the
face of the bonds or notes and that fact should also be
reported to the Governor. In the event of a withdrawal of
moneys from a reserve fund established with respect to any
issue or issues of bonds of the Authority to pay principal,
premium, if any, and interest on such bonds, the Chairman of
the Authority, as soon as practicable, shall certify to the
Governor the amount required to restore the reserve fund to the
level required in the resolution or indenture securing those
bonds. The Governor shall submit the amount so certified to the
General Assembly as soon as practicable, but no later than the
end of the current State fiscal year. The Authority shall
obtain written approval from the Governor for any bonds and
notes to be issued under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.