(a) An explorer or producer that has applied for a production tax credit under AS 43.55.023(a) or (l) or 43.55.025(a) may make a present assignment of the production tax credit certificate expected to be issued by the department to a third-party assignee. The assignment may be made either at the time the application is filed with the department or not later than 30 days after the date of filing with the department. Once a notice of assignment in compliance with this section is filed with the department, the assignment is irrevocable and cannot be modified by the explorer or producer without the written consent of the assignee named in the assignment. If a production tax credit certificate is issued to the explorer or producer, the notice of assignment remains effective and shall be filed with the department by the explorer or producer together with any application for the department to purchase the certificate under AS 43.55.028(e).

(b) To be effective, the assignment does not require the approval or consent of the department. The assignment must, at a minimum,

(1) be made in writing and signed by an officer or legally qualified agent of the explorer or producer making the assignment and the assignee, respectively;

(2) identify the explorer or producer making the assignment, the assignee in whose favor the assignment is being made, and the production tax credit application that is the subject of the assignment;

(3) define the interest in the production tax credit being assigned, expressed as either an amount in dollars, which may not exceed 90 percent of the credit applied for, or a percentage of the credit to be issued by the department;

(4) specify an account with a bank located in the state, with sufficient information for the electronic transfer of funds, to receive any future proceeds from the purchase of the tax credit certificate under AS 43.55.028(e);

(5) cite this section and acknowledge that, once filed with the department, the assignment is irrevocable and cannot be modified without the written consent of the assignee.

(c) An assignment complying with this section creates a property interest owned by the assignee in the application and any production tax credit certificates issued by the department to the explorer or producer and any future proceeds resulting from the application, in the amount or to the extent set out in the assignment. An assignee may create a valid and enforceable security interest in that property as otherwise provided by law.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and to the maximum extent permitted under federal laws, an assignment complying with this section shall give the assignee a first priority claim, not dischargeable in bankruptcy, against the proceeds received by the explorer or producer, including its estate, trustee, or other representative, resulting from the production tax credit application that is the subject of the assignment under this section, if the assignee has taken the steps necessary under state and federal law to perfect a security interest in the assignment.

(e) Nothing in this section affects the terms and conditions otherwise required for an explorer or producer to qualify for a production tax credit or the determination by the department of the amount of credit the explorer or producer is qualified to receive.

(f) Neither the state nor the department, or any other agency, officer, or employee of the state, shall be subject to suit or any claim arising out of or in connection with an assignment made under this section, whether by act or omission.

(g) The department may adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.