52:27BBB-46 Powers of authority.

47. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary:

a. The authority shall issue bonds and refunding bonds, incur indebtedness and borrow money secured, in whole or in part, by money received pursuant to sections 48 and 49 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-47 and C.52:27BBB-48), for the purpose of making the deposits described in section 50 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-49). The total outstanding principal amount of the bonds shall not exceed $175,000,000. In computing the foregoing limitation as to amount, there shall be excluded all bonds which shall be issued for (1) costs incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and (2) refunding purposes, provided that the refunding shall be determined by the authority to result in a debt service savings. The authority may establish reserve or other funds to further secure bonds and refunding bonds.

In computing the foregoing limitation, the authority may include those reserves of the authority or other State authorities to be made available for the purposes of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.) or those amounts to be made available by any bistate or other agency with jurisdiction in the qualified municipality.

Prior to the approval of this financing plan, the authority shall submit a copy for review and approval of the Joint Budget and Oversight Committee.

b. The authority may, in any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds or refunding bonds, pledge the contract with the State Treasurer, provided for in section 49 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-48), or any part thereof, for the payment or redemption of the bonds or refunding bonds, and covenant as to the use and disposition of money available to the authority for payments of bonds and refunding bonds. All costs associated with the issuance of bonds and refunding bonds by the authority for the purposes set forth in P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.) may be paid by the authority from amounts it receives from the proceeds of the bonds or refunding bonds and from amounts it receives pursuant to sections 48 and 49 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-47 and C.52:27BBB-48), which costs may include, but are not limited to, any costs relating to the issuance of the bonds or refunding bonds and costs attributable to the agreements described in subsection c. of this section. The bonds or refunding bonds shall be authorized by resolution, which shall stipulate the manner of execution and form of the bonds whether the bonds are in one or more series, the date or dates of issue, time or times of maturity, which shall not exceed 40 years, the rate or rates of interest payable on the bonds, which may be at fixed rates or variable rates, and which interest may be current interest or may accrue, the denomination or denominations in which the bonds are issued, conversion or registration privileges, the sources and medium of payment and place or places of payment, terms of redemption, privileges of exchangeability or interchangeability, and entitlement to priorities of payment or security in the amounts to be received by the authority pursuant to sections 48 and 49 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-47 and C.52:27BBB-48). The bonds may be sold at a public or private sale at a price or prices determined by the authority. The authority is authorized to enter into any agreements necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes of this section, including agreements to sell bonds or refunding bonds to any persons and to comply with the laws of any jurisdiction relating thereto.

c. In connection with any bonds or refunding bonds issued pursuant to P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), the authority may also enter into any revolving credit agreement, agreement establishing a line of credit or letter of credit, reimbursement agreement, interest rate exchange agreement, currency exchange agreement, interest rate floor or cap, options, puts or calls to hedge payment, currency, rate, spread or similar exposure, or similar agreements, float agreements, forward agreements, insurance contract, surety bond, commitment to purchase or sell bonds, purchase or sale agreement, or commitments or other contracts or agreements and other security agreements approved by the authority.

d. No resolution adopted by the authority authorizing the issuance of bonds or refunding bonds pursuant to P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.) shall be adopted or otherwise made effective without the approval in writing of the State Treasurer. Except as provided by subsection i. of section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4), bonds or refunding bonds may be issued without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau or agency of the State, other than the approval as required by this subsection, and without any other proceedings or the occurrence of any other conditions or other things other than those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required by P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.).

e. Bonds and refunding bonds issued by the authority pursuant to P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.) shall be special and limited obligations of the authority payable from, and secured by, such funds and moneys determined by the authority in accordance with this section. Neither the members of the authority nor any other person executing the bonds or refunding bonds shall be personally liable with respect to payment of interest and principal on these bonds or refunding bonds. Bonds or refunding bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.) shall not be a debt or liability of the State or any agency or instrumentality thereof, except as otherwise provided by this subsection, either legal, moral or otherwise, and nothing contained in P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.) shall be construed to authorize the authority to incur any indebtedness on behalf of or in any way to obligate the State or any political subdivision thereof, and all bonds and refunding bonds issued by the authority shall contain a statement to that effect on their face.

f. The authority is authorized to engage, subject to the approval of the State Treasurer and in such manner as the State Treasurer shall determine, the services of financial advisors and experts, placement agents, underwriters, appraisers, and such other advisors, consultants and agents as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.).

g. The proceeds from the sale of the bonds, other than refunding bonds, issued pursuant to P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), after payment of any costs related to the issuance of such bonds, shall be applied to the purposes set forth in section 50 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-49).

h. All bonds or refunding bonds issued by the authority are deemed to be issued by a body corporate and politic of the State for an essential governmental purpose, and the interest thereon and the income derived from all funds, revenues, incomes and other moneys received for or to be received by the authority and pledged and available to pay or secure the payment on bonds or refunding bonds and the interest thereon, shall be exempt from all taxes levied pursuant to the provisions of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes or Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes, except for transfer, inheritance and estate taxes levied pursuant to Subtitle 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes.

i. The State hereby pledges and covenants with the holders of any bonds or refunding bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), that it will not limit or alter the rights or powers vested in the authority by P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), nor limit or alter the rights or powers of the State Treasurer in any manner which would jeopardize the interest of the holders or any trustee of such holders, or inhibit or prevent performance or fulfillment by the authority or the State Treasurer with respect to the terms of any agreement made with the holders of these bonds or refunding bonds or agreements made pursuant to subsection e. of this section, except that the failure of the Legislature to appropriate moneys for any purpose of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.) shall not be deemed a violation of this section.

j. Notwithstanding any restriction contained in any other law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary, the State and all political subdivisions of this State, their officers, boards, commissioners, departments or other agencies, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, saving and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking or investment business, and all executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who now are or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the State, may properly and legally invest any sinking funds, moneys or other funds, including capital, belonging to them or within their control, in any bonds or refunding bonds issued by the authority under the provisions of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.); and said bonds and refunding bonds are hereby made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with, and received by any State or municipal officers or agency of the State, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the State is now, or may hereafter be authorized by law.

L.2002,c.43,s.47.