No bonds shall be issued pursuant to the provisions of this article until the proposal of the director to issue the bonds shall receive the approval of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. Whenever the director shall propose to issue bonds pursuant to the provisions of this article, he shall file a petition with the State Budget and Control Board setting forth:

(a) a brief description of the railroad and necessary equipment proposed to be acquired and its anticipated effect upon the economy of the area in which the railroad is to be located and of the areas adjacent thereto;

(b) a reasonable estimate of the cost of the acquisition of the railroad and necessary equipment; and

(c) a general summary of the terms and conditions of the trust indenture.

Upon the filing of the petition the State Fiscal Accountability Authority shall, as soon as practicable, make such independent investigation as it deems advisable, and if it finds that the acquisition of the railroad and necessary equipment is intended to promote the purposes of this article and is reasonably anticipated to effect such result, it shall be authorized to approve the acquisition of the railroad and necessary equipment and at any time following such approval, the director may proceed with the acquisition and financing of the railroad and necessary equipment. Notice of the approval of the acquisition of the railroad and necessary equipment by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority shall be published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority in a newspaper having general circulation in the State and the county where the railroad is to be located.

Any interested party may, within twenty days after the date of the publication of such notice, but not afterwards, challenge the validity of such approval by action de novo in the court of common pleas in any county where the railroad is to be located.

HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 181, Section 247, eff July 1, 1993.