MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2007 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Robertson

Senate Bill 3079

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 1, CHAPTER 538, LAWS OF 2006, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF BONDS AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF A COOPERATIVE DATA CENTER AND A BUILDING TO HOUSE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES; TO AMEND CHAPTER 460, LAWS OF 2006, TO AUTHORIZE BOND PROCEEDS AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES TO BE UTILIZED TO PURCHASE REAL ESTATE; TO AMEND SECTION 57-31-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES TO ENGAGE IN WORKS OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES ON PROPERTY IT ACQUIRES AND TO CONSTRUCT AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES NECESSARY OR REQUIRED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES; TO AUTHORIZE COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES TO SELL, LEASE, TRADE, EXCHANGE OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF INDUSTRIAL SITES SITUATED WITHIN THE COUNTY FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 1, Chapter 538, Laws of 2006, is amended as follows:

     Section 1.  (1)  As used in this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (ii) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.

          (b)  "State" means the State of Mississippi.

          (c)  "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.

     (2)  (a)  (i)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2006 Capital Improvements Fund," is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

              (ii)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning on those projects related to the universities under its management and control to pay the costs of capital improvements, renovation and/or repair of existing facilities, furnishings and/or equipping facilities for public facilities for agencies or their successors as hereinafter described:

          NAME                      PROJECT             AMOUNT

                                                       ALLOCATED

Alcorn State University......................... $  2,000,000.00

     Furnishing and equipping of

       dining facility..............$ 2,000,000.00

Jackson State University........................ $  1,600,000.00

     Phase II of structure,

       repair and renovation

       of John W. Dixon Hall........$1,600,000.00

Mississippi Valley State University............. $  2,000,000.00

     Furnishing and equipping of

       the business school..........$ 2,000,000.00

Department of Finance and Administration........ $ 18,300,000.00

     Completion of the

       Sillers/Justice block........$18,300,000.00

Mississippi Department of Information

  Technology Services........................... $ 23,500,000.00

     Construction, furnishing and

       equipping of a cooperative

       data center and a building to

       house the Mississippi Department

       of Information Technology Services

       and related tenant build-out

       and moving expenses..........$23,500,000.00

TOTAL........................................... $ 47,400,000.00

          (b)  (i)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under this section are deposited into the special fund, then the agency or institution of higher learning for which any unused monies are allocated under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

              (ii)  Monies in the special fund may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, in administering or providing assistance directly related to a project described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.  An accounting of actual costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought shall be maintained for each project by the Department of Finance and Administration, Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management.  Reimbursement of reasonable actual and necessary costs for a project shall not exceed two percent (2%) of the proceeds of bonds issued for such project.  Monies authorized for a particular project may not be used to reimburse administrative costs for unrelated projects.

          (c)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this subsection.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, or his designee.

          (d)  Any amounts allocated to an agency or institution of higher learning that are in excess of that needed to complete the projects at such agency or institution of higher learning that are described in paragraph (a) of this subsection may be used for general repairs and renovations at the agency or institution of higher learning to which such amount is allocated.

     (3)  (a)  The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in this section.  Upon the adoption of a resolution by the Department of Finance and Administration, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this section, the Department of Finance and Administration shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the commission.  Upon receipt of such resolution, the commission, in its discretion, may act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The total amount of bonds issued under this section shall not exceed Forty-seven Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($47,400,000.00).  No bonds shall be issued under this section after July 1, 2010.

          (b)  Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special fund created in subsection (2) of this section shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

     (4)  The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under this section shall be payable in the manner provided in this subsection.  Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.

     (5)  The bonds authorized by this section shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission.  The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers.  Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.  However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.

     (6)  All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of this section have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by this section, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     (7)  The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under this section, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under this section from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds.  The commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser.  All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

     Notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the commission.

     The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of this section, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

     (8)  The bonds issued under the provisions of this section are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged.  If the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated.  All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this subsection.

     (9)  Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of this section, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the special fund created in subsection (2) of this section.  The proceeds of such bonds shall be disbursed solely upon the order of the Department of Finance and Administration under such restrictions, if any, as may be contained in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.

     (10)  The bonds authorized under this section may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by this section.  Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this section shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.

     (11)  The bonds authorized under the authority of this section may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds.  The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

     (12)  Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of this section or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under this section, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by this section to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

     (13)  All bonds issued under the provisions of this section shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

     (14)  Bonds issued under the provisions of this section and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

     (15)  The proceeds of the bonds issued under this section shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.

     (16)  The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under this section; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

     (17)  This section shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but this section shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 460, Laws of 2006, is amended as follows:

     Section 1.  As used in Sections 1 through 19 of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (ii) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.

          (b)  "State" means the State of Mississippi.

          (c)  "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.

          (d)  "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

     Section 2. (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "Department of Marine Resources Equipment and Facilities Fund," is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such special fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the department, to provide funds to purchase real property and pay the cost of necessary equipment and repairs, renovation and construction of facilities necessary for the improvement of the marine resources of the state.

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within five (5) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under this act are deposited into the special fund, then the department shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of the bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The department is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section. 

     (4)  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the department, and those funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Department of Finance and Administration, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources or his designee.

     Section 3.  For the purpose of providing for the payment of the principal of and the interest upon bonds issued under the provisions of this act, there is hereby created in the State Treasury the "Department of Marine Resources Equipment and Facilities Bond Sinking Fund."  The sinking fund shall consist of the money required to be deposited into such fund pursuant to Section 18 of this act and such other amounts as shall be paid into such fund by appropriation or other authorization by the Legislature.  Funds required in excess of the amounts available in the Department of Marine Resources Equipment and Facilities Bond Sinking Fund to pay the principal of and the interest upon bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be appropriated from the State General Fund.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

     Section 4.  (1)  The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in Section 2 of this act.  Upon the issuance of a certificate by the executive director of the department, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this section, the executive director shall deliver a certified copy of his certificate or certificates to the commission.  Upon receipt of the certificate, the commission, in its discretion, may act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The total amount of bonds issued under this act shall not exceed Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00).

     (2)  Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special fund created in Section 2 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of the bonds.

     Section 5.  The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under this act shall be payable in the manner provided in this section.  The bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.

     Section 6.  The bonds authorized by this act shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission.  The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to the bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers.  Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of the bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date that the bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon the bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing the bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date the bonds may bear.  However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.

     Section 7.  All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of this act have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     Section 8.  The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under this act, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in the issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under this act from the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds.  The commission shall sell the bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser.  All interest accruing on the bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

     Notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the commission.

     The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of this act, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

     Section 9.  The bonds issued under the provisions of this act are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged.  If the funds available in the Department of Marine Resources Equipment and Facilities Sinking Fund and any funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on the bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated.  All the bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this section.

     Section 10.  Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of this act, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the special fund created in Section 2 of this act.  The proceeds of the bonds shall be disbursed solely upon the order of the executive director of the department under such restrictions, if any, as may be contained in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.

     Section 11.  The bonds authorized under this act may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by this act.  Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this act shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.

     Section 12.  The bonds authorized under the authority of this act may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds.  The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

     Section 13.  Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of this act or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

     Section 14. All bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

     Section 15.  Bonds issued under the provisions of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

     Section 16.  The proceeds of the bonds issued under this act shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.

     Section 17.  The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under this act; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of the bonds in ample time to discharge the bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

     Section 18.  From the funds it receives under Section 29-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, the Commission on Marine Resources shall deposit the amount of funds necessary to annually pay the principal of and interest on bonds issued pursuant to this act into the Department of Marine Resources Equipment and Facilities Bond Sinking Fund created in Section 3 of this act.  Any funds received by the Commission on Marine Resources under Section 29-15-9, and used by the Commission on Marine Resources for any purpose related to the cost of necessary equipment and repairs, renovation and construction of facilities necessary for the improvement of the marine resources of the state, other than for deposit into the Department of Marine Resources Equipment and Facilities Bond Sinking Fund created in Section 3 of this act, shall be subject to legislative appropriation.

     Section 19.  This act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

     SECTION 3.  Section 57-31-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     57-31-5.  (1)  The industrial development authority is hereby expressly authorized and empowered to acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, and to own, hold, maintain, control and develop real estate situated within the county, either within or without the corporate limits of a municipality for development, use and operation and shall be referred to herein as the "project."  The industrial development authority is further authorized and empowered to engage in works of internal improvement, including, but not limited to, construction or contracting for the construction of streets, roads, railroads, site improvements, water, sewerage, drainage, pollution and other related facilities necessary or required for industrial or commercial use and development within the county, and to acquire, purchase, install, lease, construct, own, hold, equip, control, maintain, use, operate, and repair other structures and facilities necessary and convenient for the planning, development, use, operation and maintenance within the county for industrial or commercial purposes, including, but not limited to, utility installations, elevators, compressors, warehouses, air, rail, and other transportation terminals and pollution control facilities.

     (2)  The authority is authorized and empowered to sell, lease, trade, exchange or otherwise dispose of industrial sites situated within the county to individuals, firms or corporations, public or private, for industrial or commercial use upon such terms and conditions for consideration and with safeguards as will best promote and protect the public interest, convenience and necessity, and to execute deeds, leases, contracts, easements, and other legal instruments necessary or convenient.

     (3)  The authority is authorized and empowered to fix and prescribe fees, charges and rates for the use of any water, sewerage, pollution or other facilities constructed and operated within the county and to collect the same from persons, firms and corporations using the same for industrial or commercial purposes.

     (4)  The authority is authorized and empowered to employ engineers, attorneys, accountants, consultants and such personnel as shall be reasonably necessary to carry out the duties and authority authorized by this chapter.

     (5)  The authority is expressly authorized and empowered to borrow money and issue negotiable promissory notes evidencing the same under the provisions of Section 57-31-9.  In addition to or in lieu of the pledges authorized in Section 57-31-23, the authority may secure such notes by the execution of a deed of trust upon any real estate belonging to the authority not otherwise encumbered.

     (6)  The enumeration of any specific rights and powers contained herein, and elsewhere in this chapter, where followed by general powers, shall not be construed in a restrictive sense, but rather in as broad and comprehensive a sense as possible to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.

     (7)  (a)  Any such sale, lease, trade, exchange or other disposition of industrial sites may be made, completed or executed upon such terms and conditions and for such monetary or other consideration as may be found adequate and approved by the authority in orders or resolutions authorizing the same subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection.

          (b)  In cases involving the lease of industrial sites, any covenants and obligations of the lessee to make expenditures in determined amounts, and within such time or times, for improvements to be erected on the land by such lessee and to conduct thereon industrial operations in such aggregate payroll amounts and for such period of time or times as may be determined by the authority and defined in the transaction documents, and to give preference in employment where practicable to qualified residents of the county, shall, if included in the transaction documents, constitute and be deemed sufficient consideration for the execution of any such transaction document in the absence of a monetary or other considerations.  A lease may contain reasonable provisions giving the lessee the right to remove its or his improvements upon termination of the lease.

          (c)  In cases other than a lease of an industrial site, any covenants and obligations of the grantee to make expenditures in determined amounts, and within such time or times, for improvements to be erected on the land by such grantee and to conduct thereon industrial operations in such aggregate payroll amounts and for such period of time or times as may be determined by the authority and defined in the transaction documents, and to give preference in employment where practicable to qualified residents of the county, shall, if included in the transaction documents, constitute and be deemed sufficient consideration for the execution of any such transaction document in the absence of a monetary or other considerations; however, the title to the property shall be transferred by a lease-purchase agreement with the stipulation that the conditions included in the transaction documents must be met to the satisfaction of the authority in order for the sale, trade, exchange or other disposition of the industrial site to be finally consummated.

     SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007, and shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 2007.