Senate Bill sb0564

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                   SB 564

    By Senator Siplin





    19-203-06

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to Osceola County

  3         transportation; creating pt. XI of ch. 348,

  4         F.S., titled "Osceola County Expressway

  5         Authority"; providing a short title; providing

  6         definitions; creating the Osceola County

  7         Expressway Authority; providing for a governing

  8         body of the authority; providing for

  9         membership; providing purposes and powers;

10         providing for the Osceola County Expressway

11         System; providing for procurement, including

12         eminent domain; providing for financing,

13         including bonds, debts, user charges, tolls,

14         gasoline tax funds, developer contributions, or

15         partnership agreements; requiring agreement of

16         the authority and the Department of

17         Transportation prior to use of Osceola County

18         gasoline tax funds; providing for construction,

19         operation, and maintenance of the system;

20         prohibiting the authority from pledging the

21         credit or taxing power of the state; requiring

22         the consent of Osceola County or an affected

23         municipality prior to certain actions by the

24         authority; providing for bond financing

25         authority; providing for bonds of the

26         authority; providing for fiscal agents;

27         providing that the State Board of

28         Administration may act as fiscal agent;

29         providing for certain financial agreements;

30         providing for rights and remedies of

31         bondholders; providing for a lease-purchase

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 1         agreement with the Department of

 2         Transportation; providing for appointment of

 3         the department as agent of authority for

 4         construction; providing for acquisition of

 5         lands and property; providing for cooperation

 6         with other units, boards, agencies, and

 7         individuals; providing for the covenant of the

 8         state; providing for exemption from taxation;

 9         providing for eligibility for investments and

10         security; providing that pledges shall be

11         enforceable by bondholders; providing for

12         construction and application; providing an

13         effective date.

14  

15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

16  

17         Section 1.  Part XI of chapter 348, Florida Statutes,

18  consisting of ss. 348.995, 348.9951, 348.9952, 348.9953,

19  348.9954, 348-9955, 348.9956, 348.9957, 348.9958, 348.9959,

20  348.9960, 348.9961, 348.9962, 348.9963, and 348.9964, Florida

21  Statutes, is created to read:

22                             Part XI

23               Osceola County Expressway Authority

24         348.995  Short title.--This part may be cited as the

25  "Osceola County Expressway Authority Law."

26         348.9951  Definitions.--As used in this part, except

27  where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term: 

28         (1)  "Agency of the state" means and includes the state

29  and any department of, or corporation, agency, or

30  instrumentality heretofore or hereafter created, designated,

31  or established by, the state.

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 1         (2)  "Authority" means the body politic and corporate,

 2  and agency of the state created by this part.

 3         (3)  "Bonds" means and includes the notes, bonds,

 4  refunding bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or

 5  obligations, in either temporary or definitive form, which the

 6  authority may issue under this part.

 7         (4)  "County" means the County of Osceola.

 8         (5)  "Department" means the Department of

 9  Transportation existing under chapters 334-339.

10         (6)  "Expressway" is the same as limited access

11  expressway.

12         (7)  "Federal agency" means and includes the United

13  States, the President of the United States, and any department

14  of, or corporation, agency, or instrumentality heretofore or

15  hereafter created, designated, or established by, the United

16  States.

17         (8)  "Lease-purchase agreement" means the

18  lease-purchase agreements which the authority is authorized by

19  this part to enter into with the Department of Transportation.

20         (9)  "Limited access expressway" means a street or

21  highway especially designed for through traffic, and over,

22  from, or to which, no person shall have the right of easement,

23  use, or access except in accordance with the rules adopted by

24  the authority for the use of such facility.  Such highways or

25  streets may be parkways, from which trucks, buses, and other

26  commercial vehicles shall be excluded, or freeways open to use

27  by all customary forms of street and highway traffic.

28         (10)  "Members" means the governing body of the

29  authority, and "member" means one of the individuals

30  constituting such governing body.

31  

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 1         (11)  "Osceola County gasoline tax funds" means all the

 2  80-percent surplus gasoline tax funds accruing in each year to

 3  the Department of Transportation for use in Osceola County

 4  under s. 9, Art. XII of the State Constitution, after

 5  deduction only of any amounts of such gasoline tax funds

 6  heretofore pledged by the department or the county for

 7  outstanding obligations.

 8         (12)  "Osceola County Expressway System" or "system"

 9  means any and all expressways and appurtenant facilities

10  thereto, including, but not limited to, all approaches,

11  streets, roads, bridges, and avenues of access for such

12  expressway or expressways.

13         (13)  "State Board of Administration" means the body

14  corporate existing under s. 4, Art. IV and s. 9, Art. XII of

15  the State Constitution, or any successor thereto.

16         348.9952  Osceola County Expressway Authority.--

17         (1)  There is created a body politic and corporate, an

18  agency of the state, to be known as the Osceola County

19  Expressway Authority.

20         (2)  The governing body of the authority consists of

21  five members. Three members must be citizens of Osceola

22  County, who shall be appointed by the Governor.  The fourth

23  member shall be, ex officio, the chair of the County

24  Commissioners of Osceola County, and the fifth member shall

25  be, ex officio, the district secretary of the Department of

26  Transportation serving in the district that contains Osceola

27  County.  The term of each appointed member is 4 years;

28  however, the term of each member who is appointed by the

29  Governor to the authority for the first time is 2 years. The

30  term of each appointed member continues until his or her

31  successor has been appointed and has qualified.  A vacancy

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 1  shall be filled only for the balance of the unexpired term.

 2  Each appointed member of the authority shall be a person of

 3  outstanding reputation for integrity, responsibility, and

 4  business ability, but a person who is an officer or employee

 5  of any city or of Osceola County in any other capacity may not

 6  be an appointed member of the authority. Any member is

 7  eligible for reappointment.

 8         (3)  The authority shall elect one of its members as a

 9  chair and also a secretary and a treasurer who may or may not

10  be members. The chair, secretary, and treasurer hold such

11  offices at the will of the authority.  Three members of the

12  authority constitute a quorum, and the vote of three members

13  is necessary for the authority to act. A vacancy in the

14  authority does not impair the right of a quorum of the

15  authority to exercise the rights and perform the duties of the

16  authority. Upon the effective date of his or her appointment,

17  or as soon thereafter as practicable, each appointed member

18  shall enter upon his or her duties.

19         (4)(a)  The authority may employ an executive

20  secretary, an executive director, its own counsel and legal

21  staff, technical experts, such engineers, and such employees,

22  permanent or temporary, as it may require and may determine

23  the qualifications and fix the compensation of such persons,

24  firms, or corporations and may employ a fiscal agent or

25  agents. However, the authority shall solicit sealed proposals

26  from at least three persons, firms, or corporations for the

27  performance of any services as a fiscal agent. The authority

28  may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees such of

29  its power as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of

30  this part, subject always to the supervision and control of

31  the authority.  Members may be removed from their office by

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 1  the Governor for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, or

 2  nonfeasance in office.

 3         (b)  Members of the authority are entitled to receive

 4  from the authority their travel and other necessary expenses

 5  incurred in connection with the business of the authority as

 6  provided in s. 112.061, but they shall draw no salaries or

 7  other compensation.

 8         348.9953  Purposes and powers.--

 9         (1)(a)  The authority may acquire, hold, construct,

10  improve, maintain, operate, own and lease in the capacity of

11  lessor, the Osceola County Expressway System.

12         (b)  The authority, in the construction of the system,

13  may construct any extensions, additions, or improvements to

14  such system or appurtenant facilities, including any necessary

15  approaches, roads, bridges, and avenues of access, with such

16  changes, modifications, or revisions of the project as the

17  authority deems desirable and proper.

18         (2)  The authority may exercise all powers necessary,

19  appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the carrying out of

20  the aforesaid purposes, including, but not limited to, the

21  following rights and powers:

22         (a)  To sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, and

23  complain and defend in all courts.

24         (b)  To adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal.

25         (c)  To acquire by donation, purchase, or otherwise,

26  hold, lease as lessee and use any franchise, property, real,

27  personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any options

28  thereof in its own name or in conjunction with others, or

29  interest therein, necessary or desirable to carry out the

30  purposes of the authority, and to sell, lease as lessor, or

31  

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 1  transfer and dispose of any property or interest therein

 2  acquired by it.

 3         (d)  To enter a lease agreement for a term not

 4  exceeding 40 years, as either lessee or lessor, to carry out

 5  the right to lease as set forth in this part.

 6         (e)  To enter a lease-purchase agreement with the

 7  department for a term not exceeding 40 years, or until any

 8  bonds secured by a pledge of rentals thereunder, and any

 9  refundings thereof, are fully paid as to both principal and

10  interest, whichever is longer.

11         (f)  To fix, alter, or charge and establish and collect

12  rates, fees, rentals, and other charges for the services and

13  facilities of the Osceola County Expressway System, which

14  charges must be sufficient to comply with any covenants made

15  with the holders of any bonds issued under this part; however,

16  such right and power may be assigned or delegated by the

17  authority to the department.

18         (g)  To borrow money, make and issue negotiable notes,

19  bonds, refunding bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness or

20  obligations, in temporary or definitive form, for the purpose

21  of financing all or part of the improvement or extension of

22  the Osceola County Expressway System and for any other purpose

23  authorized by this part, such bonds to mature no more than 40

24  years after the date of the issuance thereof, and to secure

25  the payment of such bonds or any part thereof by a pledge of

26  any or all of its revenues, rates, fees, rentals or other

27  charges, including all or any portion of the Osceola County

28  gasoline tax funds received by the authority pursuant to the

29  terms of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority

30  and the department; and in general to provide for the security

31  of such bonds and the rights and remedies of the holders

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 1  thereof. However no portion of the Osceola County gasoline tax

 2  funds may be pledged for the construction of any project for

 3  which a toll is to be charged unless the anticipated tolls are

 4  reasonably estimated by the board of county commissioners, at

 5  the date of its resolution pledging such funds, to be

 6  sufficient to cover the principal and interest of such

 7  obligations during the period when the pledge of funds will be

 8  in effect.

 9         1.  The authority shall reimburse Osceola County for

10  any sums expended from such gasoline tax funds used for the

11  payment of such obligations.  Any gasoline tax funds so

12  disbursed shall be repaid when the authority deems it

13  practicable, together with interest at the highest rate

14  applicable to any obligations of the authority.

15         2.  If the authority decides to fund or refund any

16  bonds theretofore issued by the authority, or by the

17  commission as aforesaid prior to the maturity thereof, the

18  proceeds of such funding or refunding bonds must, pending the

19  prior redemption of the bonds to be funded or refunded, be

20  invested in direct obligations of the United States, and such

21  outstanding bonds may be funded or refunded by the issuance of

22  bonds pursuant to this part.

23         (h)  To make contracts, including, but not limited to,

24  partnerships providing for participation in ownership and

25  revenues, and to execute all instruments necessary or

26  convenient for the carrying on of its business.

27         (i)  Without limitation of the foregoing, to borrow

28  money and accept grants from and to enter into contracts,

29  leases, or other transactions with a federal agency, an agency

30  of the state, the County of Osceola, or any other public body

31  of the state.

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 1         (j)  To have the power of eminent domain, including the

 2  procedural powers granted under chapters 73 and 74.

 3         (k)  To pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber all

 4  or part of the revenues, rates, fees, rentals or other charges

 5  or receipts of the authority, including all or a portion of

 6  the Osceola County gasoline tax funds received by the

 7  authority pursuant to the terms of a lease-purchase agreement

 8  between the authority and the department, as security for all

 9  or any of the obligations of the authority.

10         (l)  To enter into partnerships and other agreements

11  respecting ownership and revenue participation in order to

12  facilitate financing and constructing of a project of the

13  authority, or a portion thereof.

14         (m)  To participate in developer agreements or to

15  receive contributions from developers.

16         (n)  To contract with Osceola County for the operation

17  of a toll facility in the county.

18         (o)  To do all acts and things necessary or convenient

19  for the conduct of its business and the general welfare of the

20  authority in order to carry out the powers granted to it by

21  any law.

22         (p)  With the consent of the county within whose

23  jurisdiction the following activities occur, the authority may

24  construct, operate, and maintain roads, bridges, avenues of

25  access, thoroughfares, and boulevards outside the

26  jurisdictional boundaries of Osceola County, and may

27  construct, repair, replace, operate, install, and maintain

28  electronic toll payment systems thereon, with all necessary

29  and incidental powers to accomplish the foregoing.

30         (3)  The authority may not pledge the credit or taxing

31  power of the state or any political subdivision or agency

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 1  thereof, including the County of Osceola, and no obligation of

 2  the authority may be deemed to be an obligation of the state

 3  or of any political subdivision or agency thereof, nor shall

 4  the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof,

 5  except the authority, be liable for the payment of the

 6  principal of or interest on any such obligation.

 7         (4)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this part,

 8  acquisition of right-of-way for a project of the authority

 9  which is within the boundaries of a municipality in Osceola

10  County may not commence until the governing board of that

11  municipality has approved the route of such project.

12         (5)  The authority may not, without the consent of

13  Osceola County or any affected municipality, enter into an

14  agreement that would legally prohibit the construction of any

15  road by Osceola County or by any municipality within Osceola

16  County.

17         348.9954  Bonds of the authority.--

18         (1)(a)  Bonds may be issued on behalf of the authority

19  pursuant to the State Bond Act.

20         (b)  Alternatively, the authority may issue its own

21  bonds pursuant to this part at such times and in such

22  principal amount as, in the opinion of the authority, is

23  necessary to provide sufficient moneys for achieving its

24  purposes; however, such bonds may not pledge the full faith

25  and credit of the state. Bonds issued by the authority under

26  this paragraph or paragraph (a), whether on original issuance

27  or on refunding, shall be authorized by resolution of the

28  members thereof and may be either term or serial bonds, shall

29  bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, not

30  exceeding 40 years from their respective dates, bear interest

31  at such rate or rates, payable semiannually, be in such

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 1  denominations, be in such form, either coupon or fully

 2  registered, shall carry such registration, exchangeability,

 3  and interchangeability privileges, be payable in such medium

 4  of payment and at such place or places, be subject to such

 5  terms of redemption, and be entitled to such priorities on the

 6  revenues, rates, fees, rentals, or other charges or receipts

 7  of the authority, including the Osceola County gasoline tax

 8  funds received by the authority pursuant to any lease-purchase

 9  agreement between the authority and the department, as such

10  resolution or any resolution subsequent thereto may provide.

11  The bonds shall be executed either by manual or facsimile

12  signature by such officers as the authority shall determine,

13  provided that such bonds shall bear at least one signature

14  which is manually executed thereon, and the coupons attached

15  to such bonds shall bear the facsimile signature or signatures

16  of such officer or officers as shall be designated by the

17  authority and shall have the seal of the authority affixed,

18  imprinted, reproduced, or lithographed thereon, all as may be

19  prescribed in such resolution or resolutions.

20         (c)  Bonds issued under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b)

21  shall be sold at public sale in the same manner provided by

22  the State Bond Act. However, if the authority, by official

23  action at a public meeting, determines that a negotiated sale

24  of such bonds is in the best interest of the authority, the

25  authority may negotiate the sale of such bonds with the

26  underwriter or underwriters designated by the authority and

27  the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of

28  Administration with respect to bonds issued under paragraph

29  (a) or solely the authority with respect to bonds issued under

30  paragraph (b). The authority's determination to negotiate the

31  sale of such bonds may be based, in part, upon the written

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 1  advice of the authority's financial adviser. Pending the

 2  preparation of definitive bonds, interim certificates may be

 3  issued to the purchaser or purchasers of such bonds and may

 4  contain such terms and conditions as the authority may

 5  determine.

 6         (d)  The authority may issue bonds under paragraph (b)

 7  to refund any bonds previously issued whether the bonds being

 8  refunded were issued by the authority under this chapter or on

 9  behalf of the authority under the State Bond Act.

10         (2)  Any such resolution or resolutions authorizing any

11  bonds hereunder may contain provisions which shall be part of

12  the contract with the holders of such bonds, as to:

13         (a)  The pledging of all or any part of the revenues,

14  rates, fees, rentals, including all or any portion of the

15  Osceola County gasoline tax funds received by the authority

16  under the terms of any lease-purchase agreement between the

17  authority and the department, or any part thereof, or other

18  charges or receipts of the authority, derived by the

19  authority, from the Osceola County Expressway System.

20         (b)  The completion, improvement, operation, extension,

21  maintenance, repair, lease or lease-purchase agreement of the

22  system, and the duties of the authority and others, including

23  the department, with reference thereto.

24         (c)  Limitations on the purposes to which the proceeds

25  of the bonds, then or thereafter to be issued, or of any loan

26  or grant by the United States or the state may be applied.

27         (d)  The fixing, charging, establishing, and collecting

28  of rates, fees, rentals, or other charges for use of the

29  services and facilities of the system or any part thereof.

30  

31  

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 1         (e)  The setting aside of reserves or sinking funds or

 2  repair and replacement funds and the regulation and

 3  disposition thereof.

 4         (f)  Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds.

 5         (g)  The terms and provisions of any lease-purchase

 6  agreement, deed of trust or indenture securing the bonds, or

 7  under which the same may be issued.

 8         (h)  Any other or additional agreements with the

 9  holders of the bonds which the authority may deem desirable

10  and proper.

11         (3)  The authority may employ fiscal agents as provided

12  by this part or the State Board of Administration of Florida

13  may, upon request of the authority, act as fiscal agent for

14  the authority in the issuance of any bonds that may be issued

15  under this part, and the State Board of Administration may,

16  upon request of the authority, take over the management,

17  control, administration, custody, and payment of any or all

18  debt services or funds or assets now or hereafter available

19  for any bonds issued under this part.  The authority may enter

20  into any deeds of trust, indentures, or other agreements with

21  its fiscal agent, or with any bank or trust company, as

22  security for such bonds, and may, under such agreements, sign

23  and pledge all or any of the revenues, rates, fees, rentals or

24  other charges or receipts of the authority, including all or

25  any portion of the Osceola County gasoline tax funds received

26  by the authority pursuant to the terms of any lease-purchase

27  agreement between the authority and the department,

28  thereunder.  Such deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement

29  may contain such provisions as are customary in such

30  instruments, or, as the authority may authorize, including,

31  but not limited to, provisions as to:

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 1         (a)  The completion, improvement, operation, extension,

 2  maintenance, repair and lease of, or lease-purchase agreement

 3  relating to the Osceola County Expressway System, and the

 4  duties of the authority and others, including the department,

 5  with reference thereto.

 6         (b)  The application of funds and the safeguarding of

 7  funds on hand or on deposit.

 8         (c)  The rights and remedies of the trustee and the

 9  holders of the bonds.

10         (d)  The terms and provisions of the bonds or the

11  resolutions authorizing the issuance of same.

12         (4)  Any of the bonds issued under this part are, and

13  are declared to be, negotiable instruments, and shall have all

14  the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under

15  the law merchant and the negotiable instruments law of the

16  state.

17         (5)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this part,

18  each project, building, or facility which has been financed by

19  the issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness under

20  this part, and any refinancing thereof, is approved as

21  provided for in s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution.

22         348.9955  Remedies of the bondholders.--

23         (1)  The rights and the remedies conferred by this part

24  upon or granted to the bondholders are in addition to and not

25  in limitation of any rights and remedies lawfully granted to

26  such bondholders by the resolution or resolutions providing

27  for the issuance of bonds, or by a lease-purchase agreement,

28  deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement under which the

29  bonds may be issued or secured. If the authority defaults in

30  the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the

31  bonds issued under this part after such principal of or

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 1  interest on such bonds becomes due, whether at maturity or

 2  upon call for redemption, or if the department defaults in any

 3  payments under, or covenants made in, any lease-purchase

 4  agreement between the authority and the department, and such

 5  default continues for a period of 30 days, or if the authority

 6  or the department fails or refuses to comply with this part or

 7  any agreement made with, or for the benefit of, the holders of

 8  the bonds, the holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal

 9  amount of the bonds then outstanding will be entitled as of

10  right to the appointment of a trustee to represent such

11  bondholders for the purposes hereof; provided, however, that

12  such holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of

13  the bonds then outstanding have first given notice of their

14  intention to appoint a trustee, to the authority and to the

15  department. Such notice shall be deemed to have been given if

16  given in writing, and deposited in a securely sealed postpaid

17  wrapper, mailed at a regularly maintained United States post

18  office box or station and addressed, respectively, to the

19  chair of the authority and to the secretary of the department

20  at the principal office of the department.

21         (2)  Such trustee, and any trustee under any deed of

22  trust, indenture, or other agreement, may, and upon written

23  request of the holders of 25 percent, or such other

24  percentages as may be specified in any deed of trust,

25  indenture, or other agreement aforesaid, in principal amount

26  of the bonds then outstanding, shall, in any court of

27  competent jurisdiction, in his, her, or its own name:

28         (a)  By mandamus or other suit, action, or proceeding

29  at law or in equity, enforce all rights of the bondholders,

30  including the right to require the authority to fix,

31  establish, maintain, collect, and charge rates, fees, rentals,

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 1  and other charges adequate to carry out any agreement as to or

 2  pledge of the revenues or receipts of the authority to carry

 3  out any other covenants and agreements with or for the benefit

 4  of the bondholders and to perform its and their duties under

 5  this part.

 6         (b)  By mandamus or other suit, action, or proceeding

 7  at law or in equity, enforce all rights of the bondholders

 8  under or pursuant to any lease-purchase agreement between the

 9  authority and the department, including the right to require

10  the department to make all rental payments required to be made

11  by it under any such lease-purchase agreement, whether from

12  the Osceola County gasoline tax funds or other funds of the

13  department so agreed to be paid and to require the department

14  to carry out any other covenants and agreements with or for

15  the benefit of the bondholders, and to perform its and their

16  duties under this part.

17         (c)  Bring suit upon the bonds.

18         (d)  By action or suit in equity require the authority

19  or the department to account as if it were the trustee of an

20  express trust for the bondholders.

21         (e)  By action or suit in equity enjoin any acts or

22  things which may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of

23  the bondholders.

24         (3)  Any trustee when appointed as aforesaid, or acting

25  under a deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement, and

26  whether or not all bonds have been declared due and payable,

27  is entitled as of right to the appointment of a receiver who

28  may enter upon and take possession of the Osceola County

29  Expressway System or the facilities or any part or parts

30  thereof, the rates, fees, rentals, or other revenues, charges

31  or receipts from which are, or may be, applicable to the

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 1  payment of the bonds so in default, and subject to and in

 2  compliance with any lease-purchase agreement between the

 3  authority and the department operate and maintain the same,

 4  for and on behalf of and in the name of, the authority, the

 5  department, and the bondholders, and collect and receive all

 6  rates, fees, rentals, and other charges, receipts, or revenues

 7  arising therefrom in the same manner as the authority or the

 8  department might do, and shall deposit all such moneys in a

 9  separate account and apply the same in such manner as the

10  court shall direct. In any suit, action, or proceeding by the

11  trustee, the fees, counsel fees, and expenses of the trustee,

12  and such receiver, if any, and all costs and disbursements

13  allowed by the court shall be a first charge on any rates,

14  fees, rentals, or other charges, revenues, or receipts,

15  derived from the Osceola County Expressway System, or the

16  facilities or services or any part or parts thereof, including

17  payments under any such lease-purchase agreement as aforesaid

18  which said rates, fees, rentals, or other charges, revenues,

19  or receipts shall or may be applicable to the payment of the

20  bonds so in default. Such trustee shall, in addition to the

21  foregoing, have and possess all of the powers necessary or

22  appropriate for the exercise of any functions specifically set

23  forth herein or incident to the representation of the

24  bondholders in the enforcement and protection of their rights.

25         (4)  This part does not authorize any receiver

26  appointed pursuant hereto for the purpose, subject to and in

27  compliance with any lease-purchase agreement between the

28  authority and the department, of operating and maintaining the

29  Osceola County Expressway System or any facilities or part or

30  parts thereof, to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose

31  of any of the assets of whatever kind and character belonging

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 1  to the authority.  It is the intention of this part to limit

 2  the powers of such receiver, subject to and in compliance with

 3  any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the

 4  department, to the operation and maintenance of the Osceola

 5  County Expressway System, or any facility, or part or parts

 6  thereof, as the court may direct, in the name and for and on

 7  behalf of the authority, the department, and the bondholders,

 8  and no holder of bonds on the authority nor any trustee, shall

 9  ever have the right in any suit, action, or proceeding at law

10  or in equity, to compel a receiver, nor shall any receiver be

11  authorized or any court, be empowered to direct the receiver

12  to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any assets

13  of whatever kind or character belonging to the authority.

14         348.9956  Lease-purchase agreement.--

15         (1)  In order to effectuate the purposes of this part

16  and as authorized by this part, the authority may enter into a

17  lease-purchase agreement with the department relating to and

18  covering the Osceola County Expressway System.

19         (2)  Such lease-purchase agreement shall provide for

20  the leasing of the system, by the authority, as lessor, to the

21  department, as lessee, shall prescribe the term of such lease

22  and the rentals to be paid thereunder and shall provide that

23  upon the completion of the faithful performance thereunder and

24  the termination of such lease-purchase agreement, title in fee

25  simple absolute to the Osceola County Expressway System as

26  then constituted shall be transferred in accordance with law

27  by the authority to the state, and the authority shall deliver

28  to the department such deeds and conveyances as shall be

29  necessary or convenient to vest title in fee simple absolute

30  in the state.

31  

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 1         (3)  Such lease-purchase agreement may include such

 2  other provisions, agreements, and covenants as the authority

 3  and the department deem advisable or required, including, but

 4  not limited to, provisions as to the bonds to be issued under,

 5  and for the purposes of, this part, the completion, extension,

 6  improvement, operation, and maintenance of the system and the

 7  expenses and the cost of operation of such authority, the

 8  charging and collection of tolls, rates, fees, and other

 9  charges for the use of the services and facilities thereof,

10  the application of federal or state grants or aid which may be

11  made or given to assist the authority in the completion,

12  extension, improvement, operation, and maintenance of the

13  system, which the authority may accept and apply to such

14  purposes, the enforcement of payment and collection of rentals

15  and any other terms, provisions, or covenants necessary,

16  incidental, or appurtenant to the making of and full

17  performance under such lease-purchase agreement.

18         (4)  The department as lessee under such lease-purchase

19  agreement, may pay as rentals thereunder any rates, fees,

20  charges, funds, moneys, receipts, or income accruing to the

21  department from the operation of the system and the Osceola

22  County gasoline tax funds and may also pay as rentals any

23  appropriations received by the department pursuant to any act

24  of the Legislature heretofore or hereafter enacted; however,

25  nothing herein or in such lease-purchase agreement is intended

26  to nor shall this part or such lease-purchase agreement

27  require the making or continuance of such appropriations, nor

28  shall any holder of bonds issued pursuant to this part ever

29  have any right to compel the making or continuance of such

30  appropriations.

31  

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 1         (5)  No pledge of such Osceola County gasoline tax

 2  funds as rentals under such lease-purchase agreement may be

 3  made without the consent of the County of Osceola evidenced by

 4  a resolution duly adopted by the board of county commissioners

 5  of such county at a public hearing held pursuant to due notice

 6  thereof published at least once a week for 3 consecutive weeks

 7  before the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in

 8  Osceola County. Such resolution, among other things, shall

 9  provide that any excess of such pledged gasoline tax funds

10  which is not required for debt service or reserves for such

11  debt service for any bonds issued by the authority shall be

12  returned annually to the department for distribution to

13  Osceola County as provided by law. Before making any

14  application for such pledge of gasoline tax funds, the

15  authority shall present the plan of its proposed project to

16  the Osceola County planning and zoning commission for its

17  comments and recommendations.

18         (6)  The department may covenant in any lease-purchase

19  agreement that it will pay all or any part of the cost of the

20  operation, maintenance, repair, renewal, and replacement of

21  such system, and any part of the cost of completing such

22  system to the extent that the proceeds of bonds issued

23  therefor are insufficient, from sources other than the

24  revenues derived from the operation of such system and such

25  Osceola County gasoline tax funds. The department may also

26  agree to make such other payments from any moneys available to

27  such commission, such county, or such municipality in

28  connection with the construction or completion of such system

29  as shall be deemed by the department to be fair and proper

30  under any such covenants heretofore or hereafter entered into.

31  

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 1         (7)  The system shall be a part of the state road

 2  system and the department may, upon the request of the

 3  authority, expend out of any funds available for the purpose

 4  such moneys, and use such of its engineering and other forces,

 5  as may be necessary and desirable in the judgment of the

 6  department, for the operation of the authority and for traffic

 7  surveys, borings, surveys, preparation of plans and

 8  specifications, estimates of cost, and other preliminary

 9  engineering and other studies; however, the aggregate amount

10  of moneys expended for such purposes by the department may not

11  exceed $375,000.

12         348.9957  Department may be appointed agent of

13  authority for construction.--The authority may appoint the

14  department as its agent for the purpose of constructing

15  improvements and extensions to the system and for the

16  completion thereof.  In such event, the authority shall

17  provide the department with complete copies of all documents,

18  agreements, resolutions, contracts, and instruments relating

19  thereto and request the department to do such construction

20  work, including the planning, surveying, and actual

21  construction of the completion, extensions, and improvements

22  to the system, and shall transfer to the credit of an account

23  of the department in the treasury of the state the necessary

24  funds therefor and the department shall thereupon be

25  authorized, empowered, and directed to proceed with such

26  construction and to use such funds for such purpose in the

27  same manner that it may now use the funds otherwise provided

28  by law for its use in construction of roads and bridges.

29         348.9958  Acquisition of lands and property.--

30         (1)  For the purposes of this part, the authority may

31  acquire private or public property and property rights,

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 1  including rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift,

 2  devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain

 3  proceedings, as it may deem necessary for any of the purposes

 4  of this part, including, but not limited to, any lands

 5  reasonably necessary for securing applicable permits, areas

 6  necessary for management of access, borrow pits, drainage

 7  ditches, water retention areas, rest areas, replacement access

 8  for landowners whose access is impaired due to the

 9  construction of a facility, and replacement rights-of-way for

10  relocated rail and utility facilities; for existing, proposed,

11  or anticipated transportation facilities on the system or in a

12  transportation corridor designated by the authority; or for

13  the purposes of screening, relocation, removal, or disposal of

14  junkyards and scrap metal processing facilities. The authority

15  may condemn any material and property necessary for such

16  purposes.

17         (2)  The right of eminent domain herein conferred shall

18  be exercised by the authority in the manner provided by law.

19         (3)  When the authority acquires property for a

20  transportation facility or in a transportation corridor, it is

21  not subject to any liability imposed by chapter 376 or chapter

22  403 for preexisting soil or groundwater contamination due

23  solely to its ownership. This section does not affect the

24  rights or liabilities of any past or future owners of the

25  acquired property and does not affect the liability of any

26  governmental entity for the results of its actions which

27  create or exacerbate a pollution source. The authority and the

28  Department of Environmental Protection may enter into

29  interagency agreements for the performance, funding, and

30  reimbursement of the investigative and remedial acts necessary

31  for property acquired by the authority.

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 1         348.9959  Cooperation with other units, boards,

 2  agencies, and individuals.--Any county, municipality, drainage

 3  district, road and bridge district, or school district or any

 4  other political subdivision, board, commission, or individual

 5  in or of the state may enter into with the authority,

 6  contracts, leases, conveyances, partnerships, or other

 7  agreements within the provisions and purposes of this part.

 8  The authority may enter into contracts, leases, conveyances,

 9  partnerships, and other agreements with any political

10  subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the state and any

11  and all federal agencies, corporations, and individuals, for

12  the purpose of carrying out this part.

13         348.9960  Covenant of the state.--The state pledges to,

14  and agrees, with any person, firm or corporation, or federal

15  or state agency subscribing to, or acquiring the bonds to be

16  issued by the authority for the purposes of this part that the

17  state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in the

18  authority and the department until all bonds at any time

19  issued, together with the interest thereon, are fully paid and

20  discharged insofar as the same affects the rights of the

21  holders of bonds issued hereunder. The state does further

22  pledge to, and agree, with the United States that in the event

23  any federal agency shall construct or contribute any funds for

24  the completion, extension, or improvement of the system, or

25  any part or portion thereof, the state will not alter or limit

26  the rights and powers of the authority and the department in

27  any manner which would be inconsistent with the continued

28  maintenance and operation of the system or the completion,

29  extension, or improvement thereof, or which would be

30  inconsistent with the due performance of any agreements

31  between the authority and any such federal agency, and the

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 1  authority and the department shall continue to have and may

 2  exercise all powers herein granted, so long as the same shall

 3  be necessary or desirable for the carrying out of the purposes

 4  of this part and the purposes of the United States in the

 5  completion, extension, or improvement of the system, or any

 6  part or portion thereof.

 7         348.9961  Exemption from taxation.--The effectuation of

 8  the authorized purposes of the authority created under this

 9  part is, shall and will be, in all respects for the benefit of

10  the people of the state, for the increase of their commerce

11  and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and

12  living conditions, and since the authority will be performing

13  essential governmental functions in effectuating such

14  purposes, the authority shall not be required to pay any taxes

15  or assessments of any kind or nature whatsoever upon any

16  property acquired or used by it for such purposes, or upon any

17  rates, fees, rentals, receipts, income, or charges at any time

18  received by it, and the bonds issued by the authority, their

19  transfer and the income therefrom, including any profits made

20  on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation

21  of any kind by the state, or by any political subdivision, or

22  taxing agency or instrumentality thereof. The exemption

23  granted by this section does not apply to any tax imposed by

24  chapter 220 on interest, income, or profits on debt

25  obligations owned by corporations.

26         348.9962  Eligibility for investments and

27  security.--Any bonds or other obligations issued under this

28  part shall be and constitute legal investments for banks,

29  savings banks, trustees, executors, administrators, and all

30  other fiduciaries, and for all state, municipal, and other

31  public funds and shall also be and constitute securities

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 1  eligible for deposit as security for all state, municipal or

 2  other public funds, notwithstanding any other law or laws to

 3  the contrary.

 4         348.9963  Pledges enforceable by bondholders.--It is

 5  the express intention of this part that any pledge by the

 6  department of rates, fees, revenues, Osceola County gasoline

 7  tax funds, or other funds, as rentals, to the authority, or

 8  any covenants or agreements relative thereto may be

 9  enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction against the

10  authority or directly against the department by any holder of

11  bonds issued by the authority.

12         348.9964  This part complete and additional

13  authority.--

14         (1)  The powers conferred by this part shall be in

15  addition and supplemental to the existing powers of said board

16  and the department, and this part shall not be construed as

17  repealing any of the provisions, of any other law, general,

18  special, or local, but to supersede such other laws in the

19  exercise of the powers provided in this part, and to provide a

20  complete method for the exercise of the powers granted in this

21  part.  The extension and improvement of the system, and the

22  issuance of bonds hereunder to finance all or part of the cost

23  thereof, may be accomplished upon compliance with this part

24  without regard to or necessity for compliance with the

25  provisions, limitations, or restrictions in any other general,

26  special, or local law, including, but not limited to, s.

27  215.821, and no approval of any bonds issued under this part

28  by the qualified electors or qualified electors who are

29  freeholders in the state or in Osceola County, or in any other

30  political subdivision of the state, shall be required for the

31  issuance of such bonds pursuant to this part.

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 1         (2)  This part shall not be deemed to repeal, rescind,

 2  or modify any other law or laws relating to the State Board of

 3  Administration, the department, or the Division of Bond

 4  Finance of the State Board of Administration, but shall be

 5  deemed to and shall supersede such other law or laws as are

 6  inconsistent with this part, including, but not limited to, s.

 7  215.821.

 8         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

 9  law.

10  

11            *****************************************

12                          SENATE SUMMARY

13    Creates the Osceola County Expressway Authority. Provides
      definitions.  Provides for governing body, membership,
14    purposes, and powers. Provides for the Osceola County
      Expressway System, including procurement, financing,
15    construction, operation, and maintenance. Prohibits the
      authority from pledging the credit or taxing power of the
16    state. Requires the consent of Osceola County or an
      affected municipality prior to certain actions by the
17    authority. Provides for bond financing authority,
      including bonds of the authority. Provides for fiscal
18    agents, including the State Board of Administration.
      Provides for certain financial agreements. Provides for
19    rights and remedies of bondholders. Provides for a
      lease-purchase agreement with the Department of
20    Transportation and appointment of the department as agent
      of authority for construction. Provides for acquisition
21    of lands and property. Provides for cooperation with
      other entities. Provides covenant of the state and
22    exemption from taxation. Provides for eligibility for
      investments and security. Provides that pledges shall be
23    enforceable by bondholders.  Provides for construction
      and application.
24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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