§ 142-84.  Procedure for incurrence or issuance of special indebtedness.

(a) Notice and Certificate. - Whenever the State or a State agency determines that special indebtedness is appropriate to finance capital facilities, it shall notify the Department of Administration. If the Department of Administration concurs, it shall provide written notice to the State Treasurer advising the State Treasurer of this determination.

After the filing of the notice and after any preliminary conference, the State Treasurer shall consult with the Office of State Budget and Management as to the revenues expected by that Office to be available to pay all sums to come due on the special indebtedness during its term. If, after consulting with the Office of State Budget and Management, the State Treasurer determines by written certificate that it may be desirable to use special indebtedness to finance the capital facilities, the Department of Administration shall request the Council of State to give its preliminary approval of the use of special indebtedness to finance the capital facilities. The Department of Administration must promptly file copies of the notice and certificate required by this subsection with the Governor and the Council of State.

(b) Preliminary Approval. - The Council of State, upon receipt of the notice and certificate required by subsection (a) of this section, shall adopt a resolution granting or denying preliminary approval of the financing. A resolution granting preliminary approval may include any other terms, conditions, and restrictions the Council of State considers appropriate and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article.

(c) Final Approval. - Before any special indebtedness may be incurred or issued pursuant to this Article, the Council of State must authorize the indebtedness by resolution, either as part of or separate from the resolution required by subsection (b) of this section. The resolution must do all of the following:

(1) Authorize the providing of a particular capital facility or, in general terms, the types or classifications of capital facilities to be provided.

(2) Set the aggregate principal amount or maximum principal amount of the special indebtedness authorized.

(3) Set the maturity or maximum maturity of the special indebtedness authorized.

(4) Set the rate, rates, or maximum rate of interest, which may be fixed or vary over a period of time, of the special indebtedness authorized.

(5) Include any other conditions or matters not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article in the discretion of the Council of State, which may include the adoption or approvals as may be authorized in G.S. 142-88 and G.S. 142-89.

(d) Financing Terms. - No special indebtedness shall be incurred or issued without the prior written approval of the State Treasurer as provided in this subsection, which is in addition to the certificate given by the State Treasurer pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. In determining whether to approve the proposed financing, the State Treasurer may consider any factors the State Treasurer considers relevant in order to find and determine all of the following:

(1) The amounts to become due under the special indebtedness, including the interest component or rate, are adequate and not excessive for the purpose proposed.

(2) The increase, if any, in State revenues, including taxes, necessary to pay the sums to become due under the special indebtedness is not excessive.

(3) The special indebtedness can be incurred or issued on terms desirable to the State.

(e) Designation of Facilities. - If the Council of State has authorized in general terms the types or classifications of capital facilities to be financed, then the particular capital facilities and the principal amount of special indebtedness to be incurred or issued for each particular capital facility shall be determined by the Department of Administration after considering any factors it considers relevant in order to determine that the particular capital facility to be provided is desirable for the efficient operation of the State and its agencies and is in the best interests of the State.

(f) Type of Debt and Security. - In the absence of a determination by the Council of State, the State Treasurer, after consultation with the Department of Administration, shall determine the specific security offered and whether the special indebtedness to be issued or incurred shall be financing contract indebtedness, certificates of participation indebtedness, bonded indebtedness, or some combination of these.

(g) Administration. - The State Treasurer, after consultation with the Department of Administration, shall develop appropriate documents for use under this Article. The State Treasurer shall employ and designate the financial consultants, fiduciaries and other agents, underwriters, and bond attorneys to be associated with the incurrence or issuance of special indebtedness pursuant to this Article.

(h) Oversight by Joint Legislative Commission. - After all the requirements for approval and oversight provided in this section have been met, and at least five days before the issuance or incurrence of the special indebtedness, the State Treasurer must report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations. This report must include the details of the proposed special indebtedness, including the capital facilities to be financed by the indebtedness, the amount of the proposed indebtedness, the type of indebtedness to be issued or incurred, and any other information required by the Commission. (2003-284, s. 46.2; 2003-314, s. 1; 2004-203, s. 79.)