The authority shall have, in addition to all other powers granted to it in this division, all of the following powers:

(1) To have succession by its corporate name until dissolved as herein provided.

(2) To institute and defend legal proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction and proper venue; provided, however, that the authority may not be sued in any nisi prius court other than the courts of the county in which is located the principal office of the authority; and provided further that the officers, directors, agents, and employees of the authority may not be sued for actions in behalf of the authority in any nisi prius court other than the courts of the county in which is located the principal office of the authority.

(3) To have and to use a corporate seal and to alter the seal at pleasure.

(4) To establish a fiscal year.

(5) To adopt, and from time to time amend and repeal, bylaws, rules, and regulations not inconsistent with this division, to carry out and to effect the powers and purposes of the authority in the conduct of its business.

(6) To sell and issue bonds in limited amounts as provided in this division and for the purpose of promoting economic development and industrial recruitment as specified by the Legislature by separate act thereof.

(7) To sell and issue refunding bonds, subject to the terms and conditions of this division.

(8) To receive and deposit the tobacco revenues into the special fund to invest such tobacco revenues in the manner provided in this division, to apply such tobacco revenues to payment of bonds issued by the authority in the manner provided in this division, and to transfer funds from the special fund to fund accounts in the State Treasury, including the Children First Trust Fund, Alabama Senior Services Trust Fund, and the State General Fund, as required by law.

(9) To execute and deliver mortgages, security agreements and trust indentures, and other forms of agreements for the purpose of securing the authority's bonds and in connection therewith, to mortgage, pledge, or assign the appropriated funds and other monies and property available to the authority.

(10) As security for the payment of the authority's bonds, to pledge the appropriated funds and any other monies and property available to the authority.

(11) To arrange for various forms of security or credit enhancement for the authority's bonds, including letters of credit, guaranties, policies of insurance, surety bonds, and similar instruments.

(12) To accept gifts, grants, loans, appropriations, and other forms of aid from the federal government, the state or any state agency, or any political subdivision of the state, or any person, corporation, foundation, or legal entity, and to agree to and comply with any conditions attached to federal and state financial assistance not inconsistent with this division.

(13) To establish accounts in one or more depositories.

(14) To appoint, employ, contract with, and provide for the compensation of employees and agents, including engineers, attorneys, contractors, consultants, accountants, fiscal advisors, trustees, paying agents, investment bankers, and underwriters as the directors deem necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the authority.

(15) To make, enter into, and execute financing agreements and other contracts, agreements, or other instruments, and to take other actions as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish any purpose for which the authority was organized or to exercise any power granted to it.

(16) To sell, exchange, and convey any or all real or personal property belonging to the authority whenever its directors shall find any such action to be in furtherance of the purposes for which the authority was organized.

(17) To acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property.

(18) To exercise any power granted by the laws of the state to public or private corporations which is not in conflict with the public purpose of this division.

(19) To adopt and promulgate administrative regulations necessary or appropriate to effectuate its purposes and to administer the programs herein authorized.