(a) The bonds specified in the resolution shall be sold by the Treasurer, at the time fixed by the Treasurer, and upon the notice that the Treasurer may deem advisable, or at the time to which the sale shall have been so continued, either at a competitive sale to the bidder whose bid will result in the lowest interest cost on account of those bonds or by a negotiated sale if the Treasurer determines it will result in a lower interest cost. With respect to bonds sold by the Treasurer by negotiated sales, the Treasurer shall make a finding on the public record as to why a competitive sale was not used. The Treasurer may sell the bonds at a price below the par value thereof, but the discount on bonds so sold shall not exceed 3 percent of the par value. The interest, if any, accrued to the date of delivery of, and payment for, the bonds shall be added to the sale price of the bonds in any case.

(b) (1) The method of determining the lowest interest cost bid shall be prescribed in the bond resolution and shall be limited to either the net interest cost method or the true interest cost method.

(A) The net interest cost of each bid shall be determined by ascertaining the total amount of interest that the state would be required to pay under that bid, from the date of the bonds to the respective maturity dates of the bonds then offered for sale, at the interest rate or rates specified in the bid, less the total amount of the premium, if any, or plus the total amount of the discount, if any, offered by the bid. The bid under which the amount so ascertained is the least shall be deemed to be the bid resulting in the lowest net interest cost.

(B) Under the true interest cost method, the bonds shall be awarded to the bidder submitting the lowest interest rate bid determined by the nominal interest rate that, when compounded semiannually and used to discount the debt service payments on the bonds to the date of the bonds, results in an amount equal to the price bid for the bonds, excluding interest accrued to the date of delivery.

(2) Under either method specified in this subdivision, the sale shall be for cash, payable upon the delivery of the bonds in definitive form, or if the right to deliver temporary securities has been reserved, then upon the delivery of the temporary securities.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or (b), if the resolution prescribes that the bonds may pay a variable interest rate, as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 16731, the Treasurer may sell the bonds by negotiated sales if the Treasurer determines that it is in the best interest of the state to do so.

(d) This section shall apply to any bonds authorized at any statewide election held at any time after the effective date of this section. Section 16754 shall apply only to bonds authorized at elections held before the effective date of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 205, Sec. 11. (SB 826) Effective January 1, 2010.)