(a) The authority is hereby authorized to provide for the issuance of bonds of the authority for the purpose of refunding, directly or indirectly, any bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of the authority or any public agency then outstanding, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon and any interest accrued or to accrue to the earliest or subsequent date of redemption, purchase, or maturity of such bonds, and, if deemed advisable by the authority, for the additional purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of constructing and acquiring additions, improvements, extensions, or enlargements of a project or any portion thereof.

(b) The proceeds of any such bonds issued for the purpose of refunding outstanding bonds, notes, or other securities may, in the discretion of the authority, be applied to the purchase or retirement at maturity or redemption of such outstanding bonds either on their earliest or any subsequent redemption date or upon the purchase or retirement at the maturity thereof and may, pending such application, be placed in escrow to be applied to such purchase or retirement at maturity or redemption on such date as may be determined by the authority.

(c) Pending such use, any such escrowed proceeds may be invested and reinvested by the State Treasurer or any trustee in instruments as may be specified in the resolution or indenture governing the bonds to be refunded, maturing at such time or times as shall be appropriate to ensure the prompt payment, as to principal, interest, and redemption premium, if any, of the outstanding bonds to be so refunded. The interest, income, and profits, if any, earned or realized on any such investment may also be applied to the payment of the outstanding bonds to be so refunded. After the terms of the escrow have been fully satisfied and carried out, any balance of such proceeds and interest, income, and profits, if any, earned or realized on the investments thereof may be returned to the authority for use by it in any lawful manner.

(d) All such bonds shall be subject to the provisions of this division in the same manner and to the same extent as other bonds issued pursuant to this division. Prior to refunding bonds or evidence of indebtedness not originally issued by the authority, the authority shall make findings that the project being refinanced qualifies as a project as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 26003 until June 30, 2016, and as of July 1, 2016, as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 26003.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 677, Sec. 26. (SB 1128) Effective January 1, 2013.)