(a) The state, acting by and through the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the State Treasurer, may enter into a contract with the Capital Region Development Authority providing that the state shall pay contract assistance to the authority pursuant to the provisions of this section. Such contract assistance is limited to an amount equal to the annual debt service on the outstanding amount of bonds to be issued pursuant to section 32-607 to finance the costs of the convention center project, as defined in subdivision (3) of section 32-600. The contract entered into pursuant to this section shall include such provisions as the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the State Treasurer deem necessary to assure the efficient construction and operation of such project and find are in the best interests of the state. No such contract shall be entered into by the secretary and the State Treasurer unless the board of directors of the authority files therewith a certificate setting forth its findings and determinations of the extent to which the incremental tax revenues under the authority of law existing at the time such certificate is filed to be derived as a result of the construction and operation of the project and visitor spending with respect thereto are reasonably expected to offset, over the term that the bonds are scheduled to be outstanding, the amount of debt service expected to be paid on authority bonds to be secured by such state assistance contract. In the event the secretary and the State Treasurer substantially concur with the findings of the board, a certificate evidencing such substantial concurrence shall be filed by such secretary and State Treasurer with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In making such findings and determinations and executing such approval, the board, the secretary and the State Treasurer shall each be entitled to rely upon such reports and estimates of experts, as appropriate, for the proper evaluation of feasibility of the project, including, without limitation, estimates relating to the incremental tax revenues resulting from the convention center project, reasonable expectation as to the additional development in the area of the convention center project and such additional expenditures as a result of construction, tourism and other travel, entertainment and retail sales as may result from the location of such project in the capital city of the state.

(b) As part of such contract with the authority, or as a supplemental contract to such contract, the state, acting by and through the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the State Treasurer, may provide for contract assistance for the funding of the completion, improvement or expansion of the project approved under subsection (a) of this section on the same terms and subject to the same conditions and findings set forth in said subsection (a).

(c) Any such contract may also provide that such contract assistance shall be paid by the state directly to the trustee or paying agent for any bonds, notes or other obligations, as applicable, with respect to which the contract assistance is provided. Any provision of such a contract entered into providing for payments equal to annual debt service shall constitute a full faith and credit obligation of the state and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of any bonds or notes, as applicable, appropriation of all amounts necessary to meet punctually the terms of such provision is hereby made and the State Treasurer shall pay such amount as the same become due. The board of directors of the authority may pledge such contract assistance of the state as security for the payment of such bonds, notes or other obligations issued by the authority.

(d) Any bonds issued under the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section and at any time outstanding may at any time or from time to time be refunded by the board of directors of the authority by the issuance of its refunding bonds in such amounts as the authority may deem necessary or appropriate and with the consent of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the State Treasurer upon a finding that it is in the best interest of the state, but not exceeding an amount sufficient to refund the principal amount of the bonds to be so refunded, any unpaid interest thereon and any premiums, commissions and costs of issuance necessary to be paid in connection therewith. Any such refunding may be effected whether the bonds to be refunded shall have matured or shall thereafter mature. The state, acting by and through the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the State Treasurer and the State Bond Commission, may execute a contract for contract assistance for the payment of annual debt service on such refunding bonds. If the State Treasurer and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management request a refunding, the authority shall not unreasonably withhold approval.

(P.A. 98-179, S. 9, 30; P.A. 12-147, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 98-179 effective June 1, 1998; P.A. 12-147 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “Capital City Economic Development Authority” with “Capital Region Development Authority”, effective June 15, 2012.