Sec. 9. (a) Subject to IC 8-9.5-8-10, the authority is authorized to provide by a resolution at one (1) time or from time to time for the issuance of toll road revenue bonds of the state for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of any one (1) or more toll road projects. The principal of and the interest on such bonds shall be payable solely from an allocation of money from the rural transportation road fund under IC 8-9.5-8-16 or from the revenues or from the proceeds of bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter and earnings thereon, or from all three (3).

(b) The bonds of each issue shall:

(1) be dated;

(2) bear interest at such rate or rates as shall be established by the authority;

(3) mature at such time or times not exceeding forty (40) years from their date or dates, as may be determined by the authority; and

(4) be made redeemable before maturity at the option of the authority at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the authority prior to the issuance of the bonds.

(c) The authority shall:

(1) determine the form of the bonds, including any interest coupons to be attached thereto;

(2) fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds; and

(3) fix the place or places of payment of principal and interest, which may be at any bank or trust company within or without the state.

(d) The bonds shall be signed by the chairman of the authority or by his facsimile signature, and attested to by the manual or the facsimile signature of the public finance director, and any coupons attached thereto shall bear the facsimile signature of the chairman of the authority. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such bonds, such signature or such facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if he had remained in office until such delivery. The authority may also provide for the authentication of the bonds by a trustee or fiscal agent.

(e) All bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter shall have and are declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the negotiable instruments law of the state of Indiana.

(f) The bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both, as the authority may determine, and provisions may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone and also as to both principal and interest, and for the reconversion into coupon bonds of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest.

(g) The authority may sell such bonds in such manner and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interests for the state, either at a public or private sale.

(h) The proceeds of the bonds of each issue shall be:

(1) used solely for the payment of the cost of the toll road project or projects for which such bonds shall have been issued; and

(2) disbursed in such manner and under such restrictions, if any, as the authority may provide in authorizing the issuance of such bonds or in the trust agreement mentioned securing the same.

(i) If the proceeds of the bonds of any issue, by error of estimates or otherwise, shall be less than such cost, additional bonds may in like manner be issued to provide the amount of such deficit, and, unless otherwise provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or in the trust agreement securing the same, shall be deemed to be of the same issue and shall be entitled to payment from the same fund without preference or priority of the bonds first issued.

(j) If the proceeds of the bonds of any issue shall exceed the cost of the toll road project or projects for which the same shall have been issued, the surplus shall be deposited to the credit of the sinking fund for such bonds.

(k) Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the authority may under like restrictions, issue interim receipts or temporary bonds, with or without coupons, exchangeable for definitive bonds when such bonds shall have been executed and are available for delivery. The authority may also provide for the replacement of any bonds which shall become mutilated or shall be destroyed or lost.

(l) Except as provided by IC 8-9.5-8-10, bonds may be issued under the provisions of this chapter without:

(1) obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau, or agency of the state; and

(2) any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things than those proceedings, conditions, or things which are specifically required by this chapter.

Formerly: Acts 1951, c.281, s.9; Acts 1969, c.86, s.2; Acts 1971, P.L.99, SEC.2. As amended by Acts 1980, P.L.74, SECS.233, 234; P.L.109-1983, SEC.12; P.L.386-1987(ss), SEC.10; P.L.5-1988, SEC.52; P.L.162-2007, SEC.32.