Subdivision 1. Scope. In sections 136A.25 to 136A.42, the following words and terms shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings ascribed to them.

Subd. 2. Authority. "Authority" means the Higher Education Facilities Authority created by sections 136A.25 to 136A.42.

Subd. 3. Project. "Project" means a structure or structures available for use as a dormitory or other student housing facility, a dining hall, student union, administration building, academic building, library, laboratory, research facility, classroom, athletic facility, health care facility, child care facility, and maintenance, storage, or utility facility and other structures or facilities related thereto or required or useful for the instruction of students or the conducting of research or the operation of an institution of higher education, whether proposed, under construction, or completed, including parking and other facilities or structures essential or convenient for the orderly conduct of such institution for higher education, and shall also include landscaping, site preparation, furniture, equipment and machinery, and other similar items necessary or convenient for the operation of a particular facility or structure in the manner for which its use is intended but shall not include such items as books, fuel, supplies, or other items the costs of which are customarily deemed to result in a current operating charge, and shall not include any facility used or to be used for sectarian instruction or as a place of religious worship nor any facility which is used or to be used primarily in connection with any part of the program of a school or department of divinity for any religious denomination.

Subd. 4. Cost. "Cost," as applied to a project or any portion thereof financed under the provisions of sections 136A.25 to 136A.42, means all or any part of the cost of construction, acquisition, alteration, enlargement, reconstruction and remodeling of a project including all lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements and interests acquired or used for or in connection with a project, the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such buildings or structures may be moved, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, interest prior to, during and for a period after completion of such construction and acquisition, provisions for reserves for principal and interest and for extensions, enlargements, additions and improvements, the cost of architectural, engineering, financial and legal services, plans, specifications, studies, surveys, estimates of cost and of revenues, administrative expenses, expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing the project and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the construction and acquisition of the project, the financing of such construction and acquisition and the placing of the project in operation.

Subd. 5. Bonds. "Bonds," or "revenue bonds" means revenue bonds of the authority issued under the provisions of sections 136A.25 to 136A.42, including revenue refunding bonds, notwithstanding that the same may be secured by mortgage or the full faith and credit of a participating institution for higher education or any other lawfully pledged security of a participating institution for higher education.

Subd. 6. Institution of higher education. "Institution of higher education" means a nonprofit educational institution within the state authorized to provide a program of education beyond the high school level.

Subd. 7. Participating institution of higher education. "Participating institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education that, under the provisions of sections 136A.25 to 136A.42, undertakes the financing and construction or acquisition of a project or undertakes the refunding or refinancing of obligations or of a mortgage or of advances as provided in sections 136A.25 to 136A.42. Community colleges and technical colleges may be considered participating institutions of higher education for the purpose of financing and constructing child care facilities and parking facilities.

History: 1971 c 868 s 4; 1978 c 706 s 61; 1990 c 610 art 1 s 47,48; 1Sp1995 c 2 art 1 s 38