§ 69-a. Definitions. As used throughout this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

1. "Variable rate bonds" shall mean any State-supported debt which bears interest at a rate or rates which varies from time to time.

2. "Interest rate exchange or similar agreement" shall mean a written contract entered into in connection with the issuance of State-supported debt, or in connection with such State-supported debt already outstanding, with a counterparty to provide for an exchange of payments based upon fixed and/or variable interest rates, and shall be for exchanges in currency of the United States of America only.

3. "State-supported debt" shall mean all debt included in subdivision one of section sixty-seven-a of this chapter.

4. "Authorized issuer" shall mean the state or any state public corporation which is authorized to issue State-supported debt.

5. "Governing board" shall mean, for each state public corporation which is authorized to issue State-supported debt, its board of directors or, in the absence of a board of directors, its other appropriate supervising body and, in relation to state general obligation debt, the state comptroller.

6. "Variable rate debt instruments" shall mean, for any calculation purpose, (i) variable rate bonds or (ii) any state-supported debt and related interest rate exchange or similar agreements which, when considered together, result in an authorized issuer effectively paying interest at a rate or rates which varies from time to time, but shall not include any variable rate bonds, or any state-supported debt considered together with related interest rate exchange or similar agreements issued on or before July first, two thousand five, during any period that such instrument or instruments provide for payment by the authorized issuer of a fixed rate throughout the then current fiscal year of the state.

7. "Excluded agreements" shall mean the total notional amount of interest rate exchange or similar agreements entered into for the purpose of reducing or eliminating a situation of risk or exposure under an existing interest rate exchange or similar agreement, including, but not limited to a counterparty downgrade, default, or other actual or potential economic loss; provided, however, that for agreements entered into on and after April first, two thousand seven "excluded agreements" shall mean the total notional amount of interest rate exchange or similar agreements entered into for the purpose of reducing or eliminating a situation of imminent risk under an existing interest rate exchange or similar agreement, including, but not limited to a counterparty downgrade, default, or other actual or imminent economic loss.