(A) As used in this section, "eligible school district" means a school district that is eligible for state assistance under Chapter 3318. of the Revised Code, and for which the amount of bond money that will be used to raise the school district's portion of the basic project cost of a classroom facilities project under that chapter is not greater than fifteen million dollars.

(B) Beginning January 1, 2001, solely for the purpose of acquiring classroom facilities under any program authorized in Chapter 3318. of the Revised Code, the boards of education of two or more eligible school districts may enter into an agreement with the treasurer of state and a trustee selected by the treasurer of state, which trustee shall be a bank or trust company authorized to exercise corporate trust powers within the state. Under that agreement, the trustee shall purchase bonds that have been approved for issuance by the electors of those school districts to pay the school districts' respective portions of their projects under Chapter 3318. of the Revised Code, and the trustee shall issue and sell certificates of participation in the principal and interest payments to be paid on those bonds. The liability of any school district under the agreement shall not exceed the amount necessary to pay the principal of and interest on that school district's bonds plus that school district's share of the costs associated with the issuance of the certificates of participation. The aggregate principal amount of any issue of certificates of participation shall not be less than ten million dollars. The agreement and any certificates of participation issued in accordance with the agreement shall hold the state harmless from any liability or obligation incurred by a school district under the agreement or under the school district's bonds. The treasurer of state may appoint or provide for the appointment of trustees, paying agents, registrars, securities depositories, clearing corporations, and transfer agents, and may without need for any other approval retain or contract for the services of underwriters, investment bankers, financial advisers, accounting experts, marketing, remarketing, indexing, and administrative agents, or other consultants and independent contractors, including providers of printing services, as are necessary in the judgment of the treasurer of state to carry out the functions provided for in this section. Financing costs are payable, as may be provided in the proceedings authorizing the certificates of participation, from the proceeds of the obligations, from special funds, or from other participating school district moneys that are available and may lawfully be used for such purpose. Except for agreements entered into in connection with the refunding of bonds and certificates of participation therein, the treasurer of state shall not enter into more than two agreements under this section in any fiscal year.

Effective Date: 09-14-2000.