2021 -- S 0951 AS AMENDED

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LC002998

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND FINANCING IN THE CITY OF

CENTRAL FALLS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS TO ISSUE NOT

TO EXCEED $5,760,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER

EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION,

IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS

AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE CITY

     Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Cano, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: June 14, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     (General Treasurer)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     WHEREAS, Pursuant to Article XII of the Rhode Island Constitution, it is the duty of the

State of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island General Assembly to promote public schools as the

diffusion of knowledge is essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the Rhode Island

people; and

     WHEREAS, It is the duty of the State of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island General

Assembly to adopt all means which they deem necessary and proper to secure to the people, the

advantages and opportunities of education and guarantee adequate public school housing for all

public school children in the state; and

     WHEREAS, School facilities provide more than a place for instruction. The physical

learning environment contributes to the successful performance of educational programs designed

to meet students' educational needs and good educational outcomes depend on safe healthy school

buildings. Every student needs a safe, healthy, and sanitary learning environment that promotes

student learning and development; and

     WHEREAS, School buildings in the city of Central Falls Rhode Island are in need of major

repairs and upgrades, presently interfere with the effective operation of schools and negatively

affect the health safety and welfare of the children of Central Falls; and

     WHEREAS, Due to various financial hardships of the city of Central Falls, the city is not

able to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, furnishing and

equipping of schools and school facilities in the city without certain legislative changes and support

from the State of Rhode Island;

     It is enacted and resolved by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 1 through 3 of this act shall serve as the joint resolution required

pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws §35-18-1, et seq (the “Rhode Island Public Corporation

Debt Management Act”).

     SECTION 2. City of Central Falls School Project.

     WHEREAS, The WHEREAS clauses in paragraphs 1 through 5 hereof are hereby

incorporated herein by reference.

     WHEREAS, The City of Central Falls is proposing a project consisting of the construction,

renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, furnishing and equipping of schools and school

facilities in the city; and

     WHEREAS, The Project will be financed through the Rhode Island Health and Educational

Building Corporation (the “Corporation”) under its school financing revenue bond program, with

an expected term of not to exceed thirty (30) years and it is anticipated that the State will be a

signatory to the Financing Agreement with the Rhode Island Health and Educational Building

Corporation; and

     WHEREAS, It is anticipated that the State’s obligations under the Financing Agreement

will be subject to appropriation therefor by the General Assembly in each budget year; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Public Corporation Debt Management Act requires the

General Assembly to provide its consent to the issuance or incurring by the State of Rhode Island

of certain obligations, including financing guarantees or other agreements; and

     WHEREAS, The total project costs and costs of financing covered by the Financing

Agreement are not expected to exceed $144,000,000. Debt service payments will be supported by

revenues received by the Corporation under the Financing Agreement which include annual

appropriations for debt service made by the State, state school construction aid payments and state

school operations aid payments if any, pursuant to chapter 7 of title 16 of the Rhode Island general

laws and payments from the City of Central Falls under the Financing Agreement. Total debt

service on the bonds in not expected to exceed $9,400,000 annually and $281,000,000 in the

aggregate based on an average interest rate of five percent (5.00%); now, therefor be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby approves the financing in a principal

amount up to $144,000,000 for the Central Falls School Project; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the State, acting through the general treasurer may execute the

Financing Agreement as contemplated herein and any other agreements necessary to effectuate the

purposes of this act; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Bonds will be special obligations of the Corporation payable from

funds received by the Corporation under the Financing Agreement and other revenues received by

the Corporation, in any combination or priority as may be designated in the proceedings of the

Corporation authorizing the issuance of such debt. The total debt service on the Bonds is estimated

to average approximately nine million four hundred thousand dollars ($9,400,000) per year or

approximately two hundred eighty-one million dollars ($281,000,000) in the aggregate, at an

average interest rate of approximately five percent (5%) and an approximately thirty (30) year

maturity; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Bonds will not constitute indebtedness of the State or any of its

subdivisions or a debt for which the full faith and credit of the State or any of its subdivisions is

pledged. This act shall constitute an enabling act of the general assembly that is required pursuant

to § 16-7-44; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the State’s authority to incur the obligations set forth herein will expire

within five (5) years of the date of passage of this Act if such financing transaction is not executed

prior to that date.

     SECTION 3. Sections 1, 2, and this Section 3 of this act shall take effect upon the passage.

     SECTION 4. Sections 4 through 19 of this act shall be entitled "AN ACT AUTHORIZING

THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $5,760,000 GENERAL

OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO

FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION,

REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN

THE CITY".

     SECTION 5. The city of Central Falls is hereby empowered, in addition to authority

previously granted, to issue bonds in an amount not exceeding five million seven hundred sixty

dollars ($5,760,000) from time to time under its corporate name and seal. The bonds of each issue

may be issued in the form of zero coupon bonds, capital appreciation bonds, serial bonds or term

bonds or a combination thereof and shall be payable either by maturity of principal in the case of

serial bonds or by mandatory serial redemption in the case of term bonds, in installments of

principal, the first installment to be not later than five (5) years and the last installment not later

than thirty (30) years after the date the bonds are issued. All such bonds may bear interest at a fixed

rate or rates or at a variable or auction rate or rates. The bonds may be sold by a negotiated sale or

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by competitive bid and issued pursuant to a resolution or an indenture of trust. Annual installments

of principal may be provided for by maturity of principal in the case of serial bonds or by mandatory

serial redemption in the case of term bonds. The amount of principal appreciation each year on any

bonds, if any after the date of original issuance, shall not be considered to be principal indebtedness

for the purposes of any constitutional or statutory debt limit or any other limitation. The

appreciation of principal after the date of original issue shall be considered interest. Only the

original principal amount shall be counted in determining the principal amount so issued and any

interest component shall be disregarded.

     SECTION 6. This act shall constitute an enabling act of the general assembly that is

required pursuant to § 16-7-44. Any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under

this act for school projects shall not be eligible for state housing aid reimbursement pursuant to §

16-7-44 unless the school projects described herein have been approved by the Rhode Island

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to § 16-7-36(2).

     SECTION 7. The bonds shall be signed by the mayor and the director of finance and shall

be issued and sold in such amounts as the city council may authorize. The manner of sale,

denominations, maturities, interest rates and other terms, conditions and details of any bonds or

notes issued under this act may be fixed by the proceedings of the city council authorizing the issue

or by separate resolution of the city council or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so

made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the bonds or notes. Notwithstanding

anything contained in this act to the contrary, the city may enter into financing agreements with the

Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation pursuant to chapter 7 of title 16 and

chapter 38.1 of title 45 and, with respect to bonds or notes issued in connection with such financing

agreements, if any, the city may elect to have the provisions of chapter 38.1 of title 45 apply to the

issuance of the bonds or notes issued hereunder to the extent the provisions of chapter 38.1 of title

45 are inconsistent herewith. Such election may be fixed by the proceedings of the city council

authorizing such issuance of by separate resolution of the city council, or, to the extent provisions

for these matters are not so made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the bonds or

notes. The proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds shall be delivered to the director of finance,

and such proceeds exclusive of premiums and accrued interest shall be expended:

     (1) For the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair furnishing and

equipping of schools and school facilities in the city and all costs related thereto either directly or

as a reimbursement to the state to the extent the state pays for and or finances such costs hereunder;

     (2) For payment of the principal or interest on temporary notes issued under section 8;

     (3) In payment of capitalized interest on bonds or notes;

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     (4) In repayment of advances under section 9; or

     (5) In payment of related costs of issuance of any bonds or notes. No purchaser of any

bonds or notes under this act shall be in any way responsible for the proper application of the

proceeds derived from the sales thereof. The project shall be carried out and all contracts made

therefor on behalf of the city by the mayor, subject to approval of the city council. The proceeds of

bonds or notes issued under this act, any applicable federal or state assistance and other monies

referred to in section 10 and 14, shall be deemed appropriated for the purposes of this act without

further action than that required by this act. The bond issue authorized by this act may be

consolidated for the purposes of issuance and sale with any other bond issue of the city heretofore

or hereafter authorized; provided that, notwithstanding any such consolidation, the proceeds from

the sale of the bonds authorized by this act shall be expended for the purposes set forth above.

     SECTION 8. The city council may by resolution authorize the issue from time to time of

interest bearing or discounted notes in anticipation of the issue of bonds or in anticipation of the

receipt of federal or state aid for the purposes of this act. The amount of original notes issued in

anticipation of bonds may not exceed the amount of bonds which may be issued under this act, and

the amount of original notes issued in anticipation of federal or state aid may not exceed the amount

of available federal or state aid as estimated by the director of finance. Temporary notes issued

hereunder shall be signed by the manual or facsimile signatures of the director of finance and the

mayor, shall be payable within five (5) years from their respective dates, but the principal of and

interest on notes issued for a shorter period may be renewed or paid from time to time by the issue

of other notes thereunder provided the period from the date of an original note to the maturity or

any note issued to renew or pay the same debt or the interest thereon shall not exceed five (5) years.

Any temporary notes in anticipation of bonds issued under this section may be refunded prior to

the maturity of the notes by the issuance of additional temporary notes, provided that no such

refunding shall result in any amount of such temporary notes outstanding at any one time in excess

of two hundred percent (200%) of the amount of bonds which may be issued under this act; and

provided, further that, if the issuance of any such refunding notes results in any amount of such

temporary notes outstanding at any one time in excess of the amount of bonds which may be issued

under this act, the proceeds of such refunding notes shall be deposited in a separate fund established

with the bank which is paying agent for the notes being refunded. Pending their use to pay the notes

being refunded, monies in the fund shall be invested for the benefit of the city by the paying agent

at the direction of the director of finance in any investment permitted under section 10. The monies

in the fund and any investments held as a part of the fund shall be held in trust and shall be applied

by the paying agent solely to the payment or prepayment of the principal of and interest on the

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notes being refunded. Upon payment of all principal of and interest on the notes, any excess monies

in the fund shall be distributed to the city. The city may pay the principal of and interest on notes,

in full, from other than the issuance of refunding notes prior to the issuance of bonds pursuant to

section 5 hereof. In such case, the city’s authority to issue bonds or notes in anticipation of bonds

under this act shall continue provided that:

     (1) The city council passes a resolution evidencing the city’s intent to pay off the notes

without extinguishing the authority to issue bonds or notes; and

     (2) That the period from the date of an original note to the maturity date of any other note

shall not exceed five (5) years.

     SECTION 9. Pending any authorization or issue of bonds hereunder or pending or in lieu

of any authorization or issue of notes hereunder, the director of finance, with the approval of the

city council, may, to the extent that bonds or notes may be issued hereunder, apply funds in the

treasury of the city to the purposes specified in section 7, such advances to be repaid without interest

from the proceeds of bonds or notes subsequently issued or from the proceeds of applicable federal

or state assistance or from other available funds.

     SECTION 10. Any proceeds of bonds or notes issued hereunder or of any applicable

federal or state assistance, pending their expenditure, may be deposited or invested by the director

of finance in demand deposits, time deposits or savings deposits in banks which are members of

the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United

States of America or by any agency or instrumentality thereof or as may be provided in any other

applicable law of the State of Rhode Island or resolution of the city council or pursuant to an

investment policy of the city.

     SECTION 11. Any accrued interest received upon the sale of bonds or notes hereunder

shall be applied to the payment of the first interest due thereon. Any premiums arising from the

sale of bonds or notes hereunder and any earnings or net profit realized from the deposit or

investment of funds hereunder shall, in the discretion of the director of finance, be applied to the

cost of preparing, issuing, and marketing bonds or notes hereunder to the extent not otherwise

provided, to the payment of the cost of the project, to the costs of additional improvements coming

within the description of the project, to the payment of the principal of or interest on bonds or notes

issued hereunder or to any one or more of the foregoing. The cost of preparing, issuing and

marketing bonds or notes hereunder may also, in the discretion of the director of finance, be met

from bond or note proceeds exclusive of accrued interest or from other monies available therefor.

Any balance of bond or note proceeds remaining after payment of the cost of the projects and the

cost of preparing, issuing and marketing bonds or notes hereunder shall be applied to the payment

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of the principal of or interest on bonds or notes issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by

applicable federal laws, any earnings or net profit realized from the deposit or investment of funds

hereunder may, upon receipt, be added to and dealt with as part of the revenues of the city from

property taxes. In exercising any discretion under this section, the director of finance shall be

governed by any instructions adopted by resolution of the city council.

     SECTION 12. All bonds and notes issued under this act and the debts evidenced thereby

shall be obligatory on the city in the same manner and to the same extent as other debts lawfully

contracted by it and shall be excepted from the operation of § 45-12-2. No such obligation shall at

any time be included in the debt of the city for the purpose of ascertaining its borrowing capacity.

The city shall annually appropriate a sum sufficient to pay the principal and interest coming due

within the year on bonds and notes issued hereunder to the extent that monies therefor are not

otherwise provided. If such sum is not appropriated, it shall nevertheless be added to the annual tax

levy. In order to provide such sum in each year and notwithstanding any provision of law to the

contrary, all taxable property in the city shall be subject to ad valorem taxation by the city without

limitation as to rate or amount.

     SECTION 13. Any bonds or notes issued under the provisions of this act, if properly

executed by officers of the city in office on the date of execution, shall be valid and binding

according to their terms notwithstanding that before the delivery thereof and payment therefor any

or all of such officers shall for any reason have ceased to hold office.

     SECTION 14. The city, acting by resolution of its city council is authorized to apply for,

contract for and expend any federal or state advances or other grants or assistance which may be

available for the purposes of this act, and any such expenditures may be in addition to other monies

provided in this act. To the extent of any inconsistency between any law of this state and any

applicable federal law or regulation, the latter shall prevail. Federal and state advances, with interest

where applicable, whether contracted for prior to or after the effective date of this act, may be

repaid as project costs under section 7.

     SECTION 15. Bonds and notes may be issued under this act without obtaining the approval

of any governmental agency or the taking of any proceedings or the happening of any conditions

except as specifically required by this act for such issue. In carrying out any project financed in

whole or in part under this act, including where applicable the condemnation of any land or interest

in land, and in the levy and collection of assessments or other charges permitted by law on account

of any such project, all action shall be taken which is necessary to meet constitutional requirements

whether or not such action is otherwise required by statute; but the validity of bonds and notes

issued hereunder shall in no way depend upon the validity or occurrence of such action.

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     SECTION 16. All or any portion of the authority to issue bonds and notes under this act

may be extinguished by resolution of the city council, without further action by the general

assembly seven (7) years after the effective date of this act.

     SECTION 17. The director of finance and the mayor, on behalf of the city, are hereby

authorized to execute such documents or other papers as either of them deem necessary or desirable

to carry out the intent of this act and are also authorized to take all actions and execute all documents

or agreements necessary to comply with federal tax and securities laws, which documents or

agreements may have a term coextensive with the maturity of the bonds authorized hereby,

including Rule 15c2-12 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Rule") and to execute

and deliver a continuing disclosure agreement or certificate in connection with the bonds or notes

in the form as shall be deemed advisable by such officers in order to comply with the Rule.

     SECTION 18. The question of the approval of sections 4 through 17 of this act shall be

submitted to the electors of the city at the election to be held on November 2, 2021, or at a special

election (other than a primary), on a date as shall be designated by the city council. The question

shall be submitted in substantially the following form: “Shall an Act, passed at the 2021 session of

the General Assembly, entitled, ‘AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $5,760,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND

OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION,

RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND

EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE CITY’ be approved?" and the

warning for the election shall contain the question to be submitted. From the time the election is

warned and until it is held, it shall be the duty of the city clerk to keep a copy of the act available

at his/her office for public inspection, but the validity of the election shall not be affected by this

requirement.

     SECTION 19. Sections 1 through 3 and sections 18 and 19 of this act shall take effect upon

the passage. Sections 4 through 17 of this act shall take effect upon the approval of this act by a

majority of those voting on the question at the election prescribed by section 18.

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EXPLANATION

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND FINANCING IN THE CITY OF

CENTRAL FALLS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS TO ISSUE NOT

TO EXCEED $5,760,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER

EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION,

IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS

AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE CITY

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     This act would serve as the joint resolution required pursuant to Rhode Island General

Laws §35-18-1, et seq (the “Rhode Island Public Corporation Debt Management Act”) for the City

of Central Falls School Project hereafter defined.

     This act would also authorizes the City of Central Falls to issue bonds notes or other

evidences of indebtedness in an amount not to exceed five million seven hundred sixty thousand

dollars ($5,760,000) to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair,

furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities in the city. (the “City of Central Falls

School Project”).

     This act would constitute an enabling act of the general assembly that is required pursuant

to § 16-7-44. Any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under this act for school

projects shall not be eligible for state housing aid reimbursement pursuant to § 16-7-44 unless the

school projects described herein have been approved by the Rhode Island department of education.

     Sections 1 through 3 and sections 18 and 19 of the act shall take effect upon passage.

Sections 4 through 17 of the act shall take effect upon the approval of the act by a majority of those

voting on the question at the election prescribed by section 18 of the act.

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