The General Assembly hereby makes the following findings and determinations:
(a) The issuance and sale of Bonds pursuant to this Act is an economical and efficient method of financing long-term capital needs, including certain of the purposes of the State, as set forth in Section 4 hereof. (b) This Act will permit the issuance of Bonds, from time to time, for various purposes and with varying terms, features and conditions in order to enhance marketability and lower interest costs incurred by the State. Subsection (a) of Section 6 of this Act authorizes the issuance, from time to time, of Bonds in one or more series, in such principal amounts, bearing interest at such fixed rates or variable rates and having such other terms and provisions as designated State officers may fix and determine pursuant to the authority delegated under this Act. Subsection (b) of Section 6 of this Act authorizes, in connection with the issuance of and as security for any series of Bonds, the purchase of bond or interest rate insurance, the establishment of credit and liquidity enhancement arrangements with financial institutions, and participation in interest rate swaps or guarantee agreements or other arrangements to limit interest rate risk. (c) The financing of the facilities and other purposes described in Section 4 of this Act through the issuance of Bonds will involve numerous expenditures over extended periods of time, all of which expenditures shall be made only pursuant to and in conformity with appropriations from Bond proceeds by the General Assembly prior to the making of such expenditures. (d) Determinations with respect to (i) advantageous timing and amounts of such expenditures for particular approved facilities or purposes, (ii) establishing an advantageous mix of short-term and long-term debt instruments under bond market conditions prevailing from time to time, and (iii) specific allocations of Bond proceeds to particular facilities and purposes should be based upon financial, engineering and construction management judgments made from time to time. (e) The State's ability to issue Bonds from time to time, without further action by the General Assembly, in separate series, in various principal amounts and with various interest rates, maturities, redemption provisions and other terms will enhance the State's opportunities to obtain such financing as needed, upon favorable terms. In order to provide for flexibility in meeting the financial, engineering and construction needs of the State and its agencies and departments and in order to provide continuing and adequate financing for the aforesaid purposes on favorable terms, the delegations of authority to the Governor, the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget , the State Comptroller, the State Treasurer and other officers of the State which are contained in this Act are necessary and desirable because this General Assembly cannot itself as understandingly, advantageously, expeditiously or conveniently exercise such authority and make such specific determinations.
Amended by P.A. 093-0839, § 10-120, eff. 7/30/2004.