Section 1232.1072 - Issuance of Obligations for Financing Customer Rate Relief Property(a) The definitions in Section 104.362, Utilities Code, apply to terms used in this section.(b) The authority may create an issuing financing entity for the purpose of issuing customer rate relief bonds approved by the Railroad Commission of Texas in a financing order, as provided by Subchapter I, Chapter 104, Utilities Code.(c) An issuing financing entity created under this section is a duly constituted public authority and instrumentality of the state and is authorized to issue customer rate relief bonds on behalf of the state for the purposes of Section 103, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 103) .(d) The issuing financing entity must be governed by a governing board of three members appointed by the authority. A member of the governing board may be a current or former director of the authority. A member of the governing board serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in attending board meetings.(e) The issuing financing entity must be formed in accordance with, be governed by, and have the powers, rights, and privileges provided for a nonprofit corporation organized under the Business Organizations Code, including Chapter 22 of that code, subject to the express exceptions and limitations provided by this section and Subchapter I, Chapter 104, Utilities Code. A single organizer selected by the executive director of the authority shall prepare the certificate of formation of the issuing financing entity under Chapters 3 and 22, Business Organizations Code. The certificate of formation must be consistent with the provisions of this section.(f) The authority shall establish the issuing financing entity to act on behalf of the state as its duly constituted authority and instrumentality to issue customer rate relief bonds approved under Subchapter I, Chapter 104, Utilities Code.(g) On a request to the authority from the Railroad Commission of Texas, the authority shall direct an issuing financing entity to issue customer rate relief bonds in accordance with a financing order issued by the railroad commission as provided in Subchapter I, Chapter 104, Utilities Code.(h) Before the issuance of any customer rate relief bonds, the authority and the Railroad Commission of Texas shall ensure that adequate provision is made in any financing order for the recovery of all issuance costs and all other fees, costs, and expenses of the authority, the issuing financing entity, and any advisors or counsel hired by the authority or the entity for the purposes of this section during the life of the customer rate relief bonds.(i) Customer rate relief bonds are limited obligations of the issuing financing entity payable solely from customer rate relief property and any other money pledged by the issuing financing entity to the payment of the bonds and are not a debt of this state, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the authority, or a gas utility.(j) The Railroad Commission of Texas shall ensure that customer rate relief charges are imposed, collected, and enforced in an amount sufficient to pay on a timely basis all bond obligations, financing costs, and bond administrative expenses associated with any issuance of customer rate relief bonds.(k) The authority and the Railroad Commission of Texas have all the powers necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities described by this section. This section shall be interpreted broadly in a manner consistent with the most cost-effective financing of customer rate relief property, including regulatory assets, extraordinary costs, and related financing costs approved by the Railroad Commission of Texas in accordance with Subchapter I, Chapter 104, Utilities Code.(l) Any interest on the customer rate relief bonds is not subject to taxation by and may not be included as part of the measurement of a tax by this state or a political subdivision of this state.(m) The authority shall make periodic reports to the Railroad Commission of Texas and the public regarding each financing made in accordance with Section 104.373(b), Utilities Code, and if required by the applicable financing order.(n) The issuing financing entity shall issue customer rate relief bonds in accordance with and subject to other provisions of Title 9 applicable to the authority.(o) The issuing financing entity may exercise the powers granted to the governing body of an issuer with regard to the issuance of obligations and the execution of credit agreements under Chapter 1371. A purpose for which bonds, obligations, or other evidences of indebtedness are issued under this section and Subchapter I, Chapter 104, Utilities Code, constitutes an eligible project for purposes of Chapter 1371 of this code.(p) Assets of an issuing financing entity may not be considered part of any state fund and must be held outside the state treasury. The liabilities of the issuing financing entity may not be considered to be a debt of the state or a pledge of the state's credit. An issuing financing entity must be self-funded from customer rate relief property and established in accordance with Subchapter I, Chapter 104, Utilities Code. A state agency may provide money appropriated for the purpose to the issuing financing entity to provide for initial operational expenses of the issuing financing entity.Tex. Gov't. Code § 1232.1072
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 805 (H.B. 1520), Sec. 3, eff. 6/16/2021.