ENVIRONMENTAL BONDS: REFUNDING S.B. 489: FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 489 (as reported with amendment) Sponsor: Senator Joanne G. Emmons Committee: Finance
The bill would amend the Environmental Protection Bond Implementation Act to authorize the State Administrative Board to refund bonds issued under the Act by the issuance of new bonds. The bill also would authorize the Board to approve transactions to provide security for bonds, and specifies actions that the Board could authorize the State Treasurer to take concerning the issuance of bonds.
Specifically, the bill provides that the State Administrative Board could refund bonds issued under the Act by the issuance of new bonds, whether or not the bonds to be refunded had matured or were subject to prior redemption. The Board could issue bonds partly to refund bonds issued under the Act and partly for any other purpose provided by the Act. The Board also could authorize and approve insurance contracts, agreements for lines of credit, letters of credit, commitments to purchase bonds, and any other transaction to provide security to assure timely payment or purchase of any bond issued under the Act.
The bill provides that the principal amount of any refunding bonds issued under the provisions of the bill would not be counted against the limitation on principal amount imposed by the voters November 8, 1988. (The Environmental Protection Bond Authorization Act, approved by the voters, allows the State to borrow up to $660 million and issue full faith and credit bonds to finance environmental protection programs to clean up sites of toxic and other environmental contamination, and address other environmental concerns.)
Further, refunding bonds would not be subject to the restrictions prescribed in Section 7 of the Environmental Protection Bond Implementation Act, which requires that the proceeds of the environmental protection bonds be deposited in the Environmental Protection Bond Fund and allocated as specified.
MCL 299.673 Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
The Department of Treasury estimates that by refunding the recreation and environmental protection existing bonds and issuing new ones at a lower rate of interest, the State would save
$4.7 million in debt service, on a cash basis, over the life of the bonds.
Date Completed: 5-10-95 Fiscal Analyst: J. Wortley
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.