SENATE BILL No. 828

 

 

November 29, 2011, Introduced by Senator JOHNSON and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

 

"The revised school code,"

 

by amending section 1225 (MCL 380.1225), as amended by 2006 PA 285.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1225. (1) Subject to restrictions of this section, the

 

board of a local or intermediate school district may borrow money

 

and issue its notes for the borrowed money to secure funds for

 

school operations or to pay previous loans obtained for school

 

operations under this or any other statute. The school board or

 

intermediate school board shall pledge money to be received by it

 

from state school aid for the payment of notes issued under this

 

section. The notes A pledge of state school aid by a local or

 

intermediate school district for the payment of notes issued

 

pursuant to this section is valid and binding from the time when

 

the pledge is made. A pledge made pursuant to this section for the


 

benefit of the holders of notes or for the benefit of others is

 

perfected without delivery, recording, or notice. Notes issued

 

pursuant to this section are full faith and credit obligations of

 

the school district or intermediate school district and are payable

 

from tax levies or from unencumbered funds of the school district

 

or intermediate school district in event of the unavailability or

 

insufficiency of state school aid for any reason.

 

     (2) A local or intermediate school district for which an

 

emergency manager has been appointed pursuant to the local

 

government and school district fiscal responsibility act, 2011 PA

 

4, MCL 141.1501 to 141.1531, may enter into an agreement with the

 

Michigan finance authority in accordance with section 17a of the

 

state school aid act of 1979, MCL 388.1617a, providing for the

 

direct payment to the Michigan finance authority, or to a trustee

 

designated by the Michigan finance authority, of state school aid

 

pledged and to be used for the sole purpose of paying the principal

 

of and interest on the notes issued pursuant to this section and

 

secured by state school aid.

 

     (3) (2) Notes issued under this section shall become due not

 

later than 372 days after the date on which they are issued, except

 

as otherwise provided in this section. Notes issued within a fiscal

 

year shall not exceed 70% of the difference between the total state

 

aid funds apportioned to the school district or intermediate school

 

district for that fiscal year and the portion already received or

 

pledged, except secondary pledges made under section 1356.

 

     (4) (3) A school district or intermediate school district that

 

is not able to redeem its notes within 372 days after the date on


 

which the notes were issued may enter into a multi-year agreement

 

with a lending institution to repay its obligation. A repayment

 

agreement shall not be executed without the prior approval of an

 

authorized representative of the state board or, for notes sold to

 

the Michigan municipal bond finance authority only, without the

 

approval of an authorized representative of the department of

 

treasury.

 

     (5) (4) During the last 4 months of a fiscal year, notes may

 

be issued pledging state school aid for the next succeeding fiscal

 

year. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the notes

 

shall not exceed 50% of the state school aid apportioned to the

 

school district or intermediate school district for the next

 

succeeding fiscal year or, if the apportionment has not been made,

 

50% of the apportionment for the then current fiscal year. The

 

notes shall mature not later than 372 days after the date of

 

issuance.

 

     (6) (5) Notes issued under this section are subject to the

 

revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to

 

141.2821. Failure of a school district or intermediate school

 

district to receive state school aid does not affect the validity

 

or enforceability of a note issued under this section.

 

     (7) (6) A school board or intermediate school board may make

 

more than 1 borrowing under this section during a school year.

 

     (8) (7) In addition to other powers under this section, with

 

the approval of the state treasurer, the board of a local or

 

intermediate school district may obtain a line of credit to secure

 

funds for school operations or to pay previous loans obtained for


 

school operations under this or any other statute. The school board

 

or intermediate school board shall pledge not more than 30% of the

 

state school aid apportioned to the school district or intermediate

 

school district for that fiscal year for repayment of funds

 

received pursuant to a line of credit obtained under this

 

subsection. However, the school board or intermediate school board

 

shall not borrow against the line of credit an amount greater than

 

the difference, as of the date of the borrowing, between the total

 

state school aid funds apportioned to the school district or

 

intermediate school district for that fiscal year and the portion

 

already received or pledged, except secondary pledges made under

 

section 1356. To obtain approval for obtaining a line of credit

 

under this subsection, a school board or intermediate school board

 

shall apply to the state treasurer in the form and manner

 

prescribed by the state treasurer, and shall provide information as

 

requested by the state treasurer for evaluating the application.

 

The state treasurer shall approve or disapprove an application and

 

notify the school board or intermediate school board within 20

 

business days after receiving a proper application. If the state

 

treasurer disapproves an application, the state treasurer shall

 

include the reasons for disapproval in the notification to the

 

school board or intermediate school board.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No. 827                                    

 

          of the 96th Legislature is enacted into law.