Chapter 114

114.68(3) (3) An employee of the authority may be granted, by the executive director, a leave of absence to participate in partisan political campaigning.

114.68(4) (4) Persons on leave of absence under sub. (2) or (3) shall not be subject to the restrictions of sub. (1), except as they apply to the solicitation of assistance, subscription, or support from any other employee in the authority.

114.68 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.69 114.69 Liability limited.

114.69(1) (1) Neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state nor any officer, employee, or agent of the state or of a political subdivision who is acting within the scope of employment or agency is liable for any debt, obligation, act, or omission of the authority.

114.69(2) (2) All of the expenses incurred by the authority in exercising its duties and powers under this chapter shall be payable only from funds of the authority.

114.69 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.70 114.70 Issuance of bonds.

114.70(1) (1) The authority may issue bonds for any corporate purpose. All bonds are negotiable for all purposes, notwithstanding their payment from a limited source.

114.70(2) (2) The bonds of each issue shall be payable from sources specified in the bond resolution under which the bonds are issued.

114.70(3) (3) The authority may not issue bonds unless the issuance is first authorized by a bond resolution. Bonds shall bear the dates, mature at the times not exceeding 30 years from their dates of issue, bear interest at the rates, be payable at the times, be in the denominations, be in the form, carry the registration and conversion privileges, be executed in the manner, be payable in lawful money of the United States at the places, and be subject to the terms of redemption, that the bond resolution provides. The bonds shall be executed by the manual or facsimile signatures of the officers of the authority designated by the board. The bonds may be sold at public or private sale at the price, in the manner, and at the time determined by the board. Pending preparation of definitive bonds, the authority may issue interim receipts or certificates that the authority shall exchange for the definitive bonds.

114.70(4) (4) Any bond resolution may contain provisions, which shall be a part of the contract with the holders of the bonds that are authorized by the bond resolution, regarding any of the following:

114.70(4)(a) (a) Pledging or assigning specified assets or revenues of the authority.

114.70(4)(b) (b) Setting aside reserves or sinking funds, and the regulation, investment, and disposition of these funds.

114.70(4)(c) (c) Limitations on the purpose to which or the investments in which the proceeds of the sale of any issue of bonds may be applied.

114.70(4)(d) (d) Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the terms upon which additional bonds may rank on a parity with, or be subordinate or superior to, the bonds authorized by the bond resolution.

114.70(4)(e) (e) Funding, refunding, advance refunding, or purchasing outstanding bonds.

114.70(4)(f) (f) Procedures, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent to the amendment, and the manner in which this consent may be given.

114.70(4)(g) (g) Defining the acts or omissions to act that constitute a default in the duties of the authority to the bondholders, and providing the rights and remedies of the bondholders in the event of a default.

114.70(4)(h) (h) Other matters relating to the bonds that the board considers desirable.

114.70(5) (5) Neither the members of the board nor any person executing the bonds is liable personally on the bonds or subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of the bonds, unless the personal liability or accountability is the result of willful misconduct.

114.70(6) (6) No less than 14 days prior to any commitment by the authority for the issuance of bonds under this section, the authority shall submit the bond resolution to the governor, to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), and to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance. If, within 14 days after the date on which the bond resolution is submitted to the joint committee on finance, the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the authority that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the bond resolution, the authority may proceed with any commitment for the issuance of bonds under the bond resolution. If, within 14 days after the date on which the bond resolution is submitted to the committee, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the authority that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the bond resolution, the authority may proceed with any commitment for the issuance of bonds under the bond resolution only upon approval by the committee.

114.70 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.71 114.71 Bond security. The authority may secure any bonds issued under this chapter by a trust agreement, trust indenture, indenture of mortgage, or deed of trust by and between the authority and one or more corporate trustees. The bond resolution providing for the issuance of bonds so secured shall pledge some or all of the revenues to be received by the authority, including to the extent permitted by law any grant, aid, loan, or other contribution, or shall mortgage, assign, or grant security interests in some or all of the property of the authority, or both, and may contain provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders that are reasonable and proper and not in violation of law. A bond resolution may contain any other provisions that are determined by the board to be reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders.

114.71 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.72 114.72 Bonds not public debt.

114.72(1) (1) The state is not liable on bonds of the authority and the bonds are not a debt of the state. Each bond of the authority shall contain a statement to this effect on the face of the bond. The issuance of bonds under this chapter does not, directly, indirectly, or contingently, obligate the state or any political subdivision of the state to levy any tax or to make any appropriation for payment of the bonds. Nothing in this section prevents the authority from pledging its full faith and credit to the payment of bonds issued under this chapter.

114.72(2) (2) Nothing in this chapter authorizes the authority to create a debt of the state, and all bonds issued by the authority under this chapter are payable, and shall state that they are payable, solely from the funds pledged for their payment in accordance with the bond resolution authorizing their issuance or in any trust indenture or mortgage or deed of trust executed as security for the bonds. The state is not liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on any bonds of the authority or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation, or agreement which may be undertaken by the authority. The breach of any pledge, mortgage, obligation, or agreement undertaken by the authority does not impose any pecuniary liability upon the state or any charge upon its general credit or against its taxing power.

114.72 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.73 114.73 State pledge. The state pledges to and agrees with the holders of bonds, and persons that enter into contracts with the authority under this chapter, that the state will not limit or alter the rights vested in the authority by this chapter before the authority has fully met and discharged the bonds, and any interest due on the bonds, and has fully performed its contracts, unless adequate provision is made by law for the protection of the bondholders or those entering into contracts with the authority.

114.73 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.74 114.74 Refunding bonds.

114.74(1) (1) The authority may issue bonds to fund or refund any outstanding bond, including the payment of any redemption premium on the outstanding bond and any interest accrued or to accrue to the earliest or any subsequent date of redemption, purchase, or maturity.

114.74(2) (2) The authority may apply the proceeds of any bond issued to fund or refund any outstanding bond to purchase, retire at maturity, or redeem any outstanding bond. The authority may, pending application, place the proceeds in escrow to be applied to the purchase, retirement at maturity, or redemption of any outstanding bond at any time.

114.74 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.75 114.75 Limit on amount of outstanding bonds. The authority may not have outstanding at any one time bonds in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $100,000,000, excluding bonds issued to refund outstanding bonds.

114.75 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.76 114.76 Bonds exempt from taxation. The state covenants with the purchasers and all subsequent holders and transferees of bonds issued by the authority, in consideration of the acceptance of any payment for the bonds, that its fees, charges, gifts, grants, revenues, receipts, and other moneys received or to be received, pledged to pay or secure the payment of such bonds shall at all times be free and exempt from all state, city, county, or other taxation provided by the laws of the state.

114.76 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.77 114.77 Funding of certain project costs.

114.77(1) (1) In this section, “spaceport improvement project” means any project to acquire, construct, develop, plan, design, establish, create, improve, enlarge, reconstruct, or equip any spaceport or spaceport facility.

114.77(2) (2) The costs of spaceport improvement projects involving federal aid, in excess of the federal government’s share, shall be borne by the authority and the state, except that the state shall pay not more than 50 percent of such excess costs, nor more than $10,000,000 for the cost of a building project or building improvement project and no part of the cost of hangars. The secretary, upon agreement with the authority, may advance up to 10 percent of the amount of any federal aid grant agreement for the payment of project costs of a federal aid project, subject to reimbursement upon final liquidation and settlement of the project with the authority and federal government.

114.77(3) (3) The costs of spaceport improvement projects not involving federal aid shall be borne by the authority and the state. The state shall pay not more than 80 percent of such costs, which may include the cost of the land, the cost of lands or interest in lands deemed necessary for the protection of the aerial approaches, the cost of formulating the project application and preparing the plans and specifications, and the cost of construction and of all facilities deemed necessary for the operation of the spaceport. The state shall contribute not more than $10,000,000 for the cost of a building project or building improvement project and no part of the cost of hangars.

114.77(4) (4) The percentage of the costs borne by the state shall be determined by the department on the basis of the relative importance of the specific project to any state spaceport development program as a whole.

114.77(5) (5) The state shall promote the development of a spaceport system in this state and promote the development of joint spaceports in this state and in adjoining states which mutually benefit citizens of this state and those of adjoining states. The secretary may use the funds provided by the state to assist the authority in matching the federal aid that may become available to the state or available for specific projects or joint projects within this state or in an adjoining state.

114.77(6) (6) All funds provided by the state under this section shall be paid from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.395 (2) (mq), (mv), and (mx).

114.77 History History: 2005 a. 335.

114.78 114.78 Tax exemption. The exercise of the powers granted by this subchapter will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state and for the increase of their commerce, welfare, and prosperity, and, as the undertaking of the authority’s powers and duties under this subchapter will constitute the performance of an essential public function, the authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon or in respect to any property acquired or used by the authority under this subchapter and the authority’s income therefrom shall at all times be free from taxation of every kind by the state and by political subdivisions of the state.

114.78 History History: 2005 a. 335.