6-20-2603. Authority to issue bonds.

6-20-2603. Authority to issue bonds. (a)(1)(A) The Commission for Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation is hereby authorized to issue bonds of the State of Arkansas to be known as State of Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities General Obligation bonds, in total principal amount not to exceed seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000), for the purposes of this subchapter. (B) The limitation on the total principal amount of bonds under subdivision (a)(1)(A) of this section is a limitation on the total principal amount of indebtedness to be repaid by the State of Arkansas. (2) The bonds may be issued in one (1) or more series as required under this subchapter. (b) Unless the General Assembly authorizes a greater principal amount to be issued during a fiscal biennium, the total principal amount of bonds to be issued during any fiscal biennium shall not exceed one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000). (c)(1) Before any bonds may be issued during a fiscal biennium, the commission shall submit to the Governor a written plan: (A) Setting forth criteria to be used by the commission in choosing the public school academic facilities projects to be financed with the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds; and (B) Requesting authorization for the projected maximum principal amount of bonds required to be issued in the fiscal biennium. (2) Upon receipt of the written plan, the Governor shall: (A) Confer with the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State concerning whether the annual amount of general revenue funds required to be set aside from the general revenues of the state under the Revenue Stabilization Law, § 19-5-101 et seq., for payment of debt service requirements in connection with the bonds during either year of the fiscal biennium in which the bonds are to be issued would require moneys from the general revenues of the state that would work undue hardship upon any agency or program supported from the general revenues of the state under the provisions of the Revenue Stabilization Law, § 19-5-101 et seq.; and (B) Upon compliance with subdivision (c)(2)(A) of this section, obtain the review of: (i) The Joint Budget Committee if the General Assembly is in session; or (ii) The Legislative Council if the General Assembly is not in session. (d)(1) If the Governor deems it to be in the public interest, he or she by proclamation shall authorize the commission to proceed with the issuance of the bonds in one (1) or more series up to the maximum principal amount for the fiscal biennium approved by the Governor. (2)(A) If the Governor refuses to give his or her approval for the issuance of the bonds by declining to issue a proclamation approving the issuance, he or she shall promptly notify the commission in writing and the bonds shall not be issued. (B) The commission may resubmit a request to the Governor for the approval of the issuance of the bonds. (C) The issue as resubmitted to the Governor shall be dealt with in the same manner as provided for the initial request for authority to issue the bonds.