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The Florida Senate

2021 Florida Statutes (Including 2021B Session)

Title XXVI PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Chapter 343 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION Entire Chapter
SECTION 944
Remedies of the bondholders.
F.S. 343.944
343.944 Remedies of the bondholders.—
(1) The rights and the remedies in this section conferred upon or granted to the bondholders are in addition to and not in limitation of any rights and remedies lawfully granted to such bondholders by the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of bonds or by a deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement under which the bonds may be issued or secured. If the authority defaults in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this part after such principal of or interest on the bonds becomes due, whether at maturity or upon call for redemption, and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or if the authority or the department fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this part or any agreement made with, or for the benefit of, the holders of the bonds, the holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the bonds then outstanding may appoint a trustee to represent such bondholders for the purposes hereof, if such holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the bonds then outstanding shall first give notice of their intention to appoint a trustee to the authority. Such notice shall be deemed to have been given if given in writing, deposited in a securely sealed postpaid wrapper, mailed at a regularly maintained United States post office box or station, and addressed, respectively, to the chair of the authority.
(2) Such trustee and any trustee under any deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement may and, upon written request of the holders of 25 percent or such other percentages as are specified in any deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement aforesaid in principal amount of the bonds then outstanding, shall, in any court of competent jurisdiction, in his, her, or its own name:
(a) By mandamus or other suit, action, or proceeding at law or in equity, enforce all rights of the bondholders, including the right to require the authority to fix, establish, maintain, collect, and charge rates, fees, rentals, and other charges adequate to carry out any agreement as to or pledge of the revenues or receipts of the authority, to carry out any other covenants and agreements with or for the benefit of the bondholders, and to perform its and their duties under this part.
(b) Bring suit upon the bonds.
(c) By action or suit in equity, require the authority or the department to account as if it were the trustee of an express trust for the bondholders.
(d) By action or suit in equity, enjoin any acts or things that may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of the bondholders.
(3) Any trustee, when appointed as aforesaid or acting under a deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement, and regardless of whether all bonds have been declared due and payable, may appoint a receiver who may enter upon and take possession of the system or the facilities or any part or parts thereof, the rates, fees, rentals, or other revenues, charges, or receipts from which are or may be applicable to the payment of the bonds so in default and operate and maintain the same for and on behalf of and in the name of the authority and the bondholders, and collect and receive all rates, fees, rentals, and other charges or receipts or revenues arising therefrom in the same manner as the authority might do, and shall deposit all such moneys in a separate account and apply such moneys in such manner as the court shall direct. In any suit, action, or proceeding by the trustee, the fees, counsel fees, and expenses of the trustee and the receiver, if any, and all costs and disbursements allowed by the court shall be a first charge on any rates, fees, rentals, or other charges, revenues, or receipts derived from the system or the facilities or services or any part or parts thereof, which rates, fees, rentals, or other charges, revenues, or receipts may be applicable to the payment of the bonds so in default. Such trustee, in addition to the foregoing, possesses all of the powers necessary for the exercise of any functions specifically set forth herein or incident to the representation of the bondholders in the enforcement and protection of their rights.
(4) This section or any other section of this part does not authorize any receiver appointed pursuant hereto for the purpose of operating and maintaining the system or any facilities or part or parts thereof to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of whatever kind and character belonging to the authority. It is the intention of this part to limit the powers of such receiver to the operation and maintenance of the system or any facility or part or parts thereof, as the court may direct, in the name of and for and on behalf of the authority and the bondholders. In any suit, action, or proceeding at law or in equity, a holder of bonds on the authority, a trustee, or any court may not compel or direct a receiver to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any assets of whatever kind or character belonging to the authority. A receiver also may not be authorized to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any assets of whatever kind or character belonging to the authority in any suit, action, or proceeding at law or in equity.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2007-254; s. 10, ch. 2011-64.