Senate Bill 1332c1

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332

    By the Committee on Governmental Reform and Oversight and
    Senator Latvala




    302-1754-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to investment of public funds

  3         (RAB); amending s. 215.835, F.S.; prescribing

  4         rulemaking authority of the Division of Bond

  5         Finance and State Board of Administration;

  6         amending ss. 159.825, 218.405, 218.407,

  7         218.409, F.S.; prescribing rulemaking authority

  8         of the State Board of Administration; amending

  9         s. 240.551, F.S.; prescribing rulemaking

10         authority of the Prepaid Postsecondary

11         Education Expense Board; providing an effective

12         date.

13

14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

15

16         Section 1.  Section 215.835, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         215.835  Rulemaking authority.--The Division of Bond

19  Finance and the State Board of Administration may adopt rules

20  as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions and intent

21  of this act.

22         Section 2.  Section 159.825, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         159.825  Terms of bonds.--

25         (1)  The ordinance, resolution, indenture, agreement,

26  or other instrument providing for the issuance of taxable

27  bonds may provide for any of the following:

28         (a)(1)  The bonds shall be in such denominations, in

29  such form, either bearer or registered, and payable at such

30  place or places, either within or without the United States,

31  at such time or times, as, in each case, the governing body

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1  shall determine subject to any limitations on the maturity of

  2  bonds set forth in the statutes under authority of which the

  3  bonds are issued.

  4         (b)(2)  The bonds shall be payable in legal tender of

  5  the United States, in a foreign currency, in commodities, or

  6  in precious metals, as the governing body shall determine.

  7         (c)(3)  The governing body may appoint, in connection

  8  with the bond issue, a cotrustee located outside of the

  9  boundaries of the United States or its territories or

10  possessions so long as it shall also appoint a trustee

11  otherwise meeting the requirements of the statutes under

12  authority of which the bonds are issued.  The governing body

13  may appoint, in connection with the bond issue, a paying agent

14  or a copaying agent located outside the boundaries of the

15  United States or its territories or possessions.

16         (d)(4)  Bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to

17  exceed an average net interest cost rate, which shall be

18  computed by adding 500 basis points to the 30-year Treasury

19  Bond yield published in The Bond Buyer immediately preceding

20  the first day of the calendar month in which the bonds are

21  sold.  If the interest rate on bonds bearing a floating or

22  variable rate of interest as calculated on the date of the

23  initial sale thereof does not exceed the limitation provided

24  by this section, so long as the basis, method, or formula for

25  computing the floating or variable rate does not change during

26  the life of the bonds, subsequent increases in the interest

27  rate in accordance with said basis, method, or formula shall

28  not cause the interest rate on the bonds to violate the

29  limitation provided by this paragraph subsection.  A

30  certificate by the issuer of the bonds as to the computation

31  of the interest rate in compliance with this requirement shall

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1  be deemed conclusive evidence of compliance with the

  2  provisions of this paragraph subsection. Such maximum rate

  3  does not apply to bonds rated by a nationally recognized

  4  rating service in any one of the three highest

  5  classifications, which rating services and classifications are

  6  determined pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of

  7  Administration.

  8         (e)(5)  Upon the request of and application by a

  9  governmental unit, the State Board of Administration may

10  authorize, for a specific issue or reissue of bonds, a rate of

11  interest in excess of the maximum rate prescribed in paragraph

12  (d) subsection (4).  The governmental unit shall provide in

13  its application request:

14         1.(a)  Relevant supporting data which shall include,

15  but not be limited to:

16         a.1.  The official statement or prospectus, if

17  available, or similar information relating to the sale of the

18  bonds;

19         b.2.  The resolution or ordinance authorizing the

20  issuance of the bonds;

21         c.3.  Financial data relating to anticipated revenue,

22  debt service, and coverage; and

23         d.4.  The most recent financial statement of the

24  governmental unit.

25         2.(b)  Information relating to sale of the bonds,

26  including the amount of the discount, if any.  In making the

27  determination to exceed the maximum interest rate, the State

28  Board of Administration shall consider, but not be limited to

29  considering, comparable sales of other taxable bonds of other

30  governmental units and evidence that the objectives and intent

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1  of the issuing of such bonds will be realized.  This

  2  subparagraph does paragraph shall not apply to:

  3         a.1.  Bonds which have been sold prior to June 30,

  4  1987, and which are delivered pursuant to said sale on or

  5  after June 30, 1987.

  6         b.2.  Bonds issued to finance projects under part II,

  7  part III, or part V of this chapter or health facilities under

  8  part III of chapter 154.

  9         c.3.  Limit or restrict the rate of interest on bonds

10  or other obligations of municipal utilities or agencies

11  thereof issued or made pursuant to authority provided in part

12  II of chapter 166 and s. 215.431.

13         (f)(6)  In connection with, or incidental to, the sale

14  and issuance of bonds, the governmental unit may enter into

15  any contracts which the governing body determines to be

16  necessary or appropriate to achieve a desirable effective

17  interest rate in connection with the bonds by means of, but

18  not limited to, contracts commonly known as investment

19  contracts, funding agreements, interest rate swap agreements,

20  currency swap agreements, forward payment conversion

21  agreements, futures, or contracts providing for payments based

22  on levels of or changes in interest rates, or contracts to

23  exchange cash flows or a series of payments, or contracts,

24  including, without limitation, options, puts, or calls to

25  hedge payment, rate, spread, or similar exposure. Such

26  contracts or arrangements may also be entered into by

27  governmental units in connection with, or incidental to,

28  entering into any agreement which secures bonds or provides

29  liquidity therefor.  Such contracts and arrangements shall be

30  made upon the terms and conditions established by the

31  governing body, after giving due consideration for the credit

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1  worthiness of the counterparties, where applicable, including

  2  any rating by a nationally recognized rating service or any

  3  other criteria as may be appropriate.

  4         (g)(7)  In connection with, or incidental to, the sale

  5  and issuance of the bonds, or entering into any of the

  6  contracts or arrangements referred to in paragraph (f)

  7  subsection (6), the governmental unit may enter into such

  8  credit enhancement or liquidity agreements, with such payment,

  9  interest rate, security, default, remedy, and other terms and

10  conditions as the governing body shall determine.

11         (h)(8)  Notwithstanding any provisions of state law

12  relating to the investment or reinvestment of surplus funds of

13  any governmental unit, proceeds of the bonds and any moneys

14  set aside or pledged to secure payment of the principal of,

15  premium, if any, and interest on the bonds, or any of the

16  contracts entered into pursuant to paragraph (f) subsection

17  (6), may be invested in securities or obligations described in

18  the ordinance or resolution providing for the issuance of the

19  bonds.

20         (2)  The State Board of Administration may adopt rules

21  necessary to administer this section.

22         Section 3.  Section 218.405, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         218.405  Local Government Surplus Funds Trust Fund;

25  creation.--There is hereby created a Local Government Surplus

26  Funds Trust Fund to be administered by the State Board of

27  Administration and to be composed of local government surplus

28  funds deposited therein by units of local government under the

29  procedures established in this part. The board may adopt rules

30  to administer the provisions of this section.

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1         Section 4.  Section 218.407, Florida Statutes, is

  2  amended to read:

  3         218.407  Local government investment authority.--

  4         (1)  Upon determination by the governing body that it

  5  is in the interest of the unit of local government to deposit

  6  surplus funds in the trust fund, a resolution by the governing

  7  body shall be filed with the State Board of Administration

  8  authorizing investment of its surplus funds in the trust fund

  9  established by this part.  The resolution shall name:

10         (a)  The local government official, who may be the

11  chief financial or administrative officer of the local

12  government, or

13         (b)  An independent trustee holding funds on behalf of

14  the unit of local government,

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16  responsible for deposit and withdrawal of such funds and shall

17  state the approximate cash-flow requirements of the local

18  government for the surplus funds to be invested.

19         (2)  The State Board of Administration shall, upon the

20  filing of the resolution, invest the moneys in the trust fund

21  in the same manner and subject to the same restrictions as are

22  set forth in s. 215.47. Except when authorized by the board,

23  all units of local government which qualify to be participants

24  in the Local Government Surplus Funds Trust Fund after January

25  1, 1982, will normally have surplus funds deposited into a

26  pooled investment account.

27         (3)  The provisions of this part shall not impair the

28  power of a unit of local government to hold funds in deposit

29  accounts with banking or savings institutions or to invest

30  funds as otherwise authorized by law.

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1         Section 5.  Subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of

  2  section 218.409, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  3         218.409  Administration of the trust fund.--

  4         (2)  The State Board of Administration shall administer

  5  the investment trust funds on behalf of the participants and

  6  shall have the power to invest such funds. A fee may be

  7  charged on any transaction that is not in accord with the

  8  close of business as set by the board.

  9         (3)  The State Board of Administration may purchase

10  such surety or other bonds as may be necessary for its

11  officials in order to protect the fund. A reserve fund may be

12  established to fulfill this purpose.

13         (4)  All investments may be purchased jointly for the

14  participants in the trust fund.  The board may also purchase

15  investments for a pooled investment account in which all

16  participants may share pro rata, as determined by rule of the

17  board, in the capital gain, income, or losses, subject to any

18  penalties for early withdrawal. The board shall determine the

19  rate of return for the pooled investment account. A system may

20  be developed by the board to keep current account balance

21  information and to apportion pooled investment earnings back

22  to individual accounts.

23         (5)  The State Board of Administration shall keep a

24  separate account, designated by name and number of each

25  participating local government. A maximum number of accounts

26  allowed for each participant may be established by the board.

27  Individual transactions and totals of all investments, or the

28  share belonging to each participant, shall be recorded in the

29  accounts.

30         (6)  The State Board of Administration shall report

31  semiannually or upon request to every participant having a

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1  beneficial interest in the trust fund.  The report shall show

  2  the changes in investments made during the preceding period.

  3  The report shall delineate, in a manner which is in accordance

  4  with generally accepted governmental accounting procedures,

  5  those funds on deposit, the manner in which the funds are

  6  invested, and the interest earnings thereon.  The State Board

  7  of Administration shall furnish upon request the details of an

  8  investment transaction to any participant. Additional

  9  reporting may be made to pool participants.

10         Section 6.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section

11  240.551, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

12         240.551  Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education

13  Expense Program.--

14         (5)  The Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education

15  Expense Program shall be administered by the Prepaid

16  Postsecondary Education Expense Board as an agency of the

17  state.  The Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Board is

18  hereby created as a body corporate with all the powers of a

19  body corporate for the purposes delineated in this section.

20  For the purposes of s. 6, Art. IV of the State Constitution,

21  the board shall be assigned to and administratively housed

22  within the State Board of Administration, but it shall

23  independently exercise the powers and duties specified in this

24  section.  The board shall consist of seven members to be

25  composed of the Insurance Commissioner and Treasurer, the

26  Comptroller, the Chancellor of the Board of Regents, the

27  Executive Director of the State Board of Community Colleges,

28  and three members appointed by the Governor and subject to

29  confirmation by the Senate.  Each member appointed by the

30  Governor shall possess knowledge, skill, and experience in the

31  areas of accounting, actuary, risk management, or investment

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1332
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  1  management.  Each member of the board not appointed by the

  2  Governor may name a designee to serve the board on behalf of

  3  the member; however, any designee so named shall meet the

  4  qualifications required of gubernatorial appointees to the

  5  board. Members appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of

  6  3 years except that, in making the initial appointments, the

  7  Governor shall appoint one member to serve for 1 year, one

  8  member to serve for 2 years, and one member to serve for 3

  9  years.  Any person appointed to fill a vacancy on the board

10  shall be appointed in a like manner and shall serve for only

11  the unexpired term.  Any member shall be eligible for

12  reappointment and shall serve until a successor qualifies.

13  Members of the board shall serve without compensation but

14  shall be reimbursed for per diem and travel in accordance with

15  s. 112.061.  Each member of the board shall file a full and

16  public disclosure of his or her financial interests pursuant

17  to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution and corresponding

18  statute.

19         (c)  The board shall have the powers necessary or

20  proper to carry out the provisions of this section, including,

21  but not limited to, the power to:

22         1.  Adopt an official seal and rules.

23         2.  Sue and be sued.

24         3.  Make and execute contracts and other necessary

25  instruments.

26         4.  Establish agreements or other transactions with

27  federal, state, and local agencies, including state

28  universities and community colleges.

29         5.  Invest funds not required for immediate

30  disbursement.

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  1         6.  Appear in its own behalf before boards,

  2  commissions, or other governmental agencies.

  3         7.  Hold, buy, and sell any instruments, obligations,

  4  securities, and property determined appropriate by the board.

  5         8.  Require a reasonable length of state residence for

  6  qualified beneficiaries.

  7         9.  Restrict the number of participants in the

  8  community college plan, university plan, and dormitory

  9  residence plan, respectively. However, any person denied

10  participation solely on the basis of such restriction shall be

11  granted priority for participation during the succeeding year.

12         10.  Segregate contributions and payments to the fund

13  into various accounts and funds.

14         11.  Contract for necessary goods and services, employ

15  necessary personnel, and engage the services of private

16  consultants, actuaries, managers, legal counsel, and auditors

17  for administrative or technical assistance.

18         12.  Solicit and accept gifts, grants, loans, and other

19  aids from any source or participate in any other way in any

20  government program to carry out the purposes of this section.

21         13.  Require and collect administrative fees and

22  charges in connection with any transaction and impose

23  reasonable penalties, including default, for delinquent

24  payments or for entering into an advance payment contract on a

25  fraudulent basis.

26         14.  Procure insurance against any loss in connection

27  with the property, assets, and activities of the fund or the

28  board.

29         15.  Impose reasonable time limits on use of the

30  tuition benefits provided by the program. However, any such

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  1  limitation shall be specified within the advance payment

  2  contract.

  3         16.  Delineate the terms and conditions under which

  4  payments may be withdrawn from the fund and impose reasonable

  5  fees and charges for such withdrawal. Such terms and

  6  conditions shall be specified within the advance payment

  7  contract.

  8         17.  Provide for the receipt of contributions in lump

  9  sums or installment payments.

10         18.  Establish other policies, procedures, and criteria

11  to implement and administer the provisions of this section.

12         19.  Require that purchasers of advance payment

13  contracts verify, under oath, any requests for contract

14  conversions, substitutions, transfers, cancellations, refund

15  requests, or contract changes of any nature. Verification

16  shall be accomplished as authorized and provided for in s.

17  92.525(1)(a).

18         20.  Adopt procedures to govern contract dispute

19  proceedings between the board and its vendors.

20         Section 7.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

21  law.

22

23          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
24                         Senate Bill 1332

25

26  Deletes all references to law enforcement and service awards.
    Makes technical changes to provide supplementary rulemaking
27  authority pursuant to Ch. 120, Florida Statutes, for existing
    rules and to correct cross-references relating to bond terms,
28  Local Government Surplus Funds Trust Fund, local government
    investment authority, administration of the trust fund, and
29  the Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Program.

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