a. The authority shall have the power, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this act and P.L.1974, c.80 (C. 34:1B-1 et seq.), to issue bonds and refunding bonds, incur indebtedness and borrow money secured, in whole or in part, by money received pursuant to this act for the purpose of providing funds

(1) for deposit into the Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund;

(2) in the case of refunding bonds, to apply to the refunding, purchase or payment of any bonds issued pursuant to this act;

(3) to fund any capitalized interest on such bonds or refunding bonds;

(4) to fund any reserve or other fund as may be established by the authority for such bonds or refunding bonds and to further secure such bonds and refunding bonds as may be determined by the authority; and

(5) to pay all costs, fees and other expenses related to, or incurred by the authority or the State in connection with, the issuance of such bonds or refunding bonds.

b. The authority may, in any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds or refunding bonds issued by the authority pursuant to this act, pledge any contract entered into with the State Treasurer pursuant to section 6 of this act, or any part thereof, to secure the payment, purchase or redemption of bonds or refunding bonds or any obligations of the authority under any contract or agreement entered into by the authority pursuant to subsection c. of this section 4, and covenant as to the use and disposition of money available to the authority for the payment, purchase or redemption of bonds and refunding bonds and the payment of any obligations of the authority under any contract or agreement entered into by the authority pursuant to subsection c. of this section 4. All costs, fees and other expenses related to, or incurred by the authority or the State in connection with, the issuance of bonds or refunding bonds by the authority for the purposes set forth in this act may be paid by the authority from amounts it receives from the proceeds of the bonds or refunding bonds and from amounts it receives pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of this act, which costs, fees and other expenses may include, but are not limited to, any initial or annual administrative costs and fees of the authority attributable to any bonds or refunding bonds issued pursuant to this act, all legal, accounting, trustee or other professional fees, costs and expenses, and all other costs, fees, expenses, liabilities or obligations attributable to any agreement, contract or other commitment described in subsection c. of this section and any required rebate or other payment to the United States of America. The bonds or refunding bonds shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the authority, which shall stipulate the manner of execution and form of the bonds, whether the bonds or refunding bonds are to be issued in one or more series, the date or dates of issue, time or times of maturity, which shall not exceed 40 years, the rate or rates of interest payable on the bonds, which may be at fixed rates or variable rates, and which interest may be current interest or may accrue, the denomination or denominations in which the bonds are issued, conversion or registration privileges, the sources and medium of payment and place or places of payment, terms of redemption, privileges of exchangeability or interchangeability, and entitlement to priorities of payment or security in the amounts to be received by the authority pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of this act. The bonds may be sold at a public or private sale at a price or prices determined by the authority. The authority is authorized to enter into any agreements necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes of this section, including agreements to sell bonds or refunding bonds to any person and to comply with the laws of any jurisdiction relating thereto.

c. In connection with any bonds or refunding bonds issued or to be issued pursuant to this act, the authority may also enter into any revolving credit agreement, agreement establishing a line of credit or letter of credit, reimbursement agreement, interest rate exchange agreement, currency exchange agreement, interest rate floor or cap, options, puts or calls to hedge payment, currency, rate, spread or similar exposure, or similar agreements (and in connection therewith, agreements establishing a line of credit, letter of credit, insurance or relating to the collateralization of the obligations thereunder), float agreements, forward agreements, insurance contract, surety bond, commitment to purchase or sell bonds, purchase or sale agreement, or commitments or other contracts or agreements and other security agreements as shall be determined and approved by the authority.

d. No resolution adopted by the authority authorizing the issuance of bonds or refunding bonds pursuant to this act shall be adopted or otherwise made effective without the approval in writing of the State Treasurer. Except as provided by subsection i. of section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C. 34:1B-4), bonds or refunding bonds may be issued without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau or agency of the State, other than the approval as required by this subsection, and without any other proceedings or the occurrence of any other conditions or other things other than those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required by this act.

e. Bonds and refunding bonds issued by the authority pursuant to this act shall be special and limited obligations of the authority payable from, and secured by, such funds and moneys determined by the authority in accordance with this section. Neither the members of the authority nor any other person executing the bonds or refunding bonds shall be personally liable with respect to payment of interest and principal on these bonds or refunding bonds. Bonds or refunding bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this act shall not be a debt or liability of the State or any agency or instrumentality thereof, other than a special and limited obligation of the authority, either legal, moral or otherwise, and nothing contained in this act shall be construed to authorize the authority to incur any indebtedness on behalf of or in any way to obligate the State or any political subdivision thereof other than the authority, and all bonds and refunding bonds issued by the authority shall contain a statement to that effect on their face.

f. The authority is authorized to engage, subject to the approval of the State Treasurer and in such manner as the State Treasurer shall determine, the services of bond counsel, financial advisors and experts, placement agents, underwriters, trustees, verification agents, remarketing agents, auction agents, broker-dealers, appraisers, and such other advisors, consultants and agents as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

g. All bonds or refunding bonds issued by the authority pursuant to this act are deemed to be issued by a body corporate and politic of the State for an essential governmental purpose, and the interest thereon and the income derived from all funds, revenues, incomes and other moneys received for or to be received by the authority and pledged and available to pay or secure the payment of bonds or refunding bonds and the interest thereon, shall be exempt from all taxes levied pursuant to the provisions of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes or Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes, except for transfer inheritance and estate taxes levied pursuant to Subtitle 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes.

h. The State hereby pledges and covenants with the holders of any bonds or refunding bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this act, that it will not limit or alter the rights or powers vested in the authority by this act, nor limit or alter the rights or powers of the State Treasurer in any manner which would jeopardize the interest of the holders or any trustee of such holders, or inhibit or prevent performance or fulfillment by the authority or the State Treasurer with respect to the terms of any agreement made with the holders of these bonds or refunding bonds or agreements made pursuant to subsection c. of this section, except that the failure of the Legislature to appropriate moneys for any purpose of this act shall not be deemed a violation of this section.

i. Notwithstanding any restriction contained in any other law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary, the State and all political subdivisions of the State, their officers, boards, commissioners, departments or other agencies, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, saving and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking or investment business, all insurance companies, insurance associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, and all executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who now are or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the State, may properly and legally invest any sinking funds, moneys or other funds, including capital, belonging to them or within their control, in any bonds or refunding bonds issued by the authority under the provisions of this act; and said bonds and refunding bonds are hereby made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with, and received by any State or municipal officers or agency of the State, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the State is now, or may hereafter be, authorized by law.

L.2004,c.68,s.4.