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A.  As used in this Section, the term “issuer” shall mean and include a corporation or local governmental subdivision which issues bonds under this Chapter, or one or more corporations or local governmental subdivisions entering into a joint venture or cooperative endeavor as provided for in La. Rev. Stat. 33:9038.35(B).

B.  In addition to the power to issue revenue bonds, as provided elsewhere in this Chapter, an issuer is hereby authorized to issue from time to time notes, renewal notes, refunding bonds, interim certificates, certificates of indebtedness, debentures, or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness, which together with “revenue bonds” are hereinafter referred to as “bonds”, to provide funds for and to fulfill and achieve its authorized public functions or corporate purposes as set forth in this Chapter.  Except as may otherwise be provided by the issuer, all bonds issued by an issuer shall be negotiable instruments.  All bonds issued by a corporation may be general obligations of the corporation, secured by the full faith and credit of the corporation and payable out of any money, assets, or revenues of the corporation or from any other sources whatsoever as may be available to the corporation.

C.  Bonds shall be authorized, issued, and sold by a resolution or resolutions of the issuer.  Such bonds may be of such series, bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be payable at such time or times, be in such denominations, be sold at such price or prices, at public or private negotiated sale as the issuer shall deem advisable, be in such form, either in coupon form, registered as to principal only, or fully registered without coupons, carry such registration and exchangeability privileges, be payable at such place or places, be subject to such terms or redemption, and be entitled to such priorities on the income, revenue and receipts of, or available to, the issuer as may be provided by the issuer in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance and sale of bonds of the issuer.

D.  The bonds of the issuer shall be signed by such officials of the issuer, by either manual or facsimile signatures, as shall be determined by resolution or resolutions of the issuer, and shall have impressed or imprinted thereon the seal of the issuer, or a facsimile thereof.  The coupons attached to coupon bonds of the issuer shall bear the facsimile signature of such official of the agency as shall be determined by resolution or resolutions of the issuer.

E.  Any bonds of the issuer may be validly issued, sold, and delivered, notwithstanding that one or more of the officials of the issuer signing such bonds, or whose facsimile signature or signatures may be on the bonds or on coupons shall have ceased to be such official of the issuer at the time such bonds shall actually have been delivered.

F.  Bonds of the issuer may be sold in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the issuer to be most beneficial, and the issuer may pay all expenses, premiums, or commissions which it may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof, subject to the provisions of this Chapter.

G.  Any bonds issued pursuant to this Chapter may also be secured by a trust agreement by and between the issuer and one or more corporate trustees or fiscal agents, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without this state.

H.  Subject to the rights of the holders of the bonds of the issuer, the issuer is hereby authorized and empowered to issue from time to time its bonds for the purpose of refunding any bonds of the issuer then outstanding, together with the payment of any redemption premiums thereon and interest accrued or to accrue to the date of redemption of such outstanding bonds.  All such refunding bonds of the issuer shall be issued, sold or exchanged, and delivered, shall be secured, and shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter in the same manner and to the same extent as any other bonds issued by the issuer pursuant to this Chapter, unless otherwise determined by resolution of the issuer.  Refunding bonds issued by the issuer as herein provided may be sold or exchanged for outstanding bonds of the issuer and, if sold, the proceeds thereof may be applied, in addition to any other authorized purposes, to the purchase, redemption, or payment of such outstanding bonds.  Pending the application of the proceeds of any such refunding bonds, with any other available funds, to the payment of the principal, accrued interest, and any redemption premiums, if any, on the bonds being refunded, and, if so provided or permitted in the trust indenture or the resolution of the issuer authorizing the issuance of such refunding bonds, to the payment of any interest on such refunding bonds and any expenses in connection with such refunding, such proceeds may be invested in direct obligations of, or obligations the principal and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America which shall mature or which shall be subject to the redemption by the holders thereof, at the option of such holders, not later than the respective dates when the proceeds, together with the interest accruing thereon, will be required for the purposes intended.

I.  Bonds which are issued under this Chapter are declared to be for an essential public and governmental purpose, and together with interest thereon, income therefrom, and gain upon the sale thereof shall be exempted from all state and local taxes.

J.  The state and all public officers, any parish or municipality, or other subdivision or instrumentality of the state, any bank, banker, trust company, savings bank and institution, building and loan association, savings and loan association, investment company or any person carrying on a banking or investment business, any insurance company or business, insurance associations and any person carrying on an insurance business, and any executor, administrator, curator, trustee and other fiduciary, and retirement system or pension fund may legally invest any sinking funds, monies, or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds issued by the issuer pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, and such bonds shall be authorized security for all public deposits.  It is the purpose of this Section to authorize such persons, firms, corporations, associations, political subdivisions and officers, or other entities, public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them, including but not limited to sinking, insurance, investment, retirement, compensation, pension, and trust funds, and funds held on deposit, for the purchase of any such bonds of the issuer, and that any such bonds shall be authorized security for all public deposits.  However, nothing contained in this Section with regard to legal investments or security for public deposits shall be construed as relieving any such person, firm, or corporation or other entity from any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities.

K.  An issuer is authorized to issue bond anticipation notes in accordance with Chapter 14-B of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

L.  Any suit to determine the validity of bonds issued under this Chapter shall be brought only in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. 13:5121 et seq.

M.  Any issuer is authorized to issue refunding bonds for the purpose of refunding outstanding bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 14-A of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

N.  Bonds, notes, or other debt instruments which are issued under this Chapter shall not be subject to any statutory debt limitations or restrictions; and shall not be subject to the provisions of any other act, statute, or local law relating to the authorization, issuance, or sale of bonds or notes.  Notwithstanding any provision thereof, any bonds, notes, or other debt instruments authorized to be issued under this Chapter shall, before the delivery thereof, be approved by the State Bond Commission.

O.  All bonds, and any interest coupons appertaining thereto, issued pursuant to this Chapter shall be and are hereby made negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all purposes of the negotiable instruments law of Louisiana, subject to the provisions of bonds for registration.

P.  Persons, firms, or corporations retained or employed by an issuer as advisors or consultants for the purpose of rendering financial advice and assistance may purchase or participate in the purchase, or in the distribution of its bonds and notes when such bonds or notes are offered at public sale.

Acts 1990, No. 1082, §1; Acts 2010, No. 536, §1, eff. June 25, 2010.