32 Pa.C.S. — Pennsylvania General Assembly — Legislative Data Processing Center.
Enactment. Unless otherwise noted, the provisions of Title 32 were added June 22, 1982, P.L.577, No.167, effective immediately.
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes only. Pennsylvania statutory law is published in two parts: the consolidated titles collected here (cited e.g. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502), and the unconsolidated session laws that have never been consolidated (cited e.g. 35 P.S. § 780-113), which are published separately at https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated and are only partially online. This corpus is therefore not the whole of Pennsylvania statutory law.
Part IV Water Resources Projects
Chapter 75 Water Facilities Restoration
§ 7501 Short title of chapter
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Facilities Restoration
Act."
§ 7502 Definitions
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
"Board." The Water Facilities Loan Board established by this chapter.
"Community water supply system." (Repealed).
"Department." (Repealed).
"Flood control facility." (Repealed).
"Issuing officials." The Governor, the Auditor General and the State Treasurer.
"Municipality." A city, borough, incorporated town, township, county or municipal authority.
"Notes." Temporary obligations issued by the Commonwealth pursuant to this chapter in anticipation
of bonds, and shall include renewal notes.
"Port facility." (Repealed).
"Project." (Repealed).
"Renewal notes." Notes, the net proceeds of which are used to pay principal, accrued interest and premium,
if any, of previously issued notes or renewal notes, and which evidence the same temporary
borrowing of the Commonwealth as the notes or renewal notes replaced.
"Water facility." (Repealed).
(Mar. 1, 1988, P.L.82, No.16)
§ 7503 Legislative findings and purposes
[Repealed]
§ 7504 Water Facilities Loan Board
(a) Creation.-- The Water Facilities Loan Board is hereby created as a departmental administrative
board in the Department of Environmental Resources.
(b) Membership.-- (Repealed).
(c) Quorum.-- A quorum for the conduct of business shall be at least five members of the board or
their alternates.
(d) Staff services.-- (Repealed).
(e) Termination.-- (Repealed).
(Mar. 1, 1988, P.L.82, No.16)
§ 7505 Powers of board
The board shall have the power:
(1) To make and alter bylaws for the management of its affairs.
(2) To enter into contracts of all kinds and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient
for carrying out its operations.
(3) To accept grants, subsidies and loans from and enter into agreements or other transactions
with any Federal or Commonwealth agency.
(4) To be a party to any action in any court concerning matters affecting the board, except
that no provisions of this chapter shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity
except as provided in Chapter 85 of Title 42 (relating to matters affecting government
units).
(5) To make loans for the repair, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, extension
and improvement of community water supply systems and for the repair, reconstruction
or rehabilitation of flood control facilities, dams and port facilities in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter.
(6) To adopt administrative procedures relating to the processing of loan applications
necessary for implementing the provisions of this chapter.
(7) To cooperate with Federal, Commonwealth and local agencies and interstate river basin
commissions in order to accomplish the purposes of this chapter as expeditiously as
possible.
(8) To acquire or take title by foreclosure to any real or personal property which has
been pledged as security for a loan granted by the board, and which has been defaulted,
and to operate or dispose of the property in accordance with section 7517 (relating
to supervision of project and security from default). All costs arising out of the
foreclosure, acquisition or operation shall be paid from the Water Facilities Loan
Fund. All proceeds or revenues resulting from foreclosure, acquisition or operation
of the property shall be deposited in the Water Facilities Loan Fund. All proceeds
or revenues resulting from the sale, lease or disposal of the property shall be deposited
in the Water Facilities Loan Redemption Fund for the purchase or retirement of bonds
and payment of interest and premium if any.
(9) To make reimbursement to the department or to any agency of the Commonwealth for administrative
expenses incurred in the provision of services in connection with the performance
of duties under this chapter.
(10) To adopt and, from time to time, amend and repeal rules and regulations to carry out
the provisions of this chapter.
(11) To do all other things necessary and convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions
of this chapter.
§ 7506 Water Facilities Advisory Committee
[Repealed]
§ 7507 Borrowing authorized
(a) Aggregate limitation.-- Pursuant to the provisions of section 7(a)(3) of Article VIII of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania and the referendum approved by the electorate on November 3, 1981,
the issuing officials are authorized and directed to borrow, on the credit of the
Commonwealth, bonds not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of $300,000,000, not including
refunding bonds, as may be found necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(b) Authorization to issue notes.-- Pending the issuance of bonds of the Commonwealth as authorized in this chapter, the
issuing officials are authorized in accordance with this chapter and on the credit
of the Commonwealth to make temporary borrowing not to exceed three years in anticipation
of the issue of bonds with the latest stated maturity date to be set forth in the
notes, in order to provide funds in such amounts as may from time to time be deemed
advisable to carry out the purposes of this chapter prior to the issue of bonds. In
order to provide for and in connection with such temporary borrowings, the issuing
officials are authorized in the name and on behalf of the Commonwealth to enter into
any loan or credit agreement or agreements or other agreements with any banks or trust
companies or other lending institutions or persons in the United States having power
to enter into them, which agreements may contain such provisions not inconsistent
with the provisions of this chapter as may be customary in such instruments and as
may be authorized by the issuing officials.
(c) Issuance of notes and renewal notes.-- All temporary borrowings made under the authorization of this section shall be evidenced
by notes of the Commonwealth, which shall be issued from time to time for such amounts
that together with the notes outstanding and bonds issued pursuant to this chapter
do not exceed $300,000,000, in such form and in such denominations, and subject to
such terms and conditions of sale and issue, renewal, prepayment or redemption and
maturity, rate or rates of interest and time of payment of interests, as the issuing
officials shall direct and in accordance with this chapter. Such direction may provide
for the subsequent issuance of the notes (referred to as "renewal notes") to refund
the notes or renewal notes, which renewal notes shall, upon issuance thereof, evidence
the borrowing, and may specify such other terms and conditions with respect to the
notes and renewal notes thereby authorized for issuance as the issuing officials may
determine and direct. Any issue of renewal notes may be in a principal amount sufficient
to repay the principal of and accrued interest on, if any, the issue or issues of
notes being refunded and to pay the financial costs relating to the renewal notes.
(d) Funding bonds.-- Outstanding notes evidencing the borrowings may be funded and retired by the issuance
and sale of the bonds of the Commonwealth as authorized in this chapter. The funding
bonds must be issued and sold not later than a date three years after the date of
the issuance of the first notes evidencing the borrowings to the extent that payment
of the notes has not otherwise been made or provided for by sources other than proceeds
of renewal notes.
(e) Issuance of general obligation bonds.-- As evidence of the indebtedness authorized in this chapter, general obligation bonds
of the Commonwealth shall be issued from time to time to fund and retire notes issued
pursuant to this chapter (referred to as "funding bonds") or to provide moneys necessary
to carry out the purposes of this chapter, or both, for such total amounts, in such
form, in such denominations and subject to such terms and conditions of issue, redemption
and maturity, rate of interest and time of payment of interest as the issuing officials
direct except that the latest stated maturity date shall not exceed 30 years from
the date of the debt first issued for each series.
(f) Execution of bonds.-- All bonds and notes issued under the authority of this chapter shall bear facsimile
signatures of the issuing officials and a facsimile of the great seal of the Commonwealth
and shall be countersigned by a duly authorized officer of a duly authorized loan
and transfer agent of the Commonwealth.
(g) Direct obligation of Commonwealth.-- All bonds and notes issued in accordance with the provisions of this section shall
be direct obligations of the Commonwealth and the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth
are hereby pledged for the payment of the interest thereon as it becomes due and the
payment of the principal at maturity. The principal of and interest on the bonds and
notes shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America.
(h) Exemption from taxation.-- All bonds and notes issued under the provisions of this section shall be exempt from
taxation for State and local purposes.
(i) Form of bonds.-- The bonds may be issued as coupon bonds or registered as to both principal and interest
as the issuing officials may determine. If interest coupons are attached, they shall
contain the facsimile signature of the State Treasurer.
(j) Bond amortization.-- The issuing officials shall provide for the amortization of the bonds in substantial
and regular amounts over the term of the debt. The first retirement of principal shall
be stated to mature prior to the expiration of a period of time equal to one-tenth
of the time from the date of the first obligation issued to evidence the debt to the
date of the expiration of the term of the debt. Retirements of principal shall be
regular and substantial if made in annual or semiannual amounts whether by stated
serial maturities or by mandatory sinking fund retirements.
(k) Refunding bonds.-- The issuing officials are authorized to provide, by resolution, for the issuance of
refunding bonds for the purpose of refunding any bonds issued under the provisions
of this chapter and then outstanding, either by voluntary exchange with the holders
of the outstanding bonds, or to provide funds to redeem and retire the outstanding
bonds with accrued interest, any premium payable thereon and the costs of issuance
and retirement of bonds, at maturity or at any call date. The issuance of the refunding
bonds, the maturities and other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof
and the duties of the issuing officials in respect to the same shall be governed by
the provisions of this section, insofar as they may be applicable. Refunding bonds,
which are not subject to the aggregate limitation of $300,000,000 of bonds to be issued
pursuant to this chapter, may be issued by the issuing officials to refund bonds originally
issued or to refund bonds previously issued for refunding purposes.
(l) Quorum.-- Whenever any action is to be taken or decision made by the Governor, the Auditor General
and the State Treasurer acting as issuing officials and the three officers are not
able unanimously to agree, the action or decision of the Governor and either the Auditor
General or State Treasurer shall be binding and final.
§ 7508 Sale of bonds
(a) Public sale.-- Whenever bonds are issued, they shall be offered for sale at not less than 98% of
the principal amount and accrued interest and shall be sold by the issuing officials
to the highest and best bidder or bidders after due public advertisement on such terms
and conditions and upon such open competitive bidding as the issuing officials shall
direct. The manner and character of the advertisement and the time of advertising
shall be prescribed by the issuing officials.
(b) Private sale.-- Any portion of any bond issue so offered and not sold or subscribed for may be disposed
of by private sale by the issuing officials in such manner and at such prices, not
less than 98% of the principal amount and accrued interest, as the Governor shall
direct. No commission shall be allowed or paid for the sale of any bonds issued under
the authority of this chapter.
(c) Bond series.-- When bonds are issued from time to time, the bonds of each issue shall constitute
a separate series to be designated by the issuing officials or may be combined for
sale as one series with other general obligation bonds of the Commonwealth.
(d) Temporary bonds.-- Until permanent bonds can be prepared, the issuing officials may in their discretion
issue in lieu of permanent bonds temporary bonds in such form and with such privileges
as to registration and exchange for permanent bonds as may be determined by the issuing
officials.
(e) Disposition and use of proceeds.-- The proceeds realized from the sale of bonds and notes, except funding bonds, refunding
bonds and renewal notes, under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid into a
special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the "Water Facilities Loan Fund"
and are specifically dedicated to the purposes of the referendum of November 3, 1981
as implemented by this chapter. The proceeds shall be paid by the State Treasurer
periodically to those departments, agencies or authorities authorized to expend them
at such times and in such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy the funding needs
of the department, agency or authority. The proceeds of the sale of funding bonds,
refunding bonds and renewal notes shall be paid to the State Treasurer and applied
to the payment of principal of, the accrued interest and premium, if any, and costs
of redemption of the bonds and notes for which such obligations shall have been issued.
(f) Investment of funds.-- Pending their application to the purposes authorized, moneys held or deposited by
the State Treasurer may be invested or reinvested as are other funds in the custody
of the State Treasurer in the manner provided by law. All earnings received from the
investment or deposit of such funds shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit
of the Water Facilities Loan Redemption Fund.
(g) Registration of bonds.-- The Auditor General shall prepare the necessary registry book to be kept in the office
of the duly authorized loan and transfer agent of the Commonwealth for the registration
of any bonds, at the request of owners thereof, according to the terms and conditions
of issue directed by the issuing officials.
(h) Expenses of preparation for issue and sale of bonds and notes.-- There is hereby appropriated to the State Treasurer from the proceeds of the bonds
and notes issued as much money as may be necessary for all costs and expenses in connection
with the issue of and sale and registration of the bonds and notes in connection with
this chapter.
§ 7509 Debt retirement
(a) Water Facilities Loan Redemption Fund.-- All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall be redeemed at maturity
and all interest due from time to time on the bonds shall be paid from a special fund
to be known as the "Water Facilities Loan Redemption Fund." For the specific purpose
of redeeming the bonds at maturity and paying all interest thereon in accordance with
the information received from the Governor, the General Assembly shall appropriate
moneys to the Water Facilities Loan Redemption Fund for the payment of interest on
the bonds and the principal thereof at maturity. All moneys paid into the Water Facilities
Loan Redemption Fund and all of the moneys not necessary to pay accruing interest
shall be invested by the Treasury Department in such securities as are provided by
law for the investment of the sinking funds of the Commonwealth.
(b) Purchase of bonds.-- The board, with the approval of the Governor, is authorized at any time to use any
of the moneys in the Water Facilities Loan Fund not necessary for the purposes of
the referendum of November 3, 1981 for the purchase and retirement of all or any part
of the bonds and notes issued the authority of this chapter. In the event that all
or any part of the bonds and notes are purchased by the board, they shall be canceled
and returned to the loan and transfer agent as canceled and paid bonds and notes and
thereafter all payments of interest thereon shall cease and the canceled bonds, notes
and coupons shall be destroyed within two years after cancellation in the presence
of the issuing officials or their designees, and a certificate evidencing the destruction,
satisfactory to the duly authorized loan and transfer agent of the Commonwealth shall
be furnished to it. All canceled bonds, notes and coupons shall be so marked as to
make the canceled bonds, notes and coupons nonnegotiable.
(c) Reporting requirements.-- The State Treasurer shall determine and report to the Secretary of the Budget by November
of each year the amount of money necessary for the payment of interest on outstanding
obligations and the principal of the obligations, if any, for the following fiscal
year and the times and amounts of the payments. It shall be the duty of the Governor
to include in every budget submitted to the General Assembly full information relating
to the issuance of bonds and notes under the provisions of this chapter and the status
of the sinking fund of the Commonwealth for the payment of the interest on the bonds
and notes and the principal thereof at maturity.
(d) Debt service appropriations.-- The General Assembly shall appropriate an amount equal to moneys as may be necessary
to meet repayment obligations for principal and interest into the Water Facilities
Loan Redemption Fund.
(e) Interest rate on loans.-- In no case shall the rate of interest on any loan made pursuant to this chapter be
less than the rate of interest paid by the Commonwealth on the general obligation
bonds or notes issued pursuant to this chapter from which funds were obtained for
the loan except when that rate of interest would exceed the maximum permissible rate
of interest under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and the regulations
promulgated thereunder so as to cause the general obligation bonds issued pursuant
to this chapter to be deemed arbitrage bonds pursuant to section 103(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. In such
case the rate of interest on a loan shall be equal to the maximum rate of interest
calculable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and regulations promulgated
thereunder which will not cause the general obligation bonds and notes issued pursuant
to this chapter to be deemed arbitrage bonds under the provisions of section 103(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and all regulations promulgated
thereunder. In the case of loans initially funded from the proceeds of notes and subsequently
funded from renewal notes and bonds, the interest rate to be charged on the loans
shall be established in accordance with the provisions of this subsection upon the
sale of bonds or notes, as the case may be, for the loans.
(f) Disposition of loan repayments and interest.-- All loan repayments, payments of interest on loans made by the board or proceeds shall
be transmitted to the State Treasurer for deposit into the General Fund of the Commonwealth.
§ 7510 Apportionment and appropriation of funds
[Repealed]
§ 7511 Limits on project funding
[Repealed]
§ 7512 Costs eligible for loan financing
[Repealed]
§ 7513 Planning consultation and prefeasibility assessments
[Repealed]
§ 7514 Application requirements and criteria for obtaining loan
[Repealed]
§ 7515 Priorities for loans
[Repealed]
§ 7516 Implementation of project
[Repealed]
§ 7517 Supervision of project and security from default
(a) Inspection of project and records.-- The applicant shall allow the Water Facilities Loan Board and its successors, agents
and representatives the right at all reasonable times during construction and after
completion of the project to enter upon and inspect the project and to examine and
make copies of the applicant's books, records, accounting data and other documents
pertaining to the project and the financial condition of the applicant.
(b) Independent audits.-- The applicant may be required by the board or its agent to have prepared independent
audits of its financial documents and conditions and submit a certified copy of the
audits to the board.
(c) Security for loan.-- The loan shall be secured by agreements, mortgages or other security instruments as
the board finds necessary and adequate to secure the loan. The board and its successors
may use any procedure or remedy available under any other existing or future laws
for the protection of creditors.
(d) Default on community water supply systems projects.-- In the event of a default on repayment of a loan for a community water supply system
project, the board or its successors may apply to the court of common pleas of the
county where the project is located to have a receiver appointed to assume operation
and supervision of the water supply system. The receiver shall collect the revenues
and disburse funds to pay operating costs and loan obligations under the supervision
of the court. Receivership shall continue until the default is cured and regular repayments
established or the board and court determine to reorganize the water system or sell
its assets and turn over operations to another entity.
§ 7518 Expedited approval of rate relief
For the limited and special purpose of ensuring repayment of principal and interest
on loans made pursuant to this chapter, the Public Utility Commission shall approve
such security issues, affiliated interest agreements and rate increase requests by
applicants that are regulated utilities as are necessary and appropriate. For this
purpose, the Public Utility Commission shall establish such expedited practices, procedures
and policies as necessary to facilitate and accomplish repayment of the loans. Nothing
in this chapter shall be construed as to require approval of rate increases greater
than that necessary to accomplish the repayment of loans made pursuant to this chapter.