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art.002/3/002/2/002/1

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     ARTICLE 2 AS AMENDED

RELATING TO DEBT MANAGEMENT

     SECTION 1. University of Rhode Island Fraternity Circle Improvements Phase I.

     WHEREAS, The University of Rhode Island is proposing a utility and infrastructure

project to replace, improve, and reorganize aged, incrementally developed utility and paved

infrastructure in the sector of the Kingston Campus devoted to fraternity and sorority houses,

referred to as Fraternity Circle Improvements Phase I, including improvements to water,

wastewater, electrical, telecommunications, natural gas connections, and storm water

management systems, as well as roadways, walkways, and parking lots as a first phase of

improvements reflected in a "master plan" for this unique neighborhood of on-campus residences

serving organizations of students; and

     WHEREAS, Fraternities and sororities first developed in the early 1900s at the

University of Rhode Island and were expanded with the initial designation and development of

the "fraternity circle" neighborhood that was established in 1964, with the complement of

fraternity and sorority buildings presently housing over 800 students, while maintaining strong

bonds with affiliated alumni supporters of the University; and

     WHEREAS, The capacity of the present water distribution system in this sector is a

concern for serving sprinkler systems in both present and future houses and the wastewater

system and storm water management systems must be improved and contemporized; and

     WHEREAS, The upgrade and reconfiguration of gas, electric, and telecommunication

infrastructure in the district, with the cooperation of National Grid and the university's

networking and telecommunications operation, will address reliability, safety and long-term

functionality, while reconfigured roadways, with service access, improved pedestrian safety, and

parking area enhancements will bring this sector in line with the hardscape, exterior lighting, and

blue-light emergency phone complements in the adjacent residence hall districts; and

     WHEREAS, The design and construction of this project will be financed through Rhode

Island Health and Educational Building Corporation (RIHEBC) revenue bonds, with an expected

term of twenty (20) years; and

     WHEREAS, Debt service payments would be supported by university general revenues;

now, therefore, be it

     RESOLVED, That the total amount of the debt approved to be issued in the aggregate

shall be limited to not more than five million one hundred thousand dollars ($5,100,000). Total

debt service on the bonds is not expected to exceed four hundred seven thousand dollars

($407,000) annually and eight million one hundred forty thousand dollars ($8,140,000) in the

aggregate based on an average interest rate of five (5.0%) percent and a twenty (20) year

maturity; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Fraternity Circle Improvement Project Phase I is an important

investment in the upgrade of essential utility systems to enhance public safety, ensure reliability

and capacity, and safeguard the woodland/wetland setting of this sector of the Kingston Campus;

and that this general assembly hereby approves financing; and it be further

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by this General

Assembly.

     SECTION 2. Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (the "Authority") is a

public corporation of the State of Rhode Island (the "State"), constituting a public instrumentality

and agency exercising public and essential governmental functions of the State, created by the

General Assembly pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws § 24-12-1, et seq. (as enacted,

reenacted and amended, hereinafter referred to as the "Act"); and

     WHEREAS, The State recognizes that the Pell Bridge, the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge

and other facilities of the Authority are an essential part of the State's transportation system and

facilitates the tourism industry; and it is the policy of the State that the public welfare and the

further economic development and the prosperity of the State requires the maintenance of such

facilities and the financing thereof; and

     WHEREAS, The Act provides that the Authority shall have the power to charge and

collect tolls for the use of its facilities; and

     WHEREAS, Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws § 31-36-20, three and one-half cents

($0.035) per gallon of the motor fuel tax is transferred to the Authority to be used for

maintenance, operations, capital expenditures and debt service on any of its projects as defined in

chapter 12 of title 24; and

     WHEREAS, The Act also provides that the Authority shall have the power to acquire,

hold and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and performance of its

duties; and

     WHEREAS, The Act authorizes the Authority to make and enter into all contracts and

agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its

powers under the Act, to issue revenue bonds of the Authority for any of its purposes and to

refund its bonds, borrow money in anticipation of the issuance of its bonds, and secure its bonds

and notes by the pledge of its tolls and other revenues; and

     WHEREAS, In furtherance of its corporate purposes, the Authority is authorized to issue

from time to time its negotiable revenue bonds and notes in one or more series in such principal

amounts for the purpose of paying all or a part of the costs of any one or more projects authorized

by the Act, making provision for working capital and a reserve for interest; and

     WHEREAS, Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws §§ 35-18-3 and 35-18-4 of the

Rhode Island Public Corporation Debt Management Act (as enacted, reenacted and amended, the

"Debt Management Act"), the Authority has requested the approval of the General Assembly of

the Authority's issuance of not more than sixty five million dollars ($65,000,000) Rhode Island

Turnpike and Bridge Authority Revenue Bonds with a term not to exceed thirty (30) years and six

(6) months (together with any notes issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, the " Bonds")

to be secured by toll, transfers of motor fuel taxes and/or other revenues, for the purpose of

providing funds to finance the renovation, renewal, repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, upgrading

and improvement of the Pell Bridge, the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, the Sakonnet River

Bridge, Mount Hope Bridge, and other projects authorized under the Act, replacement of the

components thereof, working capital, capitalized interest, a debt service reserve and the costs of

issuing and insuring the Bonds (the "Project"); and

     WHEREAS, The Project constitutes essential public facilities directly benefiting the

State; and

     WHEREAS, The Authority is authorized pursuant to § 24-12-28 of the Act to secure its

bonds by a pledge of the tolls and other revenues received by the Authority; and

     WHEREAS, The State shall directly benefit economically from the Project by the repair,

maintenance and improvement of the State transportation infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, In the event that not all of the Bond proceeds are used to carry out the

specified Project, the Authority will use any remaining funds to pay debt service on the Bonds;

     Now, therefore, be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly finds that the Project is an essential public

facility and is of a type and nature consistent with the purposes and within the powers of the

Authority to undertake, and hereby approves the Authority's issuance of not more than sixty-five

million dollars ($65,000,000) in Bonds, which amount is in addition to all prior authorizations;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Bonds will be special obligations of the Authority payable from

funds received by the Authority from tolls and other revenues received by the Authority. The total

debt service on the Bonds is estimated to average approximately five million seventy-five

thousand dollars ($5,075,000) per year or approximately one hundred fifty million two hundred

fifty thousand dollars one hundred fifty-two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars

($152,250,000) in the aggregate, prior to the receipt of any federal subsidy and/or assistance, at

an average interest rate of approximately six and three-quarters percent (6.75%) and an

approximately a thirty (30) year maturity; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Bonds will not constitute indebtedness of the State or any of its

subdivisions or a debt for which the full faith and credit of the State or any of its subdivisions is

pledged.

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by this General

Assembly.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 24-12 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Turnpike and

Bridge Authority" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     24-12-59. Bondholders' rights not to be affected by the state. -- The state does pledge

to and agree with the holders of any bonds or notes issued under this chapter that the state will not

limit or alter the rights vested in the authority to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the

holders until those bonds or notes, together with their interest, with interest on any unpaid

installments of interest, and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceeding by

or on behalf of those holders, are fully met and discharged. The authority is authorized to include

this pledge and agreement of the state in any agreement with the holders of those bonds or notes.

     SECTION 4. This article shall take effect upon passage.