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REFERENCE TITLE: bonds; financing; student loans |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013
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HB 2489 |
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Introduced by Representatives Dial, Boyer, Forese, Senator Yee: Representatives Carter, Lovas, Senator Meza
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AN ACT
Amending title 35, chapter 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 6; relating to student loan bond programs.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 35, chapter 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 6, to read:
ARTICLE 6. STUDENT LOAN BOND PROGRAMS
35-771. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Educational institution" means any institution of higher education, whether located within or outside of the boundaries of this state, that awards any eligible degree.
2. "Eligible degree" means any postsecondary degree.
3. "Eligible lender" means an entity affiliated or contracting with a qualified educational institution that may make student loans to eligible students or to the parents of eligible students.
4. "Eligible student" means any student attending any qualified educational institution and any resident of this state attending any educational institution.
5. "Parent" means a student's mother, father, adoptive parent, grandparent or guardian or any person with the duty and authority to make important decisions in matters having a permanent effect on the life and development of a student and to be concerned about the student's general welfare.
6. "Qualified educational institution" means an educational institution with a campus and facilities located in this state that offers one or more eligible degrees.
7. "State program representative" means the governor or the governor's designee.
8. "Student loan" means a loan to or for the benefit of an eligible student for the purpose of financing all or a part of the eligible student's cost of attending an educational institution in pursuit of an eligible degree.
35-772. Student loan bonds
A. In addition to any powers granted under this chapter, a corporation is authorized to issue bonds in order to finance student loans made in a student loan program established pursuant to this article.
B. A corporation, in furtherance of a student loan program, shall have the power to:
1. Determine the nature of student loan programs for eligible students or their parents for which the corporation will issue bonds.
2. Enter into contracts for any or all student loan program purposes.
3. Enter into contracts for the administration or servicing of student loans.
4. Designate the particular qualified educational institution or institutions, or eligible lender or lenders, as its agent for accomplishing its purposes.
5. Make loans with proceeds of the sale of its bonds to any educational institution or any eligible lender in accordance with an agreement between the corporation and other parties. The agreements may provide that the proceeds of any loan made to an educational institution or eligible lender shall be used by the educational institution or eligible lender to purchase, originate or make loans only to or for the benefit of eligible students attending designated qualified educational institutions, or to the parents of those students.
6. Acquire, purchase and make commitments to purchase student loans with proceeds of the sale of its bonds from any educational institution or eligible lender in accordance with an agreement between the corporation and other parties. The agreement may provide that the student loans be made only to or for the benefit of eligible students attending designated qualified educational institutions, or to the parents of those students.
7. Receive and accept from any public agency or any other source loans, grants, guarantees or insurance with respect to student loans and student loan programs.
8. Establish guidelines governing the actions of qualified educational institutions and eligible lenders participating in the corporation's student loan program.
9. Perform any acts incidental to and that it deems necessary to execute the powers listed in this article.
C. A corporation shall not issue bonds to finance student loans pursuant to this article unless the corporation has approved a plan for the student loan program to be financed by the bonds and has submitted the plan for review and approval by the state program representative pursuant to section 35‑773. A corporation shall follow the plan as submitted and approved except for insubstantial deviations determined by the corporation's board of directors to be necessary for the successful issuance of the bonds and establishment and operation of the program. The plan submitted to the state program representative must establish at least the following:
1. The criteria for participation in the program by educational institutions, eligible lenders and eligible students.
2. The general terms of the bonds and student loans.
3. Any other information reasonably requested by the state program representative.
D. A corporation that has approved a plan for issuing student loan bonds and a student loan program to be financed by the bonds under this article is a student loan corporation for the purposes of chapter 7 of this title.
35-773. State program; representative
A. All industrial development authorities are authorized to exercise powers and issue revenue bonds to finance student loans in accordance with this chapter so that the state's student loan program is available for eligible students at qualified educational institutions as a student loan program of general application in this state and approved by this state.
B. The state program representative shall approve or disapprove a plan submitted under section 35‑772, with or without a hearing, not later than thirty days after receipt of the plan and shall promptly notify the corporation that submitted the plan of the approval or disapproval. If the state program representative does not notify the corporation that submitted the plan of the approval or disapproval within forty‑five days after receiving the plan, the plan is deemed approved. Approval of a plan constitutes a finding by the state program representative that:
1. The origination or acquisition of student loans by the corporation, a qualified educational institution or an eligible lender to eligible students or their parents will assist the students in attending an educational institution and financing the student's education.
2. Adequate provision has been or will be made for the payment of the principal of or interest on any bonds issued by the corporation to finance the loan program.
3. Adequate provision has been made for the payment of the reasonable expenses of the administration of the loan program.
4. The proposed procedures for application of the bond proceeds, the collection of payments, interest charges and any other matters concerning the administration of the loan program are in conformance with the law.