2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 30 - FINANCE › 30 ILCS 171/ - Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority Act. › Article 3 - Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority Act

(30 ILCS 171/Art. 3 heading)
ARTICLE 3.  
RAILSPLITTER TOBACCO SETTLEMENT AUTHORITY ACT
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-1)
Sec. 3-1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority Act. References in the Article to "this Act" mean this Article.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-2)
Sec. 3-2. Definitions. In this Act words or terms shall have the following meanings unless the context or usage clearly indicates that another meaning is intended.
(a) "Authority" means the Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority created and established pursuant to Section 3-4 of this Act.
(b) "Authorized officer" means any of the members of the Authority identified and described in Section 3-4 of this Act.
(c) "Bond" means any instrument evidencing the obligation to pay money authorized or issued by or on behalf of the Authority pursuant to the authorization granted by this Act, including without limitation, bonds, notes, or certificates.
(d) "Bondholder" means, in the case of a bond issued in registered form, the registered owner of the bond and otherwise, the owner of the bond.
(e) "Budget Director" means the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget.
(f) "Consent Decree" means the Consent Decree and Final Judgment of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, dated December 8, 1998, as the same has been and may be corrected, amended or modified, in the action entitled People of the State of Illinois v. Philip Morris Incorporated, et al. (No. 96 L 13146).
(g) "Master Settlement Agreement" means the Master Settlement Agreement, dated November 23, 1998, among the attorneys general of 46 states, including the State of Illinois, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, on the one hand, and certain tobacco manufacturers, on the other hand, and the subject of the Consent Decree.
(h) "Master Settlement Escrow Agent" means the escrow agent under the Master Settlement Agreement.
(i) "Net proceeds of bonds" means the gross proceeds of the sale of bonds issued under Section 3-6 of this Act, less any amounts applied or to be applied to pay transaction and administrative expenses, including underwriting discount, and to fund any reserves deemed necessary or appropriate by the Authority, but does not include any investment earnings realized thereon.
(j) "Participating manufacturer" means a tobacco product manufacturer that is or becomes a signatory to the Master Settlement Agreement.
(k) "Pledged tobacco revenues" means the State's tobacco settlement revenues sold to the Authority pursuant to the sale agreement and pledged by the Authority for the payment of bonds and any related bond facility.
(l) "Qualifying statute" has the meaning given that term in the Master Settlement Agreement, constituting the Tobacco Product Manufacturers' Escrow Act.
(m) "Related bond facility" means any interest rate exchange or similar agreement or any bond insurance policy, letter of credit or other credit enhancement facility, liquidity facility, guaranteed investment or reinvestment agreement, or other similar agreement, arrangement or contract.
(n) "Residual interest in tobacco settlement revenues" means any tobacco settlement revenues determined as moneys are received, to be not required for the identified period in which revenues are received, to pay principal or interest on bonds or administrative or transaction expenses of the Authority or to fund reserves or other requirements relating to bonds issued or related bond facilities made under this Act.
(o) "Sale agreement" means any agreement authorized pursuant to this Act in which the State provides for the sale of all or a portion of the tobacco settlement revenues to the Authority.
(p) "State" means the State of Illinois.
(q) "State Finance Act" means the State Finance Act of the State, as amended (30 ILCS 105/1 et seq.).
(r) "Tobacco settlement bond proceeds account" means the Account by that name within the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund established under Section 6z-43(a) of the State Finance Act.
(s) "Tobacco Settlement Residual Account" means the Account by that name within the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund established under Section 6z-43(a) of the State Finance Act.
(t) "Tobacco settlement revenues" means all tobacco settlement payments received by the State on and after the effective date of this Act and required to be made, pursuant to the terms of the Master Settlement Agreement, by participating manufacturers and the State's rights to receive the tobacco settlement payments on and after the effective date of this Act, exclusive of any payments made with respect to liability to make those payments for calendar years completed before the effective date of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-3)
Sec. 3-3. Transfer and sale of State's right to tobacco settlement revenues. During fiscal years 2010 and 2011, the State may sell, convey, or otherwise transfer to the Authority the tobacco settlement revenues in exchange for the net proceeds of bonds and a right to the residual interest in tobacco settlement revenues.  Unless otherwise directed by statute, the net proceeds of bonds shall be deposited in the Tobacco Settlement Bond Proceeds Account, and the residual interest in tobacco settlement revenues received by the State from time to time shall be deposited in the Tobacco Settlement Residual Account, in each case to be applied for the purposes and in the manner described in this Act and in Section 6z-43 of the State Finance Act.
Any sale, conveyance, or other transfer authorized by this Section shall be evidenced by an instrument or agreement in writing signed on behalf of the State by the Governor. A certified copy of the instrument or agreement shall be filed with the Governor, Comptroller, Treasurer, Budget Director, Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, President and Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability promptly upon execution and delivery thereof. The instrument or agreement may include an irrevocable direction to the Master Settlement Escrow Agent to pay all or a specified portion of the tobacco settlement revenues directly to or upon the order of the Authority, or to any escrow agent or any trustee under an indenture or other agreement securing any bonds issued or related bond facilities made under this Act. Upon execution and delivery of the sale agreement as provided in this Act, the sale, conveyance, or other transfer of the right to receive the tobacco settlement revenues, shall, for all purposes, be a true sale and absolute conveyance of all right, title, and interest therein and not as a pledge or other security interest for any borrowing, valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof and such instrument or agreements and any related instrument, agreement, or other arrangement, including any pledge, grant of security interest, or other encumbrance made by Authority to secure any bonds issued by the Authority, and shall not be subject to disavowal, disaffirmance, cancellation, or avoidance by reason of insolvency of any party, lack of consideration, or any other fact, occurrence, or rule of law. On and after the effective date of the sale of any portion (including all) of the tobacco settlement revenues, the State shall have no right, title or interest in or to the portion of the tobacco settlement revenues sold, and the portion of the tobacco settlement revenues so sold shall be the property of the Authority, and shall be received, held and disbursed by the Authority in a trust fund outside the State treasury.  Any portions of the tobacco settlement revenues sold and held in trust shall be invested in accordance with the Public Funds Investment Act.
The State may not transfer any right to those amounts received by the State which were deposited into the Disputed Payments Account or withheld in accordance with Section XI(f)(2) of the Master Settlement Agreement prior to the closing of any bonds issued pursuant to this Act.
The procedures and requirements set forth in this Section shall be the sole procedures and requirements applicable to the sale of the tobacco settlement revenues.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-4)
Sec. 3-4. Establishment and Powers of Authority. The Authority is hereby established as a special purpose corporation which shall be body corporate and politic of, but having a legal existence independent and separate from, the State and, accordingly, the assets, liabilities, and funds of the Authority shall be neither consolidated nor commingled with those of the State treasury. The Authority and its corporate existence shall continue until 6 months after all its liabilities have been met or otherwise discharged. Upon the termination of the existence of the Authority, all of its rights and property shall pass to and be vested in the State. The Authority shall be established for the express limited public purposes set forth in this Act, and no part of the net earnings of the Authority shall inure to any private individual.
The Authority shall be governed by a 3-member board consisting of the Budget Director and two other members appointed by the Governor. The powers of the Authority shall be subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations contained within this Act, and any applicable covenants or agreements of the Authority in any indenture or other agreement relating to any then outstanding bonds or related bond facilities. The Authority may enter into contracts regarding any matter connected with any corporate purpose within the objects and purposes of this Act. The members of the Authority and the Chief Financial Officer of the Authority shall receive no salary or other compensation, either direct or indirect, for serving as members of the Authority, other than reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of such person's duties. The Authority may elect one of its members as chairman, who shall sign instruments or agreements authorized by this Act on behalf of the Authority.  The Authority may also appoint a Chief Financial Officer of the Authority who may or may not be a member of the Authority in order to provide financial analysis and advice regarding any transaction of the Authority.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Authority shall not be authorized to make any covenant, pledge, promise or agreement purporting to bind the State with respect to tobacco settlement revenues, except as otherwise specifically authorized by this Act.
The Authority may not file a voluntary petition under or be or become a debtor or bankrupt under the federal bankruptcy code or any other federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, or moratorium law or statute as may, from time to time, be in effect and neither any public officer nor any organization, entity, or other person shall authorize the Authority to be or become a debtor or bankrupt under the federal bankruptcy code or any other federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, or moratorium law or statute, as may, from time to time be in effect.
The Authority may not guarantee the debts of another.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-5)
Sec. 3-5. Certain powers of the Authority. The Authority shall have the power to:
(1) sue and be sued;
(2) have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;
(3)  make and alter by-laws for its organization and     internal management and make rules and regulations governing the use of its property and facilities;
(4) appoint by and with the consent of the Attorney     General, assistant attorneys for such Authority; those assistant attorneys shall be under the control, direction, and supervision of the Attorney General and shall serve at his or her pleasure;
(5) retain special counsel, subject to the approval     of the Attorney General, as needed from time to time, and fix their compensation, provided however, such special counsel shall be subject to the control, direction and supervision of the Attorney General and shall serve at his or her pleasure;
(6)  make and execute contracts and all other     instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions under this Section and to commence any action to protect or enforce any right conferred upon it by any law, contract, or other agreement, provided that any underwriter, financial advisor, bond counsel, or other professional providing services to the Authority may be selected pursuant to solicitations issued and completed by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget for those services;
(7)  appoint officers and agents, prescribe their     duties and qualifications, fix their compensation and engage the services of private consultants and counsel on a contract basis for rendering professional and technical assistance and advice, provided that this shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Attorney General provided in Section 4 of the Attorney General Act;
(8) pay its operating expenses and its financing     costs, including its reasonable costs of issuance and sale and those of the Attorney General, if any, in a total amount not greater than 1% of the principal amount of the proceeds of the bond sale;
(9)  borrow money in its name and issue negotiable     bonds and provide for the rights of the holders thereof as otherwise provided in this Act;
(10)  procure insurance against any loss in     connection with its activities, properties, and assets in such amount and from such insurers as it deems desirable;
(11)  invest any funds or other moneys under its     custody and control in investment securities, including in defeasance collateral, as that term is defined in any bond indenture to which the Authority is party, or under any related bond facility;
(12)  as security for the payment of the principal of     and interest on any bonds issued by it pursuant to this Act and any agreement made in connection therewith and for its obligations under any related bond facility, pledge all or any part of the tobacco settlement revenues;
(13)  receive payments, transfers of funds, or other         moneys from any source in furtherance of a defeasance of bonds, provide notice to an indenture trustee of the defeasance of outstanding bonds, and execute and deliver those instruments necessary to discharge the lien of the trustee and the security interest of the holders of outstanding bonds created under an indenture; and
(14) do any and all things necessary or convenient to     carry out its purposes and exercise the powers expressly given and granted in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-6)
Sec. 3-6. Bonds of the Authority.
(a) The Authority shall have power and is hereby authorized to issue bonds, in an amount no greater than $1,750,000,000, to provide sufficient funds for the purchase of all or a portion of the tobacco settlement revenues pursuant to Section 3-3 of this Act and the payment or provision for financing costs.
The issuance of bonds shall be authorized by a resolution of the Authority, adopted by a majority of the members of the Authority without further authorization or approval. The issue of the bonds of the Authority shall be special revenue obligations payable from and secured by a pledge of the pledged tobacco revenues, those proceeds of such bonds deposited in a reserve fund for the benefit of bondholders, and earnings on funds of the Authority, upon such terms and conditions as specified by the Authority in the resolution under which the bonds are issued or in a related trust indenture.
The Authority shall have the power and is hereby authorized from time to time to issue bonds, whenever it deems refunding expedient, to refund any outstanding bonds by the issuance of new bonds, provided that the refunding debt matures within the term of the bonds to be refunded. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded or sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption, or payment of such bonds.
(b)  The bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall bear interest (which may be includable in or excludable from the gross income of the owners for federal income tax purposes) at such fixed or variable rates, payable at or prior to maturity, and shall mature at such time or times, not more than 19 years after the date of issuance, as may be determined by the Authority and may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the Authority, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the Authority. The principal and interest of such bonds may be made payable in any lawful medium. The resolution or the certificate of the officer of the Authority approving the issuance of the bonds shall determine the form of the bonds and the manner of execution of the bonds and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of principal and interest thereof, which may be at any bank or trust company within or outside the State. If any officer whose signature or a facsimile thereof appears on any bonds shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such bonds, such signature or facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if he had remained in office until such delivery.
(c)  The Authority may sell such bonds pursuant to notice of sale and public bid or by negotiated sale in accordance with the corresponding procedures applicable to like sales of general obligation bonds under Section 11 of the General Obligation Bond Act. The proceeds of such bonds shall be disbursed for the purposes for which such bonds were issued under such restrictions as the sale agreement and the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or the related trust indenture may provide. Such bonds shall be issued upon approval of the Authority and without any other approvals, filings, proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than the approvals, findings, proceedings, conditions, and things that are specified and required by this Act.
(d)  Any pledge made by the Authority shall be valid and binding at the time the pledge is made. The assets, property, revenues, reserves, or earnings so pledged shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the Authority, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, neither the resolution nor any indenture or other instrument by which a pledge is created or by which the Authority's interest in pledged assets, property, revenues, reserves, or earnings thereon is assigned need be filed, perfected or recorded in any public records in order to protect the pledge thereof or perfect the lien thereof as against third parties, except that a copy thereof shall be filed in the records of the Authority.
(e)  Whether or not the bonds of the Authority are of such form and character as to be negotiable instruments under the terms of the Uniform Commercial Code, the bonds are hereby made negotiable instruments for all purposes, subject only to the provisions of the bonds for registration.
(f)  At the sole discretion of the Authority, any bonds issued by the Authority and any related bond facility made under the provisions of this Act shall be secured by a resolution or trust indenture by and between the Authority and the indenture trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company, whether located within or outside the State. Such trust indenture or resolution providing for the issuance of such bonds shall, without limitation, (i) provide for the creation and maintenance of such reserves as the Authority shall determine to be proper; (ii) include covenants setting forth the duties of the Authority in relation to the bonds, the income of the Authority, the related sale agreement and the related tobacco settlement revenues; (iii) contain provisions relating to the prompt transfer of the residual interest upon receipt of the tobacco settlement revenues; (iv) contain provisions respecting the custody, safeguarding, and application of all moneys and securities; (v) contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing against the Authority or the State the rights and remedies (pursuant thereto and to the sale agreement) of the owners of the bonds and any provider of a related bond facility as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law; and (vi) contain such other provisions as the Authority may deem reasonable and proper for priorities and subordination among the owners of the bonds and providers of related bond facilities. Any reference in this Act to a resolution of the Authority shall include any trust indenture authorized thereby.
(g) The net proceeds of bonds and any earnings thereon shall never be pledged to, nor made available for, payment of the bonds or any interest or redemption price thereon or any other debt or obligation of the Authority.  The net proceeds of bonds shall be deposited by the State in the Tobacco Settlement Bond Proceeds Account, and shall be used by the State (either directly or by reimbursement) for the payment of outstanding obligations of the General Revenue Fund or to supplement the Tobacco Settlement Residual Account to pay for appropriated obligations of the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund for State fiscal year 2011 through 2013. Any residual interest in tobacco settlement revenues shall be deposited in the Tobacco Settlement Residual Account, and shall be used by the State (either directly or by reimbursement) in accordance with Section 6z-43 of the State Finance Act for appropriated obligations of the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund. With respect to any bonds of the Authority, the interest on which is intended to be excludable from the gross income of the owners for federal income tax purposes, the Authority and the authorized officers may provide restrictions on the use of net proceeds of bonds and other amounts in the sale agreement or otherwise in a tax regulatory agreement only as necessary to assure such tax-exempt status.
(h)  The Authority may enter into, amend, or terminate, as it determines to be necessary or appropriate, any related bond facility (i) to facilitate the issuance, sale, resale, purchase, repurchase, or payment of bonds, interest rate savings or market diversification, or the making or performance of swap contracts, including without limitation bond insurance, letters of credit and liquidity facilities, or (ii) to attempt to manage or hedge risk or achieve a desirable effective interest rate or cash flow. Such facility shall be made upon the terms and conditions established by the Authority, including without limitation provisions as to security, default, termination, payment, remedy, jurisdiction and consent to service of process.
(i)  The Authority may enter into, amend, or terminate, as it deems to be necessary or appropriate, any related bond facility to place the obligations or investments of the Authority, as represented by the bonds or the investment of reserves securing the bonds or related bond facilities or other tobacco settlement revenues or its other assets, in whole or in part, on the interest rate, cash flow, or other basis approved by the Authority, which facility may include without limitation contracts commonly known as interest rate swap agreements, forward purchase contracts, or guaranteed investment contracts and futures or contracts providing for payments based on levels of, or changes in, interest rates. These contracts or arrangements may be entered into by the Authority in connection with, or incidental to, entering into, or maintaining any (i) agreement which secures bonds of the Authority or (ii) investment or contract providing for investment of reserves or similar facility guaranteeing an investment rate for a period of years not to exceed the underlying term of the bonds. The determination by the Authority that a related bond facility or the amendment or termination thereof is necessary or appropriate as aforesaid shall be conclusive. Any related bond facility may contain such provisions as to security, default, termination, payment, remedy, jurisdiction, and consent to service of process and other terms and conditions as determined by the Authority, after giving due consideration to the creditworthiness of the counterparty or other obligated party, including any rating by any nationally recognized rating agency, and any other criteria as may be appropriate.
(j)  Bonds or any related bond facility may contain a recital that they are issued or executed, respectively, pursuant to this Act, which recital shall be conclusive evidence of their validity, respectively, and the regularity of the proceedings relating thereto.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-7)
Sec. 3-7. State not liable on bonds or related bond facilities. No bond or related bond facility shall constitute an indebtedness or an obligation of the State of Illinois or any subdivision thereof, within the purview of any constitutional or statutory limitation or provision or a charge against the general credit or taxing powers, if any, of any of them but shall be payable solely from pledged tobacco revenues.  No owner of any bond or provider of any related bond facility shall have the right to compel the exercise of the taxing power of the State to pay any principal installment of, redemption premium, if any, or interest on the bonds or to make any payment due under any related bond facility.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-8)
Sec. 3-8. Agreement with the State.
(a) The State pledges and agrees with the Authority, and the owners of the bonds of the Authority in which the Authority has included such pledge and agreement, that the State shall (i) irrevocably direct the escrow agent under the Master Settlement Agreement to transfer all pledged tobacco revenues directly to the Authority or its assignee, (ii) enforce its right to collect all moneys due from the participating manufacturers under the Master Settlement Agreement and, in addition, shall diligently enforce the qualifying statute as contemplated in Section IX(d)(2)(B) of the Master Settlement Agreement against all nonparticipating manufacturers selling tobacco products in the State and that are not in compliance with the qualifying statute, in each case in the manner and to the extent deemed necessary in the judgment of and consistent with the discretion of the Attorney General of the State, provided, however, that the sale agreement shall provide (a) that the remedies available to the Authority and the bondholders for any breach of the pledges and agreements of the State set forth in this clause shall be limited to injunctive relief, and (b) that the State shall be deemed to have diligently enforced the qualifying statute so long as there has been no judicial determination by a court of competent jurisdiction in this State, in an action commenced by a participating tobacco manufacturer under the Master Settlement Agreement, that the State has failed to diligently enforce the qualifying statute for the purposes of Section IX(d)(2)(B) of the Master Settlement Agreement, (iii) in any materially adverse way, neither amend the Master Settlement Agreement nor the Consent Decree or take any other action that would (a) impair the Authority's right to receive pledged tobacco revenues, or (b) limit or alter the rights hereby vested in the Authority to fulfill the terms of its agreements with the bondholders, or (c) impair the rights and remedies of such bondholders or the security for such bonds until such bonds, together with the interest thereon and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of such bondholders, are fully paid and discharged (provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to preclude the State's regulation of smoking, smoking cessation activities and laws, and taxation and regulation of the sale of cigarettes or the like or to restrict the right of the State to amend, modify, repeal, or otherwise alter statutes imposing or relating to the taxes), and (iv) not amend, supersede or repeal the Master Settlement Agreement or the qualifying statute in any way that would materially adversely affect the amount of any payment to, or the rights to such payments of, the Authority or such bondholders.  This pledge and agreement may be included in the sale agreement and the Authority may include this pledge and agreement in any contract with the bondholders of the Authority.
(b) The provisions of this Act, the bonds issued pursuant to this Act, and the pledges and agreements by the State and the Authority to the bondholders shall not be interpreted or construed to limit or impair the authority or discretion of the Attorney General to administer and enforce provisions of the Master Settlement Agreement or to direct, control, and settle any litigation or arbitration proceeding arising from or relating to the Master Settlement Agreement.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-9)
Sec. 3-9. Enforcement of contract. The provisions of this Act and of any resolution or proceeding authorizing the issuance of bonds or a related bond facility shall constitute a contract with the holders of the bonds or the related bond facility, and the provisions thereof shall be enforceable either by mandamus or other proceeding in any Illinois court of competent jurisdiction to enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this Act and by any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds a related bond facility adopted in response hereto.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-10)
Sec. 3-10. Bonds as legal investments. The State and all counties, cities, villages, incorporated towns and other municipal corporations, political subdivisions and public bodies, and public officers of any thereof, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on an insurance business, and all executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, and other fiduciaries may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys, or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds issued pursuant to this Act, it being the purpose of this Section to authorize the investment in such bonds of all sinking, insurance, retirement, compensation, pension, and trust funds, whether owned or controlled by private or public persons or officers; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section may be construed as relieving any person, firm, or corporation from any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities for purchase or investment.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-12)
Sec. 3-12. Exemption from taxation. It is hereby determined that the creation of the Authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes are in all respects for the benefit of the people of the State and are public purposes. Accordingly, the property of the Authority, its income and its operations shall be exempt from taxation. The Authority shall not be required to pay any fees, taxes or assessments of any kind, whether state or local, including, but not limited to, fees, taxes, ad valorem taxes on real property, sales taxes or other taxes, upon or with respect to any property owned by it or under its jurisdiction, control or supervision, or upon the uses thereof, or upon or with respect to its activities or operations in furtherance of the powers conferred upon it by this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-13)
Sec. 3-13. Illinois State Auditing Act. The Auditor General shall conduct financial audits and program audits of the Authority, in accordance with the Illinois State Auditing Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-15)
Sec. 3-15. Supplemental nature of Act; construction and purpose. The powers conferred by this Act shall be in addition to and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law, general or special, and may be exercised notwithstanding the provisions of any other such law. Insofar as the provisions of this Act are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, general or special, the provisions of this Act shall be controlling.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)
(30 ILCS 171/3-16)
Sec. 3-16. Severability. If any provision of this Act is held invalid, such provision shall be deemed to be excised and the invalidity thereof shall not affect any of the other provisions of this Act. If the application of any provision of this Act to any person or circumstance is held invalid, it shall not affect the application of such provision to such persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid.
(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10.)