Opinion ID: 2632256
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: public utility bond act

Text: ¶ 5 Petitioners argue that § 22-159 is part of the Public Utility Bond Act [2] and as such, Const. Art. 10, § 27(B) concerning revenue bonds applies and is violated by § 22-159. We disagree. Section 22-159 appears in the Oklahoma Statutes immediately after the Public Utility Bond Act and provides: § 22-159. Municipal support of public school systems Municipalities may support any public school system located in whole or in part within the corporate limits of the municipality, including without limitation by the expenditure of municipal revenues for construction or improvement of public school facilities. In furtherance of municipal support for any public school system, as authorized by this section, the municipal governing body may take all actions necessary to effectuate such support. ¶ 6 The intent of the legislature controls when interpreting statutes. Tulsa County Deputy Sheriff's Fraternal Order of Police v. Board of County Commissioners of Tulsa County, 2000 OK 2, ¶ 10, 995 P.2d 1124, 1125, reh'g. denied, (June 30, 1998), appeal after remand, 2000 OK 2, 995 P.2d 1124. Such intent must be gleaned from the statute in view of its general purpose and object. TXO Production Corp. v. Okl. Corp. Comm'n, 1992 OK 39, ¶ 7, 829 P.2d 964, 968. It is presumed that the law-making body has expressed its intent in a statute and that it intended what it so expressed. TXO Production Corp. v. Okl. Corp. Comm'n, 1992 OK 39, ¶ 7, 829 P.2d 964, 969. ¶ 7 In analyzing § 22-159, we determine its general purpose is to allow a municipality the option to support public school systems that are located, in whole or in part, within the corporate limits of the municipality. The statute's title, Municipal support of public school systems, evidences the legislature's intent that this section apply to municipal support of public schools and not to public utilities or to revenue bonds issued to purchase or construct public utilities. The legislature enacted § 22-159 in 1999, pursuant to Section 5 of House Bill No. 1393, and identified this legislation as creating new law, not as amending the 1992 Bond Act. Accordingly, we hold that § 22-159 is not a part of the Public Utility Bond Act and, of necessity, Const. Art. 10, § 27(B) concerning revenue bonds is inapplicable to § 22-159.