(1) The authority is hereby authorized to issue bonds, in an amount not to exceed fifty million dollars, for the purposes of funding watershed protection projects and forest health projects of governmental agencies.
The authority may make and contract to make loans with the proceeds of the bondsauthorized by this section to governmental agencies pursuant to this section to finance the cost of watershed protection projects and forest health projects if the authority or the governmental agency has entered into an agreement with the Colorado clean energy development authority, as it existed prior to July 1, 2012, or the Colorado state forest service with respect to the application of proceeds of such bonds. The authority may make the loans subject to terms and conditions that are determined by the authority to be consistent with the purposes of the loans. The loans shall be evidenced by notes, bonds, or other obligations of the governmental agency that are issued to the authority, and the governmental agencies are authorized to issue such notes, bonds, or other obligations for such purposes. All notes, bonds, or other obligations evidencing a loan from the authority may be sold at a private sale to the authority at any price, whether or not less than par value. The denominations, times for payment of principal and interest, and provisions for redemption prior to maturity of such bonds, notes, or other obligations shall be as the authority and the governmental agency agree. Each loan to a governmental agency and the notes, bonds, or other obligations issued to evidence the same shall bear interest at the rate or rates and have the maturities as the authority and the governmental agency agree. The authority may charge and collect from governmental agencies fees and charges in connection with the loans or other services from the authority, including, but not limited to, fees and charges sufficient to reimburse the authority for all reasonable costs that it necessarily incurred in providing such loans. All watershed protection projects and forest health projects funded with moneys made available pursuant to this section shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws, such as best management practices for water quality established by the Colorado state forest service pursuant to section 24-33-201, C.R.S.
Governmental agencies participating in watershed protection projects and forest health projects shall specify how the moneys made available pursuant to financing by the authority are to be allocated in a memorandum of understanding with the authority, subject to the following limitations:
Up to twenty percent of the proceeds of bonds issued by the authority may be distributed for watershed protection projects and forest health projects, including the establishment of incentives for use of beetle-infested lumber.
The remaining proceeds shall be applied to watershed protection projects and foresthealth projects identified, in consultation with the governmental agencies participating in such projects, by the Colorado state forest service pursuant to section 23-31-311, C.R.S.
(4) For purposes of this section, "governmental agencies" means:
Any political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, cities, counties,cities and counties, municipalities, water conservation districts, water conservancy districts, special districts, water authorities, government-owned public utilities, and state agencies;
The United States and any agency thereof, including the United States forest serviceand the bureau of land management; and
Any enterprise, entity, agency, commission, or authority established by a governmental agency, including, without limitation, those established pursuant to an interstate compact or other intergovernmental compact or agreement.
(5) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2023. Such repeal shall not nullify, abrogate, alter, or otherwise affect any extant obligations under this article at the time of the repeal.
Source: L. 2008: Entire section added, p. 1538, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2012: (2) and (3)(a) amended, (HB 12-1315), ch. 224, p. 976, § 42, effective July 1. L. 2013: (5) amended, (HB 13-1012), ch. 91, p. 294, § 2, effective April 4.