All bonds issued by the Secretary of Commerce under authority of this article shall be limited obligations of the division, the principal of and interest on which shall be payable solely out of the revenues derived from the operation of the railroads authorized by this article which the bonds are issued to finance. Bonds and interest coupons issued under authority of this article shall not constitute an indebtedness of the division or department, the State of South Carolina, or any political subdivision thereof, within the meaning of any state constitutional provision or statutory limitation and shall not constitute nor give rise to a pecuniary liability of the same or a charge against the general credit of the division or the department or against the full faith, credit or taxing power of the State of South Carolina, or a political subdivision thereof, and such fact shall be plainly stated on the face of each bond. Such bonds may be executed and delivered at any time as a single issue or from time to time as several issues, may be in such form and denominations, may be of such tenor, may be in registered or bearer form either as to principal or interest or both, may be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding forty years from their date, may be subject to such terms of redemption, may be payable at such place or places, may bear interest at such rate or rates payable at such place or places and evidenced in such manner, and may contain such provisions not inconsistent herewith, all of which shall be provided in the proceedings of the commission authorizing the bonds. Any bonds issued under the authority of this article may be sold at public or private sale at such price and in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the Secretary of Commerce to be most advantageous, and the division may pay, as a part of the cost of acquiring any railroad and necessary equipment, and out of the bond proceeds, all expenses, premiums and commissions which the Secretary of Commerce may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance thereof. All bonds issued under the authority of this article except registered bonds, registered otherwise than to bearer and all interest coupons appurtenant thereto shall be construed to be negotiable instruments, despite the fact that they are payable solely from a specified source. The proceedings authorizing the issuance of bonds may provide for the issuance, in the future, of further bonds on a parity with those initially issued, but such proceedings shall preclude the issuance of bonds or any obligations of any sort secured by a lien prior to the lien of the bonds or bonds afterwards issued on a parity with the bonds.
Pending the issuance of bonds, bond anticipation notes may be issued, and to the end that a vehicle be provided therefor, the provisions of Sections 11-17-10 to 11-17-110, as now or hereafter amended, shall be applicable to such bond anticipatory borrowing.
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 181, Section 247, eff July 1, 1993; 1994 Act No. 361, Section 9, eff May 3, 1994.