75-42,100. Same; loan applications; participation in program; requirements. (a) The state treasurer is hereby authorized to disseminate information and to provide loan applications as soon as practicable on or after March 4, 2021, to cities for participation in the program.

(b) A city shall forward to the state treasurer an application in the form and manner prescribed and approved by the state treasurer. The application shall include information regarding the amount of the loan requested by the city and such other information that the state treasurer may require, including, but not limited to, the specific fund or account of the city in which loan proceeds shall be deposited. Such application shall contain a certification by the governing body of the city that, if the city receives any federal moneys related to the extreme winter weather event of February 2021, the first priority for expenditure of such moneys shall be for the payment of any outstanding balance of a loan made to the city under the program.

(c) The loan shall be only for those extraordinary electric or natural gas costs incurred during the extreme winter weather event of February 2021, as certified by the governing body of the city, and not for any other utility costs previously budgeted for by the city.

(d) No loan shall be amortized for a period of more than 10 years. Payments on such loan may be made monthly, quarterly or semi-annually upon execution of an agreement between the city and the state treasurer.

(e) The state treasurer may create a lien against the city's utility revenue and surcharges to satisfy any outstanding loan balance. Any city that receives a loan under the program shall apply the proceeds of any lawsuit or restitution relating to the extraordinary electric or natural gas costs incurred during the extreme winter weather event of February 2021 to the payment of any outstanding loan balance.

(f) Not more than $20,000,000 of loans shall be approved by the state treasurer under the program on and after the effective date of this act, and no loans shall be approved by the state treasurer under the program on and after June 1, 2021.

History: L. 2021, ch. 4, § 4; L. 2021, ch. 87, § 18; April 29.