Sec 35-726. Approval of general plan before issuing bonds; fee; definition

A. Bonds shall not be issued by a corporation for the purpose of financing single family dwelling units pursuant to section 35-706, subsection A, paragraph 11 or 12 without approval of a general plan by its governing body. The corporation shall submit a general plan for each respective series of bonds to its governing body. The general plan shall briefly describe:

1. The amount of the proposed bonds.

2. The maximum term of the bonds.

3. The maximum interest rate on the bonds.

4. The need for the bond issue.

5. The terms and conditions for originating or purchasing mortgage loans or making loans to lenders.

6. The area in which the single family dwelling units to be financed may be located.

7. The proposed fees, charges and expenditures to be paid for originators, servicers, trustees, custodians, mortgage administrators and others.

8. All insurance requirements with respect to mortgage loans, mortgaged property, mortgagors, originators, servicers and trustees.

9. The anticipated date of issuance of the bonds.

B. The governing body shall review general plans submitted by corporations pursuant to subsection A of this section. In reviewing the plans the governing body shall consider:

1. Whether the amount of the mortgage monies proposed to be made available is reasonably related to the demand for the mortgage monies.

2. Whether the terms of the general plan are justifiable in the context of the transaction and in the context of similar transactions.

3. Whether the fees, costs and expenditures as set forth in the general plan are reasonably related to the services provided.

4. For projects of owner-occupied single family dwelling units to be occupied by persons of low and moderate income and financed pursuant to section 35-706, subsection A, paragraphs 11 and 12, whether the proposed mortgage monies to be made available will fulfill a public purpose by providing housing for persons of low and moderate income or by encouraging single family developments in all participating jurisdictions, including such jurisdictions' slum or blighted areas as defined in section 36-1471.

C. The governing body shall approve or disapprove the general plan not later than thirty days after receipt of the plan. If the governing body does not act upon the general plan within thirty days from the date of receipt, the general plan shall be deemed approved. If a general plan is approved, the corporation may issue the series of bonds covered by the general plan with a total principal amount, maximum term and maximum interest rate no greater than that which is set forth in the general plan. The origination and servicing fees pertaining to mortgage loans to be financed in accordance with the general plan shall not exceed those proposed in the general plan. The corporation may vary other items in the general plan upon a finding that the variation is minor and that the variations will not impair the security for the bonds or substantially increase the cost of financing the single family dwelling units and the findings of the corporation shall be conclusive.

D. The governing body may charge any corporation submitting a general plan for review a fee of not to exceed ten thousand dollars together with reimbursement of its actual costs and expenses incurred in reviewing the general plan.

E. Except for a corporation approved by a governing body of a county or a municipality having a population of more than seven per cent of the total state population computed according to the most recent United States decennial census, a corporation shall not issue bonds, other than refunding bonds the proceeds of which are used exclusively to refund a prior bond issue, to finance a multifamily residential rental project, sanitarium, clinic, medical hotel, rest home, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or life care facility as prescribed in section 20-1801, unless the department approves the project. The department, with or without a hearing, shall review the project and consider at least the following factors:

1. The demand for and feasibility of the project in the area set forth in the application to the corporation.

2. The terms and conditions of the proposed bonds.

3. The proposed use of bond proceeds.

4. The benefit to the public if the project provides rental housing for persons of low and moderate income or encourages rental housing in slum or blighted areas as defined in section 36-1471.

5. If the project consists of a nursing home, or a life care facility as prescribed in section 20-1801, the benefit to the public of the project, including the proposed rent, fees and other charges of the project in relation to the level of services to be offered.

F. Subsection E of this section does not apply to bonds issued to finance:

1. A sanitarium, clinic, medical hotel, rest home, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or life care facility as prescribed in section 20-1801, if the facility is to be owned and operated by this state or a political subdivision or agency of this state.

2. A nursing home, rest home, skilled nursing facility, life care facility or senior residential facility providing on-site medical and support services if the facility is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the United States internal revenue code.

G. Except for a corporation that is exempt under subsection E of this section, the department with or without a hearing shall approve or disapprove the project not later than thirty days after receipt of the request for approval. If the project is approved the corporation may issue the bonds described in the approval request with the total principal amount, maximum term and maximum interest rate no greater than as set forth in the request. The department shall charge each applicant submitting a project approval request pursuant to this subsection a fee of not to exceed five thousand dollars together with reimbursement of its actual costs and expenses incurred in reviewing the project. Beginning on October 1, 2002, the department shall remit the fees to the state treasurer for deposit in the Arizona department of housing program fund established by section 41-3957.

H. For the purposes of this section, "department" means the Arizona department of housing.