(1) Subject to subsection (2), the bonds shall be issued in 1 or more series, each series to be in a principal amount, to be dated, to have the maturities which may be either serial, term, or both, to bear interest at a rate or rates, to be subject or not subject to prior redemption, and if subject to prior redemption with or without call premiums, to be payable at a place or places, to have or not have provisions for registration as to principal only or as to both principal and interest, to be in a form and to be executed in a manner as shall be determined by resolution to be adopted by the state administrative board and subject to or granting those covenants, directions, restrictions, or rights specified by resolution to be adopted by the state administrative board as necessary to ensure the marketability, insurability, or tax exempt status of the bonds. The state administrative board shall rotate the services of legal counsel when issuing bonds.

    (2) The state administrative board may refund bonds issued under this part by the issuance of new bonds, whether or not the bonds to be refunded have matured or are subject to prior redemption. The state administrative board may issue bonds partly to refund bonds issued under this part and partly for any other purpose provided by this part. The principal amount of any refunding bonds issued pursuant to this section shall not be counted against the limitation on principal amount provided in the Great Lakes water quality bond authorization act.

    (3) The state administrative board may authorize and approve insurance contracts, agreements for lines of credit, letters of credit, commitments to purchase bonds, and any other transaction to provide security to assure timely payment or purchase of any bond issued under this part. The state administrative board may authorize and approve an interest rate exchange or swap, hedge, or similar agreement in connection with the issuance of bonds under this part, payable from the same source as the bonds.

    (4) The state administrative board may authorize the state treasurer, but only within limitations contained in the authorizing resolution of the board, to do 1 or more of the following:

    (a) Sell and deliver and receive payment for the bonds.

    (b) Deliver bonds partly to refund bonds and partly for other authorized purposes.

    (c) Select which outstanding bonds will be refunded, if any, by the new issue of bonds.

    (d) Buy issued bonds.

    (e) Approve interest rates or methods for determining interest rates, including fixed or variable rates, prices, discounts, maturities, principal amounts, purchase prices, purchase dates, remarketing dates, denominations, dates of issuance, interest payment dates, redemption rights at the option of the state or the owner, the place and time of delivery and payment, and other matters and procedures necessary to complete the authorized transactions.

    (f) Execute, deliver, and pay the cost of remarketing agreements, insurance contracts, agreements for lines of credit, letters of credit, commitments to purchase bonds or notes, and any other transaction to provide security to assure timely payments or purchase of any bond issued under this part.

    (g) Determine the details of, execute, deliver, and pay the cost of any interest rate exchange or swap, hedge, or similar agreement.

    (h) Pledge all or any portion of the strategic water quality initiatives fund created in section 5204 to secure bonds issued or to be issued by the Michigan municipal bond authority created in section 4 of the shared credit rating act, 1985 PA 227, MCL 141.1054, for the purpose of funding loans under the strategic water quality initiatives loan program under part 52.

    (5) The bonds shall not be subject to the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821. Issuance of the bonds shall be subject to the agency financing reporting act, 2002 PA 470, MCL 129.171 to 129.177.

    (6) The bonds or any series of the bonds shall be sold at public or private sale at such price or may be issued and deposited directly into the state water pollution control revolving fund created in section 16a of the shared credit rating act, 1985 PA 227, MCL 141.1066a, or the strategic water quality initiatives fund created in section 5204, as determined by or pursuant to a resolution of the state administrative board.

    (7) Not more than 20% of the bonds shall be issued in any year. The first bond issuance shall be structured in such a manner that debt payments do not begin before October 1, 2003. In making the determination to issue these bonds, the department shall consider the availability of the workforce to conduct the activities authorized by this part, in order to ensure a competitive bidding process.