54-17.5-04. Industrial commission powers

54-17.5-04. Industrial commission powers The industrial commission is hereby granted all powers necessary or appropriate to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including the power: 1. To make grants or loans, and to provide other forms of financial assistance as necessary or appropriate, to qualified persons for research, development, and marketing projects, processes, or activities directly related to lignite and products derived from lignite. 2. To make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the performance of its powers and functions under this chapter, including the authority to contract for the administration of the lignite research, development, and marketing program. 3. To allocate sufficient funding from the lignite research, development, and marketing program to retain a technical advisor, as determined necessary by the lignite research council, to support program operations and provide expert analysis, project evaluation, research coordination, and industry engagement to advance the objective of the lignite research program and ensure the effective and strategic use of program funds. 4. To issue evidences of indebtedness as authorized in this chapter and to borrow money in an amount not to exceed six million dollars from the Bank of North Dakota for a period not to exceed five years on the terms and conditions as the Bank of North Dakota and the industrial commission may approve without the necessity of establishing or maintaining any reserve fund as otherwise required by section 54-17.5-05. 5. To receive and accept aid, grants, or contributions of money or other things of value from any source to be held, used, and applied to carry out the purposes of this chapter, subject to the conditions upon which the aid, grants, or contributions are made, including aid, grants, or contributions from any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States for any purpose consistent with the provisions of this chapter. 6. To issue and sell evidences of indebtedness in an amount or amounts as the commission may determine, plus costs of issuance, financing, and any evidences of indebtedness funded reserve funds required by agreements with or for the benefit of holders of the evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of funding research, development, and marketing projects, processes, or activities directly related to lignite and products derived from lignite. 7. To refund and refinance its evidences of indebtedness from time to time as often as it is advantageous and in the public interest to do so, and to pledge any and all income and revenues derived by the commission under this chapter or from a project, process, or activity funded under this chapter to secure payment or redemption of the evidences of indebtedness. 8. To keep accurate records of all financial transactions performed under this chapter. 9. To adopt and enforce policies to effectuate the purpose of this chapter.