16.5  General powers.
  1.  The authority has any and all powers necessary and convenient to carry out its purposes and duties, and exercise its specific powers, including but not limited to the power to:
  a.  Issue its negotiable bonds and notes as provided in this chapter in order to finance its programs.
  b.  Sue and be sued in its own name.
  c.  Have and alter a corporate seal.
  d.  Make and alter bylaws for its management consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
  e.  Make and execute agreements, contracts, and other instruments of any and all types on such terms and conditions as the authority may find necessary or convenient to the purposes of the authority, with any public or private entity, including but not limited to contracts for goods and services. All political subdivisions, public housing agencies, other public agencies and state departments and agencies may enter into contracts and otherwise cooperate with the authority.
  f.  By rule, adopt procedures relating to competitive bidding, including the identification of those circumstances under which competitive bidding by the authority, either formally or informally, shall be required. In any bidding process, the authority may administer its own bidding and procurement or may utilize the services of the department of administrative services or any other agency. Except when such rules apply, the authority and all contracts made by it in carrying out its public and essential governmental functions with respect to any of its programs shall be exempt from the provisions and requirements of all laws or rules of the state which require competitive bids in connection with the letting of such contracts.
  g.  Acquire, hold, improve, mortgage, lease, and dispose of real and personal property, including but not limited to the power to sell at public or private sale, with or without public bidding, any such property, mortgage loan, or other obligation held by it.
  h.  Procure insurance against any loss in connection with its operations and property interests.
  i.  Fix and collect fees and charges for its services.
  j.  Subject to an agreement with bondholders or noteholders, invest or deposit moneys of the authority in a manner determined by the authority, notwithstanding chapter 12B or 12C.
  k.  Accept appropriations, gifts, grants, loans, or other aid from public or private entities. A record of all gifts or grants, stating the type, amount and donor, shall be clearly set out in the authority’s annual report along with the record of other receipts.
  l.  Provide technical assistance and counseling related to the authority’s purposes, to public and private entities.
  m.  In cooperation with other local, state, or federal governmental agencies, conduct research studies, develop estimates of unmet housing needs, gather and compile data useful to facilitating decision making, and enter into agreements to carry out programs within or without the state which the authority finds to be consistent with the goals of the authority.
  n.  Cooperate in the development of and initiate housing demonstration projects.
  o.  Contract with architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, housing construction and finance experts, and other advisors. However, the authority may enter into contracts or agreements for such services with local, state, or federal governmental agencies.
  p.  Through the title guaranty division, make and issue title guaranties on Iowa real property in a form acceptable to the secondary market, to fix and collect the charges for the guaranties and to procure reinsurance against any loss in connection with the guaranties.
  q.  Own or acquire intellectual property rights including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, service marks, and patents, and enforce the rights of the authority with respect to such intellectual property rights.
  r.  Make, alter, and repeal rules consistent with the provisions of this chapter, and subject to chapter 17A.
  s.  Establish one or more funds within the state treasury under the control of the authority and invest moneys of the authority therein. Notwithstanding section 8.33 or 12C.7, or any other provision to the contrary, moneys invested by the treasurer of state pursuant to this subsection shall not revert to the general fund of the state and interest accrued on the moneys shall be moneys of the authority and shall not be credited to the general fund. For purposes of this paragraph, the treasurer of state shall enter into an agreement with the authority to carry out the provisions of this paragraph.
  t.  Select projects to receive assistance by the exercise of diligence and care and apply customary and acceptable business and lending standards in the selection and subsequent implementation of such projects.
  u.  Exercise generally all powers typically exercised by private enterprises engaged in business pursuits unless the exercise of such a power would violate the terms of this chapter or the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
  2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any purchase or lease of real property, other than on a temporary basis, when necessary in order to implement the programs of the authority, protect the investments of the authority by means of foreclosure or other means, or to facilitate the transfer of real property for the use of low or moderate income families, shall require written notice from the authority to the government oversight standing committees of the general assembly and the prior approval of the executive council.
  3.  The powers enumerated in this section are cumulative of and in addition to those powers enumerated elsewhere in this chapter and no such powers limit or restrict any other powers of the authority.
  4.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authority may elect whether to utilize any or all of the goods or services available from other state agencies in the conduct of its affairs. Departments, boards, commissions, or other agencies of the state shall provide reasonable assistance and services to the authority upon the request of the executive director.
[C77, 79, 81, §220.5]
84 Acts, ch 1230, §2; 85 Acts, ch 252, §28
C93, §16.5
97 Acts, ch 201, §17; 2004 Acts, ch 1134, §1; 2007 Acts, ch 54, §19; 2008 Acts, ch 1031, §17; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §19