LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeHarbors and Navigation CodeDiv. 6Pt. 4Ch. 1§ 3915 Bond Sale Procedures

§ 3915 Bond Sale Procedures

Harbors and Navigation Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3915 Bond Sale Procedures

This law explains how the state sells bonds (like loans) to get money. The highest bidder is the one who offers the lowest interest cost, not the highest price.

Key Takeaways

  • •Bonds are sold to the bidder who offers the lowest interest cost, not the highest price.
  • •Bidders must include a deposit of 0.5% of the bond's value (up to $100,000) with their bid.
  • •If the winning bidder doesn’t pay the full price on time, they lose their deposit and the bonds are resold.

Example

The state needs money to build a new school, so they sell bonds to investors.

Investors bid on the bonds, and the winner is the one who agrees to charge the state the least amount of interest over time.

How to Calculate

Deposit = 0.5% of the par value of the bonds (but not more than $100,000)

  1. Find the total par value of the bonds being sold.
  2. Calculate 0.5% of that value.
  3. If the result is more than $100,000, the deposit is capped at $100,000.

An investor bids on bonds worth $5,000,000.

Result: Deposit = 0.5% of $5,000,000 = $25,000

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3915 Bond Sale Procedures

The bonds authorized to be issued under this part shall be sold by the State Treasurer to the highest bidder for cash, either at public auction or upon sealed bids as the committee may by resolution determine. Highest bidder shall be the bidder whose bid will result in the lowest net interest cost on account of said bonds. If the State Treasurer determines that the bids received are not satisfactory as to price or responsibility of the bidders, the State Treasurer may reject all bids received. The Treasurer may from time to time, by public announcement at the place and time fixed for the sale, continue such sale, as to the whole of the bonds offered, or any part thereof offered, at such time and place as he may select. If the bonds are offered for sale upon sealed bids, then each bid shall be in writing and signed by the bidder and sealed, and shall be accompanied by the deposit of a certified check or cashier’s check for one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the par value of the bonds so offered for sale, but not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), drawn on a bank or trust company authorized to transact and transacting business in the State of California, payable to the Treasurer of the State of California, such deposit not to bear interest. The deposit of each unsuccessful bidder shall be returned to him immediately upon the nonacceptance of his bid, and the deposit of the successful bidder shall immediately upon the acceptance of his bid become and be the property of the State of California and be placed in the State Treasury to the credit of the Fifth San Francisco Seawall Fund with respect to bonds issued at the instance of the authority and to the credit of the Small Craft Harbor Bond Fund with respect to bonds issued at the instance of the commission, and shall be credited to the successful purchaser upon the purchase price of the bonds bid for in case such purchase price is paid in full by him within the time mutually agreed upon between the successful bidder and the Treasurer. If the purchase price is not so paid, the successful bidder shall have no right in and to the bonds or by reason of such bid, or to the recovery of the deposit accompanying the bid, or to any allowance or credit by reason of such deposit unless it shall appear that the bonds would not be validly issued if delivered to the purchaser in the form and manner proposed. In case the purchase price is not so paid, the bonds so sold but not paid for shall be resold by the State Treasurer upon notice as provided in case of original sale. Temporary or interim bonds, certificates, or receipts of any denomination whatever and with or without coupons attached thereto, to be signed by the State Treasurer, may be issued and delivered until the definitive bonds are executed and available for delivery. Signature of the State Treasurer may be by facsimile or signature stamp. (Added by Stats. 1958, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 103.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

acceptanceresolutionstate treasurercommissionharborpropertyoffernet

Related Statutes

  • § 1690 Port And Harbor Policy
  • § 3907 Bond Issue Approval Process
  • § 6304.1 Port District Marine Housing Leases
  • § 1106 Public Hearing Required
  • § 3906 Bond Issuance Authorization Limits

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Harbors and Navigation Code. Section 3915.
View Official Source