We have your request to be advised concerning whether tax anticipation notes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, $45,000,000 series BT, are legal investments for trust funds in this Commonwealth.
The tax anticipation notes were authorized by the Act of August 6, 1936, No. 36. Section 1 of the act authorizes the Governor, the Auditor General, and the State Treasurer, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
The constitutionality of the issuance of tax anticipation notes was upheld by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the case of Kelly v. Baldwin et al., 319 Pa. 53 (1935).
On November 7, 1933, article III, sec. 22, of the Pennsylvania Constitution, relating to investments for trust funds, was amended to read as follows:
“The General Assembly may, from time to time, by law, prescribe the nature and kind of investments for trust funds to be made by executors, administrators, trustees, guardians and other fiduciaries.”
Pursuant to this constitutional direction, the General Assembly enacted a comprehensive schedule of legal investments for fiduciaries in the Act of July 2, 1935, P. L. 545, which amended section 41 (a) (1) of the Fiduciaries Act of June 7, 1917, P. L. 447, as amended. The 1935 amendment provides, in part, as follows:
“Subject to the conditions herein contained a fiduciary holding moneys to be invested may invest such moneys in:
“Subsection (2). Pennsylvania Obligations. — Bonds, or other interest-bearing obligations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or those for the payment of the*655 principal and interest on which the faith and credit of the Commonwealth is pledged.”
Although the loans in question are payable out of revenues of a specific fiscal period, the notes are nevertheless “interest-hearing obligations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”. The loans are evidenced by notes of the Commonwealth which are signed by the Governor, the Auditor General, and the State Treasurer, containing a facsimile of the great seal of the Commonwealth, and are secured by current revenues which are specifically appropriated for the payment of the principal and interest thereof. Moreover, the act specifically permits the payment of interest not exceeding 4% percent per annum.
Accordingly, you are advised that tax anticipation notes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, $45,000,000 series BT, are legal investments for trust funds in this Commonwealth. From Frederic Ray, Harrisburg.
