(a) There is established in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development the mining loan fund. The department may make loans from the fund to underwrite advanced mineral exploration, development, or mining in the state.
(b) The mining loan fund is a revolving fund consisting of appropriations made to the fund by the legislature, repayments of principal and interest, and any money chargeable to principal or interest that is collected through liquidation by foreclosure or other process on loans made from the fund. On June 30 of each fiscal year the unexpended and unobligated cash balance of the fund that is attributable to loans owned by the fund lapses into the general fund. Money in the fund may be used by the legislature to make appropriations for costs of administering the fund.