(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury, the Forest Resources Improvement Fund. The money in the Forest Resources Improvement Fund may only be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the cost of operations associated with management of lands held in trust by the state and operated as demonstration state forests by the department pursuant to Section 4646, including restoration activities, and to reimburse the department’s cost of maintaining and improving the campground facilities, associated recreational facilities, natural environment, and access thereto, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 4652.
(b) The Forest Resources Improvement Fund shall be the depository for all revenue derived from the repayment of loans made or interest received pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4790), the receipts from the sale of forest products, as defined in Section 4638, from the state forests to support the operations described in subdivision (a), and revenue received from recreational user fees, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4652. Money in the fund in excess of the amount needed to support those operations shall be deposited in the General Fund.
(c) The director may accept grants and donations of equipment, seedlings, labor, materials, or funds from any source for the purpose of supporting or facilitating activities undertaken pursuant to this part. Any funds received shall be deposited by the director in the Forest Resources Improvement Fund.
(d) Each proposed expenditure by the department of money from the Forest Resources Improvement Fund shall be included as a separate item and scheduled individually in the Budget Bill for each fiscal year for consideration by the Legislature. These appropriations shall be subject to all of the limitations contained in the Budget Bill and to all other fiscal procedures prescribed by law with respect to the expenditure of state funds.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 598, Sec. 2. (AB 2351) Effective January 1, 2011.)