(1) The board is authorized and directed to issue rules and regulations to develop a Colorado mine subsidence protection program, which shall provide protection for owners of private residential structures against damages caused by land subsidence from underground coal mines. The program shall be operated in accordance with the provisions of Title IV of the federal "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977", as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. The board may assess and expend fees collected from participants who are insured under the program, and expend interest earned on such fees as necessary to defray administrative costs of the program. In its discretion, the board may delegate such power and responsibility, by rulemaking, to the division.
(2) Creation of trust. The Colorado coal mine subsidence trust is hereby created as part of the board. Trust funds shall be held in custody by the state treasurer in a fund to be known as the Colorado coal mine subsidence trust fund, which fund is hereby created. Moneys granted to the state by the federal government for the purposes specified in subsection (1) of this section, together with all interest earned, shall be credited to such trust fund. The state treasurer shall invest trust assets in lawful investments. The trust funds shall be available to the board to carry out the purposes of the Colorado mine subsidence protection program established pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
Source: L. 92: Entire section added, p. 1896, § 7, effective May 29.
Cross references: For the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977", see 30 U.S.C. § 1201 et seq.