(a) There is continued in existence in the State Treasury the Good Neighbor Authority Fund, originally established pursuant to Chapter 18 of the Statutes of 2020. The fund shall be administered by the department under the direction of the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. The moneys in the fund shall be available for expenditure, upon appropriation by the Legislature, and as authorized by Section 2113a(b)(2) of Title 16 of the United States Code, and to the extent not in conflict with federal law or agreements, for state departments or agencies to undertake forest health and fuels reduction projects on federal lands executed through these agreements, and to fund costs associated with planning, implementing, and maintaining these projects, including administrative and operational costs.

(b) The fund shall be the depository for revenues derived from the sale of forest products, as defined in Section 4638, from federal lands, as authorized by Section 2113a(b)(2) of Title 16 of the United States Code, and to the extent not in conflict with federal law or agreements, to support the activities described in subdivision (a).

(c) State departments or agencies engaged in agreements may accept grants and donations, including, but not limited to, donations of equipment, seedlings, labor, materials, or funds from any source for the purpose of supporting or facilitating activities undertaken pursuant to this section. Funds received pursuant to this subdivision shall be transferred to the department and deposited into the fund for use by state departments or agencies engaged in agreements to support the activities described in subdivision (a) at the direction of the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 232, Sec. 3. (AB 697) Effective January 1, 2022.)