A.  To fulfill the constitutional mandate of La. Const. Art. IX, § 1 to protect, conserve, and replenish the natural resources of the state, the legislature hereby establishes the Natural Resource Restoration Trust Fund in order for the office of the oil spill coordinator to carry out the duties charged in La. Rev. Stat. 30:2480 and 2480.1.

B.  Out of the funds remaining in the Bond Security and Redemption Fund after a sufficient amount is allocated from the fund to pay all obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state that become due and payable within the fiscal year, the treasurer in each fiscal year shall pay into the Natural Resource Restoration Trust Fund an amount equal to the amount of all restoration monies received by the office of the oil spill coordinator from natural resource damage assessments.  The monies in this fund shall be used solely as provided in this Section and only in the amounts appropriated by the legislature.  All unexpended and unencumbered monies in this fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.  The monies in this fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and interest earned on the investment of these monies shall remain in the fund.  The amounts placed in the fund shall be separate from the Oil Spill Contingency Fund and not counted toward the limitations established for in La. Rev. Stat. 30:2486.  Any federal monies placed in the fund shall be administered in accordance with federal requirements for such monies.

Acts 2001, No. 649, §1, eff. June 22, 2001.