Utah Code 72-2-126. Aeronautics Restricted Account

72-2-126. Aeronautics Restricted Account.

(1)	There is created a restricted account entitled the Aeronautics Restricted Account within the Transportation Fund.

Construction: means the construction, reconstruction, replacement, and improvement of the highways, including the acquisition of rights-of-way and material sites. See Utah Code 72-1-102
Department: means the Department of Transportation created in Section 72-1-201. See Utah Code 72-1-102
Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5

(2)

The account consists of money generated from the following revenue sources:

(a)	aviation fuel tax allocated for aeronautical operations deposited into the account in accordance with Section 59-13-402;

(b)	aircraft registration fees deposited into the account in accordance with Section 72-10-110;

(c)	appropriations made to the account by the Legislature;

(d)	contributions from other public and private sources for deposit into the account; and

(e)	interest earned on account money.

(3)	The department shall allocate funds in the account to the separate accounts of individual airports as required under Section 59-13-402.

(4)

(a)

Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the department shall use funds in the account for:

(i)	the construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of publicly used airports in this state;

(ii)	the payment of principal and interest on indebtedness incurred for the purposes described in Subsection (4)(a);

(iii)

operation of the division of aeronautics;

(iv)	the promotion of aeronautics in this state; and

(v)	the payment of the costs and expenses of the Department of Transportation in administering 4, or another law conferring upon it the duty of regulating and supervising aeronautics in this state.

(b)	The department may use funds in the account for the support of aerial search and rescue operations, provided that no money deposited into the account under Subsection (2)(a) is used for that purpose.

(5)

(a)	Money in the account may not be used by the department for the purchase of aircraft for purposes other than those described in Subsection (4).

(b)	Money in the account may not be used to provide or subsidize direct operating costs of travel for purposes other than those described in Subsection (4).

(6)

The Department may not use money in the account to fund:

(a)	more than 77% of the operations costs related to state owned aircraft in fiscal year 2023-24;

(b)	more than 52% of the operations costs related to state owned aircraft in fiscal year 2024-25;

(c)	more than 26% of the operations costs related to state owned aircraft in fiscal year 2025-26;

(d)	more than 10% of the operations costs related to state owned aircraft in fiscal year 2026-27; or

(e)	any operations costs related to state owned aircraft in a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

Amended by Chapter 99, 2022 General Session