85-2-905. Ground water assessment account. (1) There is a ground water assessment account within the special revenue fund established in 17-2-102. The Montana bureau of mines and geology is authorized to expend amounts from the account necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.
     (2) The account may be used by the Montana bureau of mines and geology only to carry out the provisions of this part.
     (3) Subject to the direction of the ground water assessment steering committee, the Montana bureau of mines and geology shall investigate opportunities for the participation and financial contribution of agencies of federal and local governments to accomplish the purposes of this part.
     (4) There must be deposited in the account:
     (a) at the beginning of each fiscal year, $366,000 of the proceeds from the resource indemnity and ground water assessment tax, as authorized by 15-38-106, and $300,000 of the interest earnings from the resource indemnity trust fund, as authorized by 15-38-202, unless at the beginning of the fiscal year the unobligated cash balance in the ground water assessment account:
     (i) equals or exceeds $666,000, in which case an allocation may not be made and the proceeds must be deposited in the resource indemnity trust fund established by 15-38-201; or
     (ii) is less than $666,000, in which case an amount equal to the difference between the unobligated cash balance and $666,000 must be allocated to the ground water assessment account and any remaining amount must be deposited in the resource indemnity trust fund established by 15-38-201;
     (b) funds provided by state government agencies and by local governments to carry out the purposes of this part;
     (c) proceeds allocated to the account as provided in 15-36-324 and 15-38-106; and
     (d) funds provided by any other public or private sector organization or person in the form of gifts, grants, or contracts specifically designated to carry out the purposes of this part.

     History: En. Secs. 4, 5, Ch. 769, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 31, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 299, Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 444, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 552, L. 1999.