17-6-214. Debt and liability free account -- rules for deposits and transfers -- purpose. (1) There is an account in the state special revenue fund established by 17-2-102 known as the debt and liability free account.

(2) The purpose of the debt and liability free account is as follows:

(a) to pay the principal, interest, premiums, and any costs or fees associated with redeeming outstanding bonds, notes, or other obligations that have been authorized and issued pursuant to the laws of Montana and that are currently subject to optional redemption;

(b) to pay the principal, interest, premiums, and any costs or fees associated with defeasing outstanding bonds, notes, or other obligations that have been authorized and issued pursuant to the laws of Montana that are not currently subject to optional redemption;

(c) to forego or reduce the amount of an issuance of general obligation bonds paid from the general fund authorized by the legislature but not yet issued by the board of examiners prior to using funds from the account established in 17-7-209 for the same purpose;

(d) to pay in whole or in part legally resolved nonpension financial liabilities of the state of Montana;

(e) to replace federal funding that has been rescinded by the federal government from remaining funding of the American Rescue Plan Act funds;

(f) to mitigate the need for general fund supplemental appropriations for the general appropriations act; and

(g) to replace federal funds that have been reduced or rescinded by the federal government.

(3) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, interest income received pursuant to 17-6-202(2) is deposited into the account.

(4) Funds in the debt and liability free account are statutorily appropriated, as provided in 17-7-502, to the governor's office of budget and program planning and must be used in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(5) Funds expended from the account in this section may not be included in the calculation of annual transfers in 17-7-208.

(6) The office of budget and program planning shall prioritize the use of funds for the uses outlined in subsections (1)(a) through (1)(c).

(7) Within 15 days of the close of each fiscal quarter, the office of budget and program planning shall submit a written report to the legislative finance committee in accordance with 5-11-210 that identifies the amount and the type of debt payoff or other expenditure from the account established in this section for the previous fiscal quarter.

(8) If the unobligated ending fund balance of this account is less than $12.5 million, then up to 50% of the volatile revenue calculated pursuant to 17-1-405(4), but no more than $12.5 million per year, may be transferred by the state treasurer into this account.