Forest resources: Forest Resources Improvement Fund.

(1) Existing law authorizes money in the Forest Resources Improvement Fund (the fund) to be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the cost of operations associated with the management of state lands operated as demonstration state forests by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The bill would authorize money in the fund to be used to implement approved management plans and to fund public education, restoration, research, and monitoring activities related to a demonstration forest. (2) Existing law requires the fund to be the depository for all revenue derived from the repayment of certain loans made or interest received, and the receipts from the sale of forest products to support certain operations. This bill would also require all revenue originating from activities within the state forest boundaries, including revenue from leases, rent, fees, firewood, and permits to be deposited into the fund. (3) Existing law requires all excess money in the fund to be deposited in the General Fund. This bill would instead require all excess money in the fund to accrue when fund balances exceed appropriated expenditures. This bill would require this money to be used, as determined by the director and upon appropriation by the Legislature, to fund specified programs if those programs do not receive General Fund revenue at the same or a higher level than in the previous budget year.