(a) There is established in the State Treasury a fund entitled the Professional Employer Organization Registration Administrative Trust Fund. Fees and assessments provided by this chapter collected by the department shall be deposited in the fund. The fund shall constitute a separate fund to be disbursed by the state Comptroller on order of the secretary. All expenses incurred by the department under this chapter, including the salaries of all employees, travel costs, and any other cost of administration and enforcement as may become necessary, either within or without the state, shall be paid from the separate fund in the State Treasury upon warrants of the state Comptroller drawn upon the State Treasury from time to time when vouchers therefor are approved by the secretary. The State Treasurer shall pay monies from the separate fund upon the order of the secretary. The total expense for every purpose incurred may not exceed the total fees and assessments collected and paid into the fund. All monies remaining unexpended in the separate fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the State Treasury to be expended as provided by this chapter.
(b) The State Treasurer shall determine if the money in the trust fund shall be kept in cash or invested. The monies in the fund may be invested by the State Treasurer and all monies and interest remaining unexpended in the separate fund provided at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the State Treasury to be expended as provided by this chapter.
(c) The secretary is designated as trustee of the fund and the State Treasurer is designated as custodian of the fund, and both shall furnish bonds in amounts deemed appropriate. The cost of bonds for the trustee, custodian, and other employees or officials required to post bond in connection with the program shall be paid out of the fund.
(d) No monies shall be withdrawn or expended from the fund for any purpose unless the monies have been appropriated by the Legislature and allocated pursuant to this chapter. Any monies appropriated shall be budgeted and allotted pursuant to the Budget Management Act in accordance with Article 4, commencing with Section 41-4-80 of Chapter 4 of Title 41, and only in the amounts provided by the Legislature in the general appropriations act or other appropriations act.
Last modified: May 3, 2021