§ 15-12-103 - Disposition of revenues -- Grants. - Arkansas Statutes

15-12-103. Disposition of revenues -- Grants.

(a) All revenues derived from the additional tax levied by 26-60-105(b) shall be deposited by the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration in the State Treasury as special revenues.

(b) After deducting three percent (3%) of the revenues for distribution to the Constitutional Officers Fund and the State Central Services Fund to be used for the purposes as provided by law, the Treasurer of State shall credit the net amount thereof as follows:

(1) (A) Eighty percent (80%) of the net amount shall be credited to the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Grants and Trust Fund, to be preserved and managed by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council for use in the acquisition, management, and stewardship of state-owned lands or the preservation of state-owned historic sites, buildings, structures, or objects which the council determines to be of value for recreation or conservation purposes, with the properties to be used, preserved, and conserved for the benefit of this and future generations.

(B) It is not the intention of this chapter that the council shall itself manage, operate, or maintain any lands so acquired, but, rather, that it from time to time in its own discretion shall make grants to other agencies of the state authorized by law to acquire, manage, operate, and maintain the lands.

(C) The grants shall be made in such amounts, for such purposes, and to such agencies as the council in its discretion shall select.

(D) However, in choosing among competing purposes or expenditures, the council shall be guided by the principles set forth in the Arkansas Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan as it may exist and be in force from time to time.

(E) In funding state park improvements, the council should initially emphasize the restoration or renovation of existing facilities and historic structures within the system.

(F) The council in its discretion shall have power either to allow moneys paid into the Natural and Cultural Resources Grants and Trust Fund to accumulate, with only the income thereon being spent, or to expend the whole or any part of the corpus or principal of the Natural and Cultural Resources Grants and Trust Fund.

(G) However, the council shall have power to do any and all things necessary to take advantage of federal or private funds donated or obtainable through the use of the Natural and Cultural Resources Grants and Trust Fund.

(H) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this section, the council shall have power to set aside any portion of the Natural and Cultural Resources Grants and Trust Fund into a separate and segregated account, the corpus or principal of which shall be inviolate, and only the income of which may be expended, to the extent necessary to comply with any federal law, regulation, or other requirement in connection with federal matching or grant moneys.

(I) As used in this section, the term "stewardship" shall include moneys necessary for the maintenance, preservation, operation, improvement, and management of state-owned lands acquired for recreational or conservational purposes and shall include such other stewardship purposes as may be authorized by the council;

(2) Ten percent (10%) of the net amount shall be distributed to the Parks and Tourism Fund Account, to be used by the Department of Parks and Tourism, on approval of the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Grant Advisory Committee, for making grants for outdoor recreational purposes to cities and counties of this state in accordance with the plan; and

(3) Ten percent (10%) of the net amount shall be credited to a fund to be known as the "Natural and Cultural Resources Historic Preservation Trust Fund", to be used by the council for providing a source of funds for the operation of the state historic preservation program and the "Main Street" program.