(a) The Legislature may appropriate to the mine subsidence insurance fund or the governor may grant to the fund out of the governor's civil contingency fund an amount not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars to pay claims against the fund occurring prior to the accumulation of sufficient reserve to pay such claims and to provide a reasonable reserve fund for unexpected contingencies. The board shall determine adequacy and reasonableness of the reserve.
(b) In the absence of appropriations from the Legislature or grants from the governor's civil contingency fund, the board may advance from its insurance fund sufficient amounts to pay claims against the mine subsidence fund. Any funds advanced by the board shall be repaid to the insurance fund.