(a) The Orphan Share Reimbursement Trust Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury.
(b) The administrator of the fund may expend the money deposited in the fund as provided in this chapter, upon appropriation by the Legislature. The administrator of the fund shall act in a fiduciary capacity, shall prudently administer the fund, and shall protect the fund from any unreasonable or unjustified claims, including any unreasonable or unjustified determinations of the orphan share percentage.
(c) If an appropriation from the General Fund is made to the fund in any fiscal year and an amount greater than five million dollars ($5,000,000) in unexpended funds, beyond any amount approved by the administrator of the fund to pay claims pursuant to this chapter from that General Fund appropriation, remain in the fund at the end of that fiscal year, and if the department determines that additional funding for orphan sites beyond that appropriated from the state account is required for the next fiscal year, the administrator may expend the amount in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000) from the General Fund appropriation to pay for response costs incurred by the department or the regional boards under this part at sites listed pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 78760) of Chapter 4 where no viable responsible parties exist.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 257, Sec. 2. (AB 2293) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 4 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 257. Conditionally operative pursuant to Sec. 80100.)