§5-7-6. Contribution fund; appropriations thereto.

(a) There is hereby established a special fund to be known as the contribution fund. The fund shall consist of and there shall be deposited in the fund: (1) All contributions, interest and penalties collected under sections four and five of this article; (2) all moneys appropriated to the fund under this article; (3) all moneys paid to the state pursuant to any agreement entered into under subsection (b), section three of this article; (4) any property or securities and earnings thereof acquired through the use of moneys belonging to the fund; (5) interest earned upon any moneys in the fund; and (6) all sums recovered upon the bond of the custodian or otherwise for losses sustained by the fund and all other moneys received for the fund from any other source. All moneys in the fund shall be mingled and undivided. Subject to the provisions of this article, the state agency is vested with full power, authority and jurisdiction over the fund, including all moneys and property or securities belonging thereto, and may perform any and all acts whether or not specifically designated, which are necessary to the administration thereof consistent with the provisions of this article.

(b) The contribution fund shall be established and held separate and apart from any other funds or moneys of the state and shall be used and administered exclusively for the purpose of this article: Provided, That amounts collected which are found from time to time to exceed the funds needed for the purposes set forth in this article may be transferred to other accounts or funds and redesignated for other purposes by appropriation of the Legislature: Provided, however, That any other withdrawals from the fund shall be made for, and solely for (1) payment of amounts required to be paid to the federal agency pursuant to an agreement entered into under section three; (2) payment of refunds provided for in subsection (c), section four of this article; and (3) refunds of overpayments, not otherwise adjustable, made by a political subdivision or instrumentality.

(c) From the contribution fund the custodian of the fund shall pay to the federal agency such amounts and at such time or times as may be directed by the state agency in accordance with any agreement entered into under section three of this article and applicable federal law.

(d) The treasurer of the state shall be ex officio treasurer and custodian of the contribution fund and shall administer the fund in accordance with the provisions of this article and the directions of the state agency and shall pay all warrants drawn upon it in accordance with the provisions of this section and with such regulations as the state agency may prescribe pursuant thereto.

(e) (1) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually to the contribution fund, in addition to the contributions collected and paid into the contribution fund under sections four and five, to be available for the purposes of subsections (b) and (c) of this section until expended, such additional sums as are found to be necessary in order to make the payments to the federal agency which the state is obligated to make pursuant to an agreement entered into under section three of this article.

(2) The state agency shall submit to the Governor, at least ninety days in advance of the beginning of each regular session of the Legislature, an estimate of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to the contribution fund by paragraph (1) of this subsection for the next appropriation period.