§10.3. Budget Stabilization Fund

            Section 10.3.(A) There is hereby established in the state treasury a Budget Stabilization Fund hereinafter referred to as the fund. Money shall be deposited in the fund as follows:

            (1) All money available for appropriation from the state general fund and dedicated funds in excess of the expenditure limit, except funds allocated by Article VII, Section 4, Paragraphs (D) and (E), shall be deposited in the fund.

            (2)(a) All revenues received in each fiscal year by the state in excess of seven hundred fifty million dollars, hereinafter referred to as the base, as a result of the production of or exploration for minerals, hereinafter referred to as mineral revenues, including severance taxes, royalty payments, bonus payments, or rentals, and excluding such revenues designated as nonrecurring pursuant to Article VII, Section 10(B) of the constitution, any such revenues received by the state as a result of grants or donations when the terms or conditions thereof require otherwise, and revenues derived from any tax on the transportation of minerals, shall be deposited in the fund after the following allocations of said mineral revenues have been made:

            (i) To the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as provided by Article VII, Section 9 (B) of this constitution.

            (ii) To the political subdivisions of the state as provided in Article VII, Sections 4 (D) and (E) of this constitution.

            (iii) As provided by the requirements of Article VII, Section 10-A and 10.1 of this constitution.

            (b) The base may be increased every ten years beginning in the year 2000 by a law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature. Any such increase shall not exceed fifty percent in the aggregate of the increase in the consumer price index for the immediately preceding ten years.

            (3) Twenty-five percent of any money designated in the official forecast as nonrecurring as provided in Article VII, Section 10(D)(2) of this constitution shall be deposited in and credited to the fund.

            (4) Any money appropriated to the fund by the legislature including any appropriation to the fund from money designated in the official forecast as provided in Article VII, Section 10(D)(2) of this constitution shall be deposited in the fund.

            (5) An amount equivalent to the money received by the state from the federal government for the reimbursement of costs associated with a federally declared disaster, not to exceed the amount of costs appropriated out of the fund for the same disaster pursuant to Subparagraph (C)(3) of this Section.

            (B) Money in the fund shall be invested as provided by law. Earnings realized in each fiscal year on the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

            (C) The money in the fund shall not be available for appropriation or use except under the following conditions:

            (1) If the official forecast of recurring money for the next fiscal year is less than the official forecast of recurring money for the current fiscal year, the difference, not to exceed one-third of the fund shall be incorporated into the next year's official forecast only after the consent of two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature. If the legislature is not in session, the two-thirds requirement may be satisfied upon obtaining the written consent of two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature in a manner provided by law.

            (2) If a deficit for the current fiscal year is projected due to a decrease in the official forecast, an amount equal to one-third of the fund not to exceed the projected deficit may be appropriated after the consent of two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature. Between sessions of the legislature the appropriation may be made only after the written consent of two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.

            (3) If there is a federally declared disaster in the state, up to one-third of the fund, not to exceed the state costs associated with the disaster, may be appropriated after the consent of two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature. Between sessions of the legislature, the appropriation may be made only with written consent of two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.

            (4) In no event shall the amount included in the official forecast for the next fiscal year pursuant to Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph, plus the amount appropriated in the current fiscal year pursuant to Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph, plus the amount appropriated pursuant to Subparagraph (3) of this Paragraph exceed one-third of the fund balance at the beginning of the current fiscal year.

            (5) No appropriation or deposit to the fund shall be made if such appropriation or deposit would cause the balance in the fund to exceed four percent of total state revenue receipts for the previous fiscal year.

            Added by Acts 1990, No. 1096, §1, approved Oct. 6, 1990, eff. Nov. 8, 1990. Amended by Acts 1997, No. 1501, §1, approved Oct. 3, 1998, eff. Nov. 5, 1998; Acts 2003, No. 1307, §1, approved Oct. 4, 2003, eff. Nov. 6, 2003; Acts 2020, No. 367, §1, approved Nov. 3, 2020.