§136.3. Mineral and Energy Operation Fund

            A. There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the "Mineral and Energy Operation Fund", hereinafter referred to as the "fund".

            B. Out of the funds remaining in the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state which become due and payable within any fiscal year as required by Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the treasurer in each fiscal year shall pay into the fund revenues and amounts from the following sources:

            (1) The amount received by the state through the office of state resources from nonjudicial settlements, including but not limited to settlements of disputes of royalty audit findings, title disputes, and acreage conflicts, and court-awarded judgments and settlements.

            (2) All income received under the provisions of R.S. 30:212(D).

            (3) All revenues received from fees levied under the provisions of Subpart A of Part II of Chapter 2 of Subtitle I of this Title, comprised of R.S. 30:121 through 144, both inclusive.

            (4) Monies from any other source from which revenues are designated for deposit to the fund.

            (5) All revenue received from fees collected pursuant to R.S. 30:1154.

            (6) All revenue received from fees collected pursuant to activities and authorities identified at R.S. 36:358(E)(3).

            (7) All revenue, income, fees, or other collections collected by or on behalf of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District, R.S. 38:3087 et seq. The department shall maintain separate accounting of such revenues for auditing and reporting purposes.

            C. Monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. At the request of the Natural Resources Trust Authority, the state treasurer may invest monies in the fund, or any portion thereof, in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 33:2955, including the use of the Louisiana Asset Management Pool. Interest earned on investment of monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

            D. The monies in the fund shall be appropriated by the legislature to the Department of Conservation and Energy to be used solely for the administration and regulation of minerals, ground water, and related conservation and energy activities. Monies deposited into the fund pursuant to Paragraph (B)(5) of this Section shall be used solely for the administration and regulation of solar power generation facilities. Monies deposited into the fund pursuant to Paragraph (B)(7) of this Section shall be used solely for the administration, regulation, enforcement, and oversight of groundwater resources and related activities within the geographical boundaries served by the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District. These monies shall not be used for any purpose outside of that jurisdiction.

            E. Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 458, §11, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.

            Acts 1997, No. 673, §1; Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 8, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1182, §4, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 106, §1, eff. April 18, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 993, §1, eff. July 2, 2003; Acts 2009, No. 196, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2017, No. 329, §1; Acts 2021, No. 268, §1; Acts 2022, No. 555, §1, eff. Aug. 2, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024; Acts 2025, No. 458, §§1, 11, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.