Appropriation of fund; limitation on expenditures. (1) As used in this section, “annual expenditure” means the expenses of the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund obligated in any 12-month period, consistent with the fiscal year budgeting of the State Forestry Department

(2) Notwithstanding ORS 291.238, the moneys in the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund are continuously appropriated to the Emergency Fire Cost Committee for the purposes of:

(a) Making payments for the fiscal year budgets of forest protection districts, but not for centralized administration costs;

(b) Paying necessary expenses, not to exceed the limit authorized by the Legislative Assembly each biennium;

(c) Paying for nonroutine purchases of supplemental fire prevention, detection or suppression resources that will enhance the ability of the forester to perform fire protection responsibilities within a forest protection district; and

(d) Issuing loans to the department or forest protection associations that relate to necessary wildfire costs. [1969 c.524 §3; 1989 c.23 §1; 1991 c.639 §5; 2003 c.685 §§4,9; 2005 c.802 §§11,12; 2013 c.619 §§1,2,3; 2025 c.581 §25]