(a) There is created a fund within the state treasury to be known as the Hurricane Helene interest payment fund. The fund consists of grants, appropriations by the general assembly, federal funds, to the extent permitted by federal law and regulation, and any other moneys made available to the department of TEMA for the purposes of such fund from any other source or sources. Moneys deposited in the fund must be invested for the benefit of the fund pursuant to § 9-4-603. Moneys in the fund must not revert to the general fund, but must remain available to be used by the department of TEMA exclusively for the purpose specified in subsection (b). The commissioner of finance and administration may promulgate rules in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, in order to ensure the funds are received and expended for the purposes consistent with subsection (b).
(b) The purpose of the Hurricane Helene interest payment fund is to pay local governments' loan charges and, for up to three (3) years, interest costs on money borrowed to pay eligible disaster recovery costs related to Hurricane Helene; provided, that moneys from the fund that are used to pay interest costs must only be paid up to five percent (5%) or the prime interest rate, whichever is lower; provided, further, that the local government is located in a county that was included in the federal disaster declaration resulting from Hurricane Helene. As used in this subsection (b), “loan charges” means charges, fees, and other costs associated with loan processing and servicing that are imposed by a lender, including origination fees, application fees, appraisal fees, payment processing fees, and brokerage fees.