15-70-126. Highway restricted account. (1) There is a highway restricted account in the state special revenue fund provided for in 17-2-102. All interest and income earned on the account must, in accordance with the provisions of 17-2-124, be deposited to the credit of the account and any unexpended balance in the account must remain in the account.

(2) Subject to subsection (4) and 15-70-403(2), all revenue sources provided for in Article VIII, section 6, of the Montana constitution must be deposited in the account, including but not limited to:

(a) all taxes collected under this chapter except as provided in 15-70-403(2)(b), (2)(c), (3)(b), and (3)(c);

(b) taxes collected for improperly imported fuel as provided in 15-70-419;

(c) fees collected for temporary special fuel permits as provided in 15-70-456; and

(d) GVW license fees as provided in 61-10-225 and 61-10-226.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (5), the money in the account is restricted and may be used only for the purpose of providing funding:

(a) for statutory refunds and adjustments;

(b) for debt service on highway revenue bonds;

(c) to the department for distribution to local governments as provided in 15-70-101;

(d) to the department for railroad grade crossing protection as provided in 15-70-102;

(e) until June 30, 2018, to the department of justice for expenses of the motor vehicle division;

(f) for gasoline tax allocations as provided in 60-3-201;

(g) to the department for administration of the motor carrier services functions;

(h) to the department for the highways in this state selected and designated by the transportation commission provided for in 2-15-2502;

(i) to the department for the collection of fuel taxes;

(j) for driver education, which may not exceed $10,000; and

(k) for tourist promotion, which may not exceed $10,000.

(4) (a) The portion of money collected from all revenue sources provided for in Article VIII, section 6, of the Montana constitution on hand at any time that is needed to pay highway bonds and interest on highway bonds when due and to accumulate and maintain a reserve for payment of highway bonds and interest, as provided in laws and in resolutions of the state board of examiners authorizing the bonds, must be deposited in the highway bond account in the debt service fund established by 17-2-102.

(b) The department is authorized to maintain a suspense account for gasoline and special fuel tax refunds and adjustments.

(5) The money in the account may be appropriated for purposes other than those listed in subsection (3) by a three-fifths vote of the members of each house of the legislature.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 267, L. 2017; amd. Secs. 27, 28, Ch. 384, L. 2017.