(a) The Tennessee heritage conservation trust fund is hereby established as a special agency account in the state general fund. The purpose of this trust fund is to assist the state in permanently conserving and preserving tracts of land within the state of Tennessee for the purposes of promoting tourism and recreation, including outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, equestrian activities and hiking; protecting, conserving and restoring the state's physical, cultural, archeological, historical and environmental resources; and preserving working landscapes.

(b) Moneys in the trust fund shall be invested by the state treasurer, in accordance with applicable general law, except as qualified by this chapter. The state treasurer shall hold the trust fund separate and apart from all other moneys, funds, and accounts.

(c) Any balance remaining unexpended at the end of a fiscal year in the trust fund shall be carried forward into the subsequent fiscal year.

(d) Investment earnings credited to the assets of the trust fund, including, but not limited to, interest, shall be carried forward into the subsequent fiscal year.

(e) The trust fund is authorized to request and receive gifts, contributions, bequests, donations, and grants from any legal and appropriate source to effectuate its purpose. Any such funds received shall be deposited into the trust fund; provided, that, if any such items are not in the form of funds, any income, rents, or proceeds generated from the items shall be deposited into the trust fund.

(f) The trust fund is authorized to create or establish a nonprofit organization, which shall also be eligible to request and receive gifts, contributions, bequests, donations and grants from any legal and appropriate source to effectuate the trust fund's purpose.

(g) Moneys in the trust fund, and in any nonprofit entity created pursuant to subsection (f), shall be expended only in accordance with, and for the purposes stated in, this chapter. No part of the fund shall be diverted to the general fund or any other public fund for any purpose whatsoever.

(h) This subsection (h) is contingent upon a four-million-dollar ($4,000,000) appropriation being made to the trust fund in the 2009 general appropriations act. This section and any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, in the five (5) or fewer fiscal years beginning July 1, 2010, the commissioner of finance and administration annually shall transfer from the heritage conservation trust fund to the general fund an amount of nine hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars ($937,500), plus annual interest earnings on that amount, plus any unexpended balance of four million dollars ($4,000,000) remaining after certain commitments of the trust fund have been satisfied, plus other available sources, until the general fund has been reimbursed for a four-million-dollar ($4,000,000) appropriation made in fiscal year 2008-2009. The four-million-dollar appropriation has been provided to allow the state to fulfill commitments made before November 2008, while a nine million three hundred seventy-five thousand dollar ($9,375,000) lease payment for timber rights is earned over a ten-year period. For purposes of this subsection (h), the term “other available sources” shall not include gifts, contributions, bequests, donations and grants, if the funds are restricted for specific acquisitions or purposes.