1. Fund purposes and administration. There is established a nonlapsing Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund, referred to in this section as “the fund,” from which the commissioner may pay up to 50% of the eligible costs incurred in a lake water quality restoration or protection project, except that eligible costs for projects addressing technical assistance, watershed surveys, watershed plan development, public education or research issues may be paid up to 100%. Eligible costs include all costs except those related to land acquisition, legal fees and debt service. The commissioner may use money credited to the fund only for the purposes described in subsections 3, 4 and 6 and for projects to improve or maintain the quality of lake waters in the State. The commissioner may authorize the State Controller to draw a warrant for such funds as may be necessary to pay the lawful expenses of the lake water quality restoration or protection project, up to the limits of the money duly authorized. Any balance remaining in the fund must continue without lapse from year to year and remain available only for the purposes for which the fund is established.

2. Prohibited expenditures. The commissioner may not use money in the fund to pay costs for projects in or on lakes for which public access is not provided.

3. Staffing support. The commissioner may use money in the fund for state, regional or local staffing to support administration and implementation of activities authorized under this section.

4. Public education program. The commissioner may use money in the fund to develop a coordinated public education program.

5. Research.

6. Research. The commissioner may use money in the fund to conduct internal or external assessments and research focused on lake water quality restoration or protection.

7. Funding sources. The fund may receive money from any source, public or private.