Upon the filing of the said declaration, the department shall deposit with the Clerk of the Superior Court the amount of the estimated compensation stated in said declaration. In addition to the said deposits with the Clerk of the Superior Court the department at all times shall maintain a special trust fund on deposit with a bank or trust company doing business in this State in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount deposited with the Clerk of the Superior Court as estimated compensation for all property described in declarations of taking with respect to which the compensation has not been finally determined and paid to the persons entitled thereto or into court. Said trust fund shall consist of cash or securities readily convertible into cash constituting legal investments for trust funds under the laws of this State. Said trust fund shall be held solely to secure and may be applied to the payment of just compensation for the land or other property described in such declaration of taking. The department shall be entitled to withdraw from said trust fund from time to time so much as may then be in excess of the aggregate of the amount deposited with the Clerk of the Superior Court as estimated compensation for all property described in declarations of taking with respect to which the compensation has not been finally determined and paid to the persons entitled thereto or into court.

L.1953, First Sp.Sess., c. 443, p. 2428, s. 10.