4. a. There is created in the Department of the Treasury a special non-lapsing fund to be known as the “Coastal Protection Trust Fund.” There shall be deposited in the fund the amount collected from all license plate fees collected pursuant to section 3 of this act, less the amounts necessary to reimburse the division for administrative costs pursuant to section 5 of this act. Except as otherwise provided in subsection b. of this section, moneys deposited in the fund shall be dedicated to the purposes set forth in section 6 of this act. Moneys deposited in the fund shall be held in interest-bearing accounts in public depositories as defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1970, c.236 (C. 17:9-41), and may be invested or reinvested in such securities as are approved by the State Treasurer. Interest or other income earned on moneys deposited into the fund, and any moneys which may be appropriated or otherwise become available for the purposes of the fund, shall be credited to and deposited in the fund for use as set forth in this act.

b. There is created within the “Coastal Protection Trust Fund” a special emergency reserve account, to which shall annually be credited the amount of license plate fees collected in excess of $1,000,000 during the year. The commissioner may, pursuant to specific appropriations made by law, use moneys deposited in the special emergency reserve account to:

(1) finance shore protection projects of an emergency nature in the event of storm, stress of weather or similar act of God; and

(2) provide for the cleanup of discharges of pollutants or contaminants discharged into the ocean waters of this State.

L.1993,c.168,s.4.