(a) Funds deposited in the Oil Pollution Administration Subaccount created pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13010 shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only be expended by the director, his or her deputy, or designee, for the costs of administering the pollution response, abatement, and habitat restoration activities not otherwise authorized by the Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, funds deposited in the Oil Pollution Response and Restoration Subaccount created pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13010 are continuously appropriated to the department for expenditure by the director, his or her deputy, or designee, without regard to fiscal years for response and restoration activity related to oil spills not otherwise authorized by the Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act.

(c) Funds deposited in the Hazardous Materials Administration Subaccount created pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13010 shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only be expended by the director, his or her deputy, or designee, for the reasonable cost of administering the hazardous materials response and restoration activities of the department.

(1) These activities shall include the cross training and staffing of existing department and interagency personnel necessary to achieve efficiency in the use of existing funds and resources in response to hazardous materials and restoration activities of the department.

(2) The department may appoint and contract with technical experts to assist in the response and remediation of toxic material discharges.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, funds deposited in the Hazardous Materials Response and Restoration Subaccount are continuously appropriated to the director, his or her deputy, or designee, for expenditure without regard to fiscal years for the response and abatement of hazardous materials that are spilled or discharged on the lands and in the waters of the state, and for the protection, preservation, and restoration of fish and wildlife impacted by discharges of hazardous materials into the environment of the state. No funds appropriated from this subaccount shall be expended to establish personnel positions nor shall any personnel positions be created with contract funds from this subaccount.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 720, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 1996.)