(1) (a) The commission may levy an assessment on the owners of alternative livestock cervidae or captive wildlife cervidae, which shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the cervidae disease revolving fund, which fund is hereby created. This assessment shall be determined by the commission, upon the recommendation of the captive wildlife and alternative livestock board created in section 33-1-121, C.R.S., and shall be in an amount, not to exceed eight dollars per head of cervidae per year, reflecting the direct and indirect expenses of carrying out the purposes of this section. The fund shall be maintained at a level of no more than two hundred thousand dollars and shall be administered by the commission pursuant to the recommendations of the captive wildlife and alternative livestock board. Administration of the fund shall include setting a minimum reserve level for the fund. An assessment shall not be levied or collected on cervidae owned by a zoological park that is accredited by the American zoo and aquarium association. A zoological park that does not pay into the fund is not eligible for indemnification under this section.

(b) If the fund reaches a level of two hundred thousand dollars or more, the commission shall cease making any assessments until such time as the level of the fund falls below two hundred thousand dollars and the commission determines that a levy is necessary.

(2) (a) The moneys in the fund may be used to indemnify owners of cervidae destroyed for the control of contagious and infectious diseases.

(b) Combined state and federal indemnity shall not exceed eighty percent of market value of the destroyed cervidae, as determined by the captive wildlife and alternative livestock board.

(c) The amount of indemnification payments to owners of cervidae destroyed under order of the state veterinarian for the control of contagious and infectious disease shall be determined by the captive wildlife and alternative livestock board, subject to approval by the commission.

(3) All moneys credited to the fund and all interest earned on the investment of moneys in the fund shall be a part of the fund and shall not be transferred or credited to the general fund or to any other fund except as directed by the general assembly, acting by bill. Moneys in the fund are hereby continuously appropriated to the commission for direct and indirect expenses incurred in carrying out the purposes of this section.