(a) In order to provide some degree of flexibility to meet emergencies arising during each fiscal year in the expenditures for operation and maintenance of the various departments, offices and agencies of state government, the commissioner of finance and administration, with the approval of the governor, may require the head of each department, office, or agency, in making the original allotments, to set aside a reserve, the exact amount of which shall be determined by the commissioner of finance and administration, of the total amount appropriated to the department, office, or agency.
(b) At any time during the fiscal year, this reserve or any portion of it may be returned to the appropriation to which it belongs and may be added to any one (1) or more of the allotments; provided, that the commissioner deems such action necessary, and any unused portion thereof shall remain at the end of the fiscal year as an unexpended balance of appropriation. Any unexpended and unencumbered balance of allotments at the end of each quarter shall be credited to the reserve set up for the fiscal year.