546.12  Department of commerce revolving fund.
  1.  A department of commerce revolving fund is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of moneys collected by the banking division; credit union division; utilities division, including moneys collected on behalf of the office of consumer advocate established in section 475A.3; and the insurance division of the department; and deposited into an account for that division or office within the fund on a monthly basis. Except as otherwise provided by statute, all costs for operating the office of consumer advocate and the banking division, the credit union division, the utilities division, and the insurance division of the department shall be paid from the division’s accounts within the fund, subject to appropriation by the general assembly. The insurance division shall administer the fund and all other divisions shall work with the insurance division to make sure the fund is properly accounted and reported to the department of management and the department of administrative services. The divisions shall provide quarterly reports to the department of management and the legislative services agency on revenues billed and collected and expenditures from the fund in a format as determined by the department of management in consultation with the legislative services agency.
  2.  To meet cash flow needs for the office of consumer advocate and the banking division, credit union division, utilities division, or the insurance division of the department, the administrative head of that division or office may temporarily use funds from the general fund of the state to pay expenses in excess of moneys available in the revolving fund for that division or office if those additional expenditures are fully reimbursable and the division or office reimburses the general fund of the state and ensures all moneys are repaid in full by the close of the fiscal year. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the divisions shall, to the fullest extent possible, make an estimate of billings and make such billings as early as possible in each fiscal year, so that the need for the use of general fund moneys is minimized to the lowest extent possible. Periodic billings shall be deemed sufficient to satisfy this requirement. Because any general fund moneys used shall be fully reimbursed, such temporary use of funds from the general fund of the state shall not constitute an appropriation for purposes of calculating the state general fund expenditure limitation pursuant to section 8.54.
  3.  Section 8.33 does not apply to any moneys credited or appropriated to the revolving fund from any other fund.
  4.  The establishment of the revolving fund pursuant to this section shall not be interpreted in any manner to compromise or impact the accountability of, or limit authority with respect to, an agency or entity under state law. Any provision applicable to, or responsibility of, a division or office collecting moneys for deposit into the fund established pursuant to this section shall not be altered or impacted by the existence of the fund and shall remain applicable to the same extent as if the division or office were receiving moneys pursuant to a general fund appropriation. The divisions of the department of commerce shall comply with directions by the governor to executive branch departments regarding restrictions on out-of-state travel, hiring justifications, association memberships, equipment purchases, consulting contracts, and any other expenditure efficiencies that the governor deems appropriate.
2009 Acts, ch 181, §108
; 2011 Acts, ch 127, §51, 89