State Fire Marshal regulatory assessment and surcharge; deposit and use of funds.

(1) The regulatory assessment imposed under s. 624.515(1) and the surcharge imposed under s. 624.515(2) shall be deposited by the Department of Revenue, when received and audited, into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund.

(2) The moneys received and deposited in the fund, as provided in subsection (1), are appropriated for use by the Chief Financial Officer as ex officio State Fire Marshal, hereinafter referred to as “State Fire Marshal,” to defray the expenses of the State Fire Marshal in the discharge of her or his administrative and regulatory powers and duties as prescribed by law, including the maintaining of offices and necessary supplies therefor, essential equipment and other materials, salaries and expenses of required personnel, and all other legitimate expenses relating to the discharge of the administrative and regulatory powers and duties imposed in and charged to her or him under such laws.

(3) If, at the end of any fiscal year, a balance of funds remains in the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund, such balance shall not revert to the general fund of the state, but shall be retained in the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to be used for the purposes for which the moneys are appropriated as set forth in subsection (2).