County Stewardship Fund

Section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following: (j) County Stewardship Fund (1) In general There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the County Stewardship Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund), to be administered by the Secretary. (2) Deposits Each fiscal year, with respect to each contract under subsection (b), there shall be deposited in the Fund an amount equal to the greater of— (A) 25 percent of the appraised value of the forest products sold under the applicable contract, to be transferred from the general fund of the Treasury; and (B) 25 percent of the excess receipts from the applicable contract, as authorized under subsection (g)(2). (3) Availability Amounts in the Fund shall— (A) be used only for purposes described in paragraph (4); and (B) remain available until expended. (4) Purposes (A) In general Each fiscal year, the Chief or the Director, as applicable, shall distribute from amounts in the Fund to each county in which a contract under subsection (b) was carried out on Federal land in the county during the preceding fiscal year a payment of an amount equal to 25 percent of the receipts generated from that contract. (B) Use of funds A county receiving a payment under subparagraph (A) may use the payment for any governmental purposes..