Gifts, grants, and donations to the department - Colorado natural resources gifts, grants, and donations fund

(1) The department of natural resources is authorized to receive or reject gifts, grants, and donations of money or property and, subject to the terms of any gift, grant, or donation and to the provisions of any applicable law, to hold the money or property in trust or invest, sell, expend, or exchange the money or property and use either principal or interest or the proceeds of sale or the exchanged property received for the benefit of the department and the public. (2) The department of natural resources may cooperate with and assist any donor or foundation or similar organization intending to make gifts, grants, or donations to or for use by the department. The acceptance of any gift, grant, or donation must not commit the state to any expenditure of state funds. (3) Any money or property received under this section and any money received from the investment of the money or property must be credited to a special fund known as the Colorado natural resources gifts, grants, and donations fund. The fund and any gifts, grants, or donations received by the department of natural resources pursuant to this section must not diminish any appropriations made to the department. Money in the fund shall not be expended in such a manner as to commit expenditures from the general fund or any cash fund that is designated for regulatory purposes within the division of water resources. The use of gifts, grants, and donations is subject to audit by the state auditor or the state auditor's designee, the cost of which audit shall be borne by the department. (4) Repealed.