§ 97-e. Forest preserve expansion fund. 1. There is hereby established
in the state treasury a special fund, to be known as the forest preserve
expansion fund, which shall consist of and into which shall be paid all
moneys derived from the sale of certain forest preserve lands specified
in section twenty-four of the public lands law, monies received from a
project sponsor of an eligible project for a health and safety land
account transaction pursuant to section 9-2101 of the environmental
conservation law and such other moneys as may be paid into said fund
pursuant to law. The moneys in such fund shall be expended only for the
acquisition of additional lands for the forest preserve within either
the Adirondack or Catskill park as now fixed by law. Upon appropriation
by the legislature, the department of environmental conservation may use
such moneys or any portion thereof for the acquisition of such
additional lands subject to the approval of title thereto by the
attorney general. All payments from such fund shall be made by the
department of taxation and finance after audit by and upon warrant of
the comptroller, on vouchers approved by the commissioner of
environmental conservation.

2. The commissioner of environmental conservation is authorized to
accept, in the name of the people of the state of New York, any gift or
bequest of moneys to be paid into such forest preserve expansion fund
and to be expended and disbursed as provided in subdivision one of this
section.