SECTION 2PPPP. Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program Fund

There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program Fund which shall be administered by the division of marine fisheries. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the following monies shall be credited to the fund: (i) a portion of the monies collected from the sale of commercial harvester and dealer permits issued by the division pursuant to chapter 130 in an amount to be determined by the director of marine fisheries not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year; (ii) any appropriations, grants, gifts or other monies authorized by the general court or other parties and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; and (iii) any income derived from the investment of amounts credited to the fund. All amounts credited to the fund shall be used without further appropriation for the purpose of developing and administering the seafood marketing program established in section 23 of chapter 21A; provided, however, that program expenditures shall be made in consultation with the department of fish and game and the division and shall be consistent with any program priorities identified by the steering committee established pursuant to said section 23 of said chapter 21A. No expenditure from the fund shall cause the fund to be in deficiency at the close of a fiscal year. Monies deposited in the fund that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in the subsequent year. The fund shall be exempt from the indirect and fringe benefits that would otherwise be assessed pursuant to this chapter.