Section 65-31-117 - Underground damage prevention fund(a) There is created an underground damage prevention fund within the Tennessee public utility commission. All civil penalties collected pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited into the underground damage prevention fund. Any moneys remaining in the underground damage prevention fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund, but shall remain in the underground damage prevention fund for the exclusive use of the board.(b) The expenditure of monies in the underground damage prevention fund is at the discretion of the board for the following purposes:(1) Reducing the amount of its annual operating cost to be assessed to operators for the investigative and administrative services performed by the Tennessee public utility commission;(2) Providing grants to operators with fewer than five thousand (5,000) customers to assist the recipient in complying with the mandatory notification center requirements of this chapter. However, grants must not be used for operating expenses; and(3) Providing public awareness, educational programs, or materials in a manner and by vendors as determined and selected by the board.Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 628,s 8, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 307, s 9, eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 94, s 79, eff. 4/4/2017.Added by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 488, s 8, eff. 5/20/2015.