I. There is hereby established in the department the PCB assistance fund which shall be maintained in distinct and separate custody from all other funds, notwithstanding RSA 6:12. All moneys in the fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of environmental services for the purposes of this chapter.
II. The commissioner may apply for and accept, from any source, gifts; donations of money; grants; federal, local, private, and other matching funds and incentives; and interests in land for the purposes of this chapter. The moneys collected under this paragraph shall be deposited in the fund established under paragraph I of this section.
III. The commissioner shall adopt rules relative to the distribution of money from the fund, taking into consideration ability to pay, natural disaster conditions and locations, requirements for repair, replacement and treatment, and other factors as determined by the department.