60-3,129.

Spirit Plate Proceeds Fund; created; use; investment.

(1) The Spirit Plate Proceeds Fund is created. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

(2) If the cost of manufacturing Nebraska Cornhusker Spirit Plates at any time exceeds the amount charged for license plates pursuant to section 60-3,102, any money to be credited to the Spirit Plate Proceeds Fund shall instead be credited first to the Highway Trust Fund in an amount equal to the difference between the manufacturing costs of such spirit plates and the amount charged pursuant to such section with respect to such spirit plates and the remainder shall be credited to the Spirit Plate Proceeds Fund as provided in section 60-3,128.

(3) The first three million dollars credited to the Spirit Plate Proceeds Fund and not credited to the Highway Trust Fund shall be appropriated to the University of Nebraska to establish an endowment fund to provide financial support to former University of Nebraska athletes to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies at any University of Nebraska campus. Funds appropriated by the Legislature for such scholarship program shall be held, managed, and invested as an endowed scholarship fund in such manner as the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska shall determine and as authorized by section 72-1246. The income from the endowed scholarship fund shall be expended for such scholarships. The University of Nebraska shall grant financial support to former athletes who demonstrate financial need as determined by the Federal Pell Grant Program or similar need-based qualifications as approved by the financial aid office of the appropriate campus.

(4) The next two million dollars credited to the Spirit Plate Proceeds Fund and not credited to the Highway Trust Fund shall be appropriated to the University of Nebraska to establish an endowment fund to provide financial support for the academic service units of the athletic departments of the campuses of the University of Nebraska in support of academic services to athletes.