SECTION 1.

 (a) The sum of sixty-three million two hundred thousand dollars ($63,200,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, for expenditure for the 1999–2000 fiscal year, in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) For allocation to the department, in augmentation of Item 3540-001-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 1999, to provide funding for costs associated with peak firefighting staffing beyond normally budgeted amounts during the extended 1999 fire season, the sum of one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000).

(2) For allocation to the department, in augmentation of Item 3540-006-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 1999, and for purposes of emergency fire suppression and detection costs, as provided in that item, the sum of sixty-two million dollars ($62,000,000).

(b) The Director of Finance may withhold authorization for the expenditure of funds provided in this section until, and to the extent that, estimates of potential deficiencies are verified.

SEC. 2.

 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:

In order to provide needed funds for fire protection staffing and emergency fire suppression and detection costs, and to ensure the same amount and intensity of fire protection for lands of the same type, thereby providing critical fire protection for forest resources, at the earliest possible time, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.