Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 45.1-161.292:31 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

 §45.1-161.292:31. Fee to accompany application for license; fund; disposition of fees.

Each application for a mineral mine license or a renewal or transfer of a license shall be submitted to the Department, accompanied by a fee, payable to the State Treasurer, in the amount of $180 $450. However, any person engaged in mining sand or gravel on an area of five acres or less shall be required to pay a fee of $48 $120. All such fees collected shall be retained by the Department and paid into the state treasury and shall constitute a fund under the control of the Director. Expenditures from this fund may be made by the Department for safety equipment, safety training, safety education or for any expenditure to further the safety program in the mineral mining industry. All expenditures from this fund must be approved by the Director.