The Department of Finance may make a loan from the General Fund to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account, in an amount not to exceed a cumulative total of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) to meet cashflow needs due to delays in collecting reimbursements. Any loan made by the Department of Finance pursuant to this section shall only be made if the corps has a valid contract or certification signed by a client agency that demonstrates that sufficient funds will be available to repay the loan. All money so transferred shall be repaid to the General Fund as soon as possible, but not later than one year from the date of the loan, with interest at the average rate earned by the Surplus Money Investment Fund.