(1) The department may authorize the disbursement of available money from the trust fund, upon legislative appropriations, as provided in section 3, to fund actual and necessary operating expenses that the department incurs in performing its duties under this act. Authorizations for disbursement of trust fund money under this section shall be kept at a minimum in furtherance of the primary purpose of the trust fund.

    (2) Trust fund money shall not be disbursed to a foster care student until after that foster care student has exhausted all other known available restricted grants for qualified educational expenses for postsecondary education provided by a federal, state, or local governmental entity, as determined by the department, except for funds provided under the Michigan promise zone authority act, 2008 PA 549, MCL 390.1661 to 390.1679.

    (3) Money provided by the department on behalf of a foster care student under this act shall not exceed the cost of that foster care student's tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment at the institution of higher education as determined by the department.