HF 779

2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/12/2015 03:42pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; creating the Agriculture Research, Education, Extension,
and Technology Transfer Board; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 41A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [41A.14] AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION,
AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BOARD.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation. new text end

new text begin (a) The Agriculture Research, Education, Extension, and
Technology Transfer Board is created and consists of the following members:
new text end

new text begin (1) the commissioner of agriculture;
new text end

new text begin (2) the dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
at the University of Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (3) one person representing the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system;
new text end

new text begin (4) two persons representing statewide agriculture organizations;
new text end

new text begin (5) a person representing agriculture industry statewide;
new text end

new text begin (6) a representative of each of the state and federal agricultural commodity groups;
and
new text end

new text begin (7) a person representing an association of primary manufacturers of forest products.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner and the dean shall be cochairs. The commissioner, the dean, and
the representative of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system are nonvoting
members of the board.
new text end

new text begin (b) Members under paragraph (a), clauses (3) to (7), shall be chosen by their
respective organizations. The commissioner shall not provide daily or expense
compensation for board members.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall provide administrative services for the board and act
as its fiscal agent.
new text end

new text begin (d) For each board meeting, the commissioner shall provide advance notice and a
copy of the meeting minutes to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties; grants. new text end

new text begin The board shall provide for investments that will most
efficiently achieve long-term agricultural productivity increases through improved
infrastructure, vision, and accountability. Priority shall be given to human infrastructure.
The board shall provide grants for:
new text end

new text begin (1) agricultural research and technology transfer needs and recipients including, but
not limited to, agricultural research and extension at the University of Minnesota, research
and outreach centers, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences,
the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Minnesota Extension,
the University of Minnesota Veterinary School, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory,
the Stakman-Borlaug Center, and the Minnesota Agriculture Fertilizer Research and
Education Council;
new text end

new text begin (2) agriculture rapid response for plant and animal diseases and pests; and
new text end

new text begin (3) agricultural education including, but not limited to, the Minnesota Agriculture
Education Leadership Council, farm business management, mentoring programs, graduate
debt forgiveness, and high school programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Fund. new text end

new text begin An agriculture research, education, extension, and technology
transfer fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money received in the form
of gifts, grants, reimbursement, or appropriations from any source for any of the purposes
provided in subdivision 2, and any interest or earnings of the fund. Money in the fund is
appropriated to the commissioner of agriculture for the purposes under subdivision 2.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TRANSFER.
new text end

new text begin (a) $18,750,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $18,750,000 in fiscal year 2017 are
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for transfer to the
fund created in Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3. Of these amounts:
new text end

new text begin (1) at least $2,000,000 each year is for agriculture rapid response under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 2, clause (2); and
new text end

new text begin (2) at least $2,400,000 each year is for agricultural education under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 2, clause (3).
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may use a portion of the appropriations only for direct expenses
incurred by the commissioner to provide administrative services and act as the fiscal agent
for the board under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (c) To the extent practicable, funds expended under Minnesota Statutes, section
41A.14, subdivision 2, clauses (1) and (2), must supplement and not supplant existing
sources and levels of funding.
new text end