Minnesota Session Laws - 1985, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1985 

                         CHAPTER 19-S.F.No. 546 
           An act relating to agriculture; appropriating money 
          for the state board of vocational technical education 
          and the agricultural extension service of the 
          University of Minnesota. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:  
    Section 1.  [LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.] 
    The legislature finds that a crisis situation exists in 
rural Minnesota that demands state action.  The legislature 
finds that there is a lack of comprehensive, sound, financial 
data on which to design a state relief program for farmers.  The 
severe problems facing farmers require an immediate and 
comprehensive data collection effort to thoroughly document the 
extent and nature of the problem in order to allow the state to 
design an agriculture program that will best utilize the state's 
limited resources and best direct the state resources to the 
farmers who are most in need.  The legislature further finds 
that this crisis can in part be eased and this need be met by 
providing additional support for efforts of the agricultural 
extension service and vocational technical education system 
aimed at enhancing farm financial recordkeeping and evaluating 
existing farm financial information.  
    Sec. 2.  [TASK FORCE CREATED.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The data collection task 
force is created to consist of two members of the house of 
representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, two 
members of the senate appointed by the senate committee on 
committees, the director of the agricultural extension service, 
the director of the vocational technical education system, a 
representative appointed by the governor, and two 
representatives appointed by the commissioner of agriculture. 
    Subd. 2.  [DUTIES.] The duties of the data collection task 
force are to: 
    (1) develop a uniform procedure for collecting data on the 
financial status of agriculture in Minnesota; 
    (2) oversee the implementation of the farm crisis 
intervention act; and 
    (3) report the results of the program to the legislature no 
later than December 31, 1985. 
    Subd. 3.  [REPORT.] The report to the legislature must 
summarize the financial condition of farmers in Minnesota and 
include summary statistics on the number of foreclosures, the 
degree and extent of delinquent payments, the amount and types 
of outstanding debt including information on the interest 
charged on that debt, the levels and changes in levels on farm 
asset values, the level of income and expenditures, and the 
relevant tax burdens.  The report must also include any other 
information that the data collection task force determines is 
relevant.  The staff needed to assemble the report shall come 
from the existing staff of the agricultural extension service 
and the vocational technical education system.  
    Subd. 4.  [DATA PRIVACY.] To the extent allowable under the 
data privacy act, all data shall be summarized and made 
available for release to the legislature.  The task force shall 
forward the public information that it collects to the 
department of agriculture. 
    Subd. 5.  [COMPENSATION.] The expenses and per diem 
payments of the legislative members of the task force shall be 
paid from the legislative expense fund of their respective body. 
Compensation and expenses for nonlegislative members of the task 
force shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 
15.059 except that payments shall be as follows.  Public 
employees will not receive the $35 per day and will not be 
subject to the corresponding loss of compensation and benefits 
as required by section 15.059.  Members who are not public 
employees will receive compensation and expenses as provided in 
section 15.059.  Compensation and expenses of nonlegislative 
members shall be paid in equal parts by the legislative expense 
funds of the house and senate. 
    Subd. 6.  [EXPIRATION.] The data collection task force 
shall cease to exist within ten days of submitting its report to 
the legislature.  
    Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATIONS; STATE BOARD OF VOCATIONAL 
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.] 
     There is appropriated $1,166,550 from the general fund to 
the state board of vocational technical education to provide 
farm financial crisis intervention services as follows: 
     (1) Computer software, hardware,               $564,200 
     and training 
     (2) Support staff vo-ag farm                   $159,000 
     management instructors 
     (3) Travel supplement for vo-ag                $ 54,600
     agents
     (4) Tuition supplement                         $150,000
     (5) Project activity,                          $ 40,000
     coordination, and publicity
     (6) Emergency financial planning and           $198,750
     loan processing support for FMHA
    This appropriation is not subject to the allocation 
procedures for instructional aid in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
136C. 
    Sec. 4.  [APPROPRIATIONS; A.E.S.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [FARM CRISIS INTERVENTION.] There is 
appropriated $402,500 from the general fund to the University of 
Minnesota for use by its agricultural extension service in 
providing farm financial crisis intervention services as follows:
     (1) Computer hardware, software            $277,500
     training and compensation
     (2) Travel supplement for                  $100,000
     agricultural extension service
     agents
     (3) Project activity, coordination,        $ 25,000
     and publicity                     
    Subd. 2.  [LIMITATION.] The money appropriated in this 
section is in addition to money already available to the 
agricultural extension service and may not be used to pay for 
programs, staff, or materials which are already budgeted or 
funded. 
    Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    This act is effective the day following final enactment. 
    Approved April 16, 1985