HB4769eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4769 Engrossed LRB093 18492 RAS 44208 b

AN ACT concerning food animals.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Board" means the governing board of the David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute.

"Institute" means the David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute.

"Food animal" includes, but is not limited to, beef cattle, swine, sheep, dairy cattle, turkeys, chickens, and aquaculture products.

"Allied agribusiness" means any related agribusiness, such as the feed industry, financial institutions, the food animal or food animal processing industry, farm equipment or implement dealers or manufacturers, crop production, pharmaceuticals, or nutraceuticals.

"Non-agribusiness" means conservation groups, dieticians, food processors, consumers, and animal health and well-being groups.

Section 10. Institute established; purpose. The David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute is established to review and encourage research through peer review, to publish and disseminate unbiased information about all aspects of the food animal industry, anticipating issues with a vision for the future of Illinois agriculture, and to maintain comprehensive information systems for the improvement and enhancement of all aspects of the food animal industry, all for the benefit of the public, the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and other State and local government agencies. The Institute must fulfill its purposes with unbiased integrity.

Section 15. Governing board. The Institute is governed by a board of 15 voting members who are appointed by the Governor and who must ensure unbiased information. Five of the Governor's appointees must represent food animal production. Five of the Governor's appointees must represent allied agribusiness aspects of the food animal industry. Five of the Governor's appointees must represent other, non-agribusiness aspects of the food animal industry.

The board must also include, as non-voting members, the dean or department chairperson or his or her designated representative of the following institutions: the University of Illinois College of ACES, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, the Southern Illinois University College of Agriculture, the Western Illinois University Agriculture Department, and the Illinois State University Agriculture Department.

Section 20. Appointment; terms. Initial appointees to the board serve the following terms as designated by the Governor: 5 for a term of one year; 5 for a term of 2 years; and 5 for a term of 3 years. Subsequent appointees serve terms of 3 years. A vacancy is filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members may be reappointed to the board. If the Governor fails to appoint a member or to fill a vacancy within 90 days after a member's term expires or a vacancy occurs, the remaining board members must make the appointment by majority vote. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term or until a successor is qualified.

Section 25. Operation of the board.

(a) Upon appointment of the board's initial members, the Director of Agriculture shall convene the first meeting of the board for the purpose of selecting a chairperson and considering other matters of business of the Institute. The board annually thereafter, in January or the first meeting of each year, must select a chairperson from among its number. A chairperson may be re-elected but may not serve more than 3 consecutive years. The board meets at the call of the chair. A quorum is necessary for action by the board; 8 voting members of the board constitute a quorum, unless a vacancy exists among the board's voting members. If a vacancy exists, then a quorum of the board consists of a simple majority of the voting members. Members of the board may receive no compensation but must be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the actual performance of their duties.

(b) The board:

(1) may have and use a common seal and alter the seal at its discretion;

(2) may adopt all necessary resolutions, protocols, and by-laws;

(3) may enter into agreements with State agencies;

(4) may enter into agreements with and accept funds from federal agencies, trade associations, industry organizations, universities and their sub-units, foundations, and other not-for-profit and private industries to carry out the purposes of the Institute;

(5) may establish reserve funds and accounts that may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of the Institute; and

(6) has and may exercise all powers and is subject to all duties commonly incident to boards of directors.

Section 30. Expenses. The board has the authority to pay administrative expenses including salary, wages, and fringe benefits; operation and maintenance expenses, travel, supply, and printing expenses, rental and rental related expenses, and costs of capital purchases and improvements; contract and contractual expenses; and other expenses deemed appropriate by the board. The board is authorized to establish a fee structure and charge fees for publications and duplicating expenses. Revenue from those fees must be deposited into the Food Animal Institute Fund. No charges or fees may be authorized or charged to members of the General Assembly or the Governor's Office.

Section 35. Report. The Institute must report annually on January 1 to the Governor, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of the Senate upon the Institute's activities in the preceding 12 months. The report is a public record open for inspection at the office of the Institute and, among other matters, must include an assessment of the current state of the food animal industry in Illinois and recommendations for new initiatives and efforts to further enhance and best position the food animal industry in Illinois.

Section 40. Food Animal Institute Fund. The Food Animal Institute Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Grants, fees, and other moneys obtained by the David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute from governmental entities, private sources, foundations, trade associations, industry organizations, and not-for-profit organizations for use in furthering the purposes of the Institute may be deposited into the Fund. Moneys in the Fund may be used by the Institute for undertaking projects, programs, and other activities and for the operating and other expenses of the Institute as it fulfills its duties and responsibilities.

Section 45. Use of funds. The Institute shall: (i) collect and disseminate research data, results, or conclusions and disseminate it to the public, the General Assembly, State agencies, and others who request it; (ii) provide unbiased analysis of research findings, including economic impacts on the State and the food animal industry; (iii) provide, if needed, for peer review of research and research proposals for scientific merit, objectives, methods, and procedures; (iv) coordinate its activities with public research and education programs; and (v) initiate other activities that are reasonable and necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the Institute under this Act.

Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.625 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.625 new)

Sec. 5.625. The Food Animal Institute Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.