HB4447eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4447 Engrossed LRB097 15669 CEL 60811 b

AN ACT concerning agriculture.

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

Section 5. The Food and Agriculture Research Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, and 25 as follows:

(505 ILCS 82/15)

Sec. 15. Allocation of funds. Appropriations for the purposes of this Act shall be made to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, which shall allocate funds appropriated under this Act for research to Illinois public and non-public institutions of higher education, as defined in Section 2 of the Higher Education Cooperation Act, as established by the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research, which is a non-profit, non-political organization. The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research shall prepare and deliver to the General Assembly, Governor, Director of Agriculture, and the food and agricultural research administrators at each of the public and non-public institutions of higher learning that receive research dollars under this Act an annual report providing a summary and detailed account of the research programs being supported. the following entities providing each the pro rata share indicated: the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, 82%; Southern Illinois University College of Agriculture, 11%; Illinois State University Department of Agriculture, 4%; Western Illinois University Department of Agriculture, 3%. Three years after the effective date of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the Director of Agriculture shall review these percentages, ascertain their appropriateness, and report to the General Assembly.

To offset the cost of administering the appropriation, the Department of Agriculture may retain $50,000 or 1/2 of 1% of the total appropriation, whichever is less.

To offset the cost of members of C-FAR incurred while performing their duties as official group representatives, up to 1% of the funds appropriated for the purposes of this Act may be allocated by the Department of Agriculture to cover these expenses. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The reimbursement rates shall not exceed those rates that apply to State employees.

(Source: P.A. 89-182, eff. 7-19-95; 90-94, eff. 1-1-98.)

(505 ILCS 82/20)

Sec. 20. Use of funds. The universities receiving funds under this Act shall work closely with the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research to develop and prioritize an appropriate research agenda for the State system. To support that agenda, funds shall be expended as follows:

(1) To support a broad program of food and agricultural research, to include, but not limited to, research on natural resource, environmental, economic, nutritional, and social impacts of agricultural systems, human and animal health, and the concerns of consumers of food and agricultural products and services.

(2) To build and maintain research capacity including construction, renovation, and maintenance of physical facilities; acquire and maintain equipment; employ appropriately trained and qualified personnel; provide supplies; and meet the expenses required to conduct the research and related technology transfer activities.

(3) To A minimum of 15% of the funds allocated to each university shall be used to fund an innovative competitive grants program administered by the Department of Agriculture within the guidelines and procedures established by the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research jointly by the 4 institutions identified in Section 15. The grants program is intended to be organized around desired practical, quantifiable, and achievable objectives in the food and agricultural sector. The Board of Directors of the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research shall evaluate and recommend assist in evaluating and selecting the proposals for funding. Proposals may be submitted by any nonprofit institution, organization, or agency in Illinois. The principal investigator must be a qualified researcher with experience in a food and agriculture related discipline. Funds from other sources (both public and private) may be combined with funds appropriated for this Act to support cooperative efforts.

(4) It is intended that the universities that receive these funds shall continue (i) to operate and maintain the on-campus buildings and facilities used in their agriculture related programs and provide the support services typically provided other university programs, and (ii) to fund agricultural programs from the higher education budget.

(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(505 ILCS 82/25)

Sec. 25. Administrative oversight.

(a) The Department of Agriculture shall provide general administrative oversight with the assistance and advice of duly elected Board of Directors appointed representatives of the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research. Food and agricultural research administrators at each of the universities shall administer the specifics of the funded research programs program. Annually the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research these administrators shall prepare a combined proposed budget for the research that the Director of Agriculture shall submit to the Governor for inclusion in the Executive budget and consideration by the General Assembly. The budget shall specify major categories of proposed expenditures, including salary, wages, and fringe benefits; operation and maintenance; supplies and expenses; and capital improvements.

(b) The Department, with the assistance of the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research, may seek additional grants and donations for research. Additional funds shall be used in conjunction with appropriated funds for research. All additional grants and donations for research shall be deposited into the Food and Agricultural Research Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury, and used as provided in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 89-182, eff. 7-19-95.)

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.811 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.811 new)

Sec. 5.811. The Food and Agricultural Research Fund.

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