176A.9  Limitation on powers and activities of extension council.
  1.  The extension council has for its sole purpose the dissemination of information, the giving of instruction and practical demonstrations on subjects relating to agriculture, home economics, and community and economic development, and the encouragement of the application of the information, instruction, and demonstrations to and by all persons in the extension district, and the imparting to the persons of information on those subjects through field demonstrations, publications, or other media.
  2.  The extension district, its council, or a member or an employee as a representative of either one or the other shall not engage in commercial or other private enterprises, legislative programs, nor attempt in any manner by the adoption of resolutions or otherwise to influence legislation, either state or national, or other activities not authorized by this chapter.
  3.  The extension council or a member or employee thereof as a representative of either the extension district or the extension council shall not give preferred services to any individual, group or organization or sponsor the programs of any group, organization or private agency other than as herein provided by this chapter.
  4.  The extension council may collect reasonable fees and may seek and receive grants, donations, gifts, bequests, or other moneys from public and private sources to be used for the purposes set forth in this section, and may enter into contracts to provide educational services.
  5.  The extension council and its employed personnel may cooperate with and give information and advice to organized and unorganized groups, but shall not promote, sponsor, or engage in the organization of any group for any purpose except the promoting, organization, and the development of the programs of 4-H clubs. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the county extension council or extension agents employed by it from using or seeking opportunities to reach an audience of persons interested in agricultural extension work through the help of interested farm organizations, civic organizations, or any other group. However, in using or seeking such opportunities, the county extension council or agents employed by the extension council shall make available to all groups and organizations in the county equal opportunity to cooperate in the educational extension program.
  6.  Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but may receive actual and necessary expenses, including in-state travel expenses at not more than the state rate, incurred in the performance of official duties other than attendance at regular local county extension council meetings. Payment shall be made from funds available pursuant to section 176A.8, subsection 12.
[SS15, §1683-e; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2929, 2931; C46, 50, 54, §176.7, 176.9; C58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §176A.9]
86 Acts, ch 1245, §839; 98 Acts, ch 1166, §1, 2; 2020 Acts, ch 1063, §70