SENATE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE BILL BY CHAIRPERSON SENG)

A BILL FOR

An Act placing the agricultural development authority within the department of agriculture and land stewardship.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 175.3, subsection 1, paragraphs a and c, Code 2011, are amended to read as follows:
   a.  The agricultural development authority is established within the department of agriculture and land stewardship. The agency is constituted as a public instrumentality and agency of the state exercising public and essential governmental functions.
   c.  The powers of the authority are vested in and exercised by a board of ten members with nine members appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate. The treasurer of state secretary of agriculture or the treasurer’s secretary’s designee shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member. No more than five appointed members shall belong to the same political party. As far as possible the governor shall include within the membership persons who represent financial institutions experienced in agricultural lending, the real estate sales industry, farmers, beginning farmers, average taxpayers, local government, soil and water conservation district officials, agricultural educators, and other persons specially interested in family farm development.
EXPLANATION
   This bill amends provisions affecting the agricultural development authority (Code chapter 175), which is organized as an independent self-funding agency charged to provide economic assistance to farmers. The authority is controlled by a board of 10 members, including nine members appointed by the governor and the treasurer of state who serves as an ex officio nonvoting member.
   The bill provides that the authority is to be housed within the department of agriculture and land stewardship, and the secretary replaces the treasurer of state as the ex officio nonvoting member.