Senate File 393
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1173)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the agricultural development authority by
2 providing for its organization and administration.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 3180SV 80
5 da/pj/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 7E.7, subsection 2, Code 2003, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 2. The agricultural development authority as established
1 4 in section 175.3 shall be considered part of the department of
1 5 agriculture and land stewardship. The department of
1 6 agriculture and land stewardship office of treasurer of state.
1 7 The office may provide staff assistance and administrative
1 8 support to the authority.
1 9 Sec. 2. Section 175.3, subsection 1, Code 2003, is amended
1 10 to read as follows:
1 11 1. a. The agricultural development authority is
1 12 established within the department of agriculture and land
1 13 stewardship office of treasurer of state. The authority is
1 14 constituted as a public instrumentality and agency of the
1 15 state exercising public and essential governmental functions.
1 16 b. The authority is established to undertake programs
1 17 which assist beginning farmers in purchasing agricultural land
1 18 and agricultural improvements and depreciable agricultural
1 19 property for the purpose of farming, and programs which
1 20 provide financing to farmers for permanent soil and water
1 21 conservation practices on agricultural land within the state
1 22 or for the acquisition of conservation farm equipment, and
1 23 programs to assist farmers within the state in financing
1 24 operating expenses and cash flow requirements of farming. The
1 25 authority shall also develop programs to assist qualified
1 26 agricultural producers within the state with financing other
1 27 capital requirements or operating expenses.
1 28 c. The powers of the authority are vested in and exercised
1 29 by a board of eleven ten members with nine members appointed
1 30 by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate. The
1 31 treasurer of state or the treasurer's designee and the
1 32 secretary of agriculture or the secretary's designee are shall
1 33 serve as an ex officio nonvoting members member. No more than
1 34 five appointed members shall belong to the same political
1 35 party. As far as possible the governor shall include within
2 1 the membership persons who represent financial institutions
2 2 experienced in agricultural lending, the real estate sales
2 3 industry, farmers, beginning farmers, average taxpayers, local
2 4 government, soil and water conservation district officials,
2 5 agricultural educators, and other persons specially interested
2 6 in family farm development.
2 7 Sec. 3. Section 175.7, subsection 1, Code 2003, is amended
2 8 to read as follows:
2 9 1. The executive director of the authority shall be
2 10 appointed by a selection and tenure committee, which shall
2 11 consist of the secretary of agriculture and the chairperson
2 12 and of the board, the vice chairperson of the board,
2 13 established pursuant to section 175.3 and one member elected
2 14 by the board, or their designees. The executive director
2 15 shall serve at the pleasure of the committee board. The votes
2 16 of three members of the committee are necessary for any
2 17 substantive action taken by the committee, except that two
2 18 members may take a substantive action, if the secretary has a
2 19 conflict of interest. If a member other than the secretary
2 20 has a conflict of interest, the board shall appoint a
2 21 substitute member of the committee from the appointed members
2 22 of the board for the duration of the conflict of interest.
2 23 The executive director shall be selected primarily for
2 24 administrative ability and knowledge in the field, without
2 25 regard to political affiliation.
2 26 SF 393
2 27 da/cc/26