CHAPTER 10. TOBACCO FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND
IC 15-11-10
Chapter 10. Tobacco Farmers and Rural Community Impact Fund
IC 15-11-10-1
"Advisory board"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "advisory board" refers to thetobacco farmers and rural community impact fund advisory boardestablished by section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.
IC 15-11-10-2
"Fund"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the tobaccofarmers and rural community impact fund established by section 3 ofthis chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.
IC 15-11-10-3
Tobacco farmers and rural community impact fund
Sec. 3. (a) The tobacco farmers and rural community impact fundis established. The fund shall be administered by the director. Thefund consists of:
(1) amounts, if any, that another statute requires to bedistributed to the fund from the Indiana tobacco mastersettlement agreement fund;
(2) appropriations to the fund from other sources;
(3) grants, gifts, and donations intended for deposit in the fund;and
(4) interest that accrues from money in the fund.
(b) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid frommoney in the fund.
(c) Notwithstanding IC 5-13, the treasurer of state shall invest themoney in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of thefund in the same manner as money is invested by the publicemployees retirement fund under IC 5-10.3-5. The treasurer of statemay contract with investment management professionals, investmentadvisers, and legal counsel to assist in the management of the fundand may pay the state expenses incurred under those contracts.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of the state fiscal year does notrevert to the state general fund and remains available for expenditure.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.
IC 15-11-10-4
Purposes of the fund
Sec. 4. (a) Subject to subsection (b), money in the fund shall beused for the following purposes:
(1) Agricultural grant and loan programs to assist cooperativearrangements consisting of tobacco quota owners and tobaccogrowers working together to change from tobacco production toother agricultural enterprises and to assist individual tobacco
quota owners and tobacco growers who are in the process ofchanging to other agricultural enterprises.
(2) Value added cooperatives, incubators, and other enterprisesor facilities established to assist tobacco quota owners andtobacco growers to capture additional revenues fromnon-tobacco agricultural commodities.
(3) Agricultural mentoring programs, entrepreneurial leadershipdevelopment, and tuition and scholarships to assist displacedtobacco growers in acquiring new training and employmentskills.
(4) Academic research to identify new transitional cropenterprises to replace tobacco production.
(5) Market facility development for marketing current and newcrop enterprises.
(6) Administrative and planning services for local communitiesand economic development entities that suffer a negative impactfrom the loss of tobacco production.
(7) Establishment and operation of a regional economicdevelopment consortium to address common problems faced bylocal communities that suffer a negative impact from the loss oftobacco production.
(b) Expenditures from the fund are subject to appropriation by thegeneral assembly and approval by the director. The director may notapprove an expenditure from the fund unless that expenditure hasbeen recommended by the advisory board.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.
IC 15-11-10-5
Tobacco farmers and rural community impact fund advisoryboard; members
Sec. 5. (a) The tobacco farmers and rural community impact fundadvisory board is established. The advisory board shall meet at leastquarterly and at the call of the director to make recommendationsconcerning expenditures of money from the fund.
(b) The advisory board consists of the following:
(1) The director, who is an ex officio member and serves aschairperson of the advisory board.
(2) Two (2) members of the senate, who may not be membersof the same political party, appointed by the president protempore of the senate.
(3) Two (2) members of the house of representatives, who maynot be members of the same political party, appointed by thespeaker of the house of representatives.
(4) The following appointees by the governor who represent thefollowing organizations or interests:
(A) Two (2) tobacco growers.
(B) One (1) tobacco quota owner.
(C) Two (2) persons with knowledge and experience in stateand regional economic development needs.
(D) One (1) person representing small towns or rural
communities.
(E) One (1) person representing the Southern Indiana RuralDevelopment Project.
(F) One (1) person representing agricultural programs atuniversities located in Indiana.
The members of the advisory board listed in subdivisions (1) through(3) are nonvoting members. The members of the advisory boardlisted in subdivision (4) are voting members.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.
IC 15-11-10-6
Members; terms; vacancy
Sec. 6. (a) The term of office of a legislative member of theadvisory board is four (4) years. However, a legislative member ofthe advisory board ceases to be a member of the advisory board if themember:
(1) is no longer a member of the legislative chamber fromwhich the member was appointed; or
(2) is removed from the advisory board under subsection (b).
(b) A legislative member of the advisory board may be removedat any time by the appointing authority who appointed the legislativemember.
(c) The term of office of a member of the advisory boardappointed under section 5(b)(4) of this chapter is four (4) years.However, the member serves at the pleasure of the governor and maybe removed for any reason.
(d) If a vacancy exists on the advisory board with respect to alegislative member or the members appointed under section 5(b)(4)of this chapter, the appointing authority who appointed the formermember whose position has become vacant shall appoint anindividual to fill the vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.
IC 15-11-10-7
Quorum
Sec. 7. Five (5) voting members of the advisory board constitutea quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the advisoryboard. The affirmative vote of at least five (5) voting members of theadvisory board is necessary for the advisory board to take action.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.
IC 15-11-10-8
Per diem and travel expenses
Sec. 8. (a) Each member of the advisory board who is not a stateemployee is not entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided byIC 4-10-11-2.1(b). The member is, however, entitled toreimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member'sduties as provided in the state policies and procedures established bythe Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget
agency.
(b) Each member of the advisory board who is a state employeebut who is not a member of the general assembly is entitled toreimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member'sduties as provided in the state policies and procedures established bythe Indiana department of administration and approved by the budgetagency.
(c) Each member of the advisory board who is a member of thegeneral assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage,and travel allowances paid to legislative members of interim studycommittees established by the legislative council. Per diem, mileage,and travel allowances paid under this subsection shall be paid fromappropriations made to the legislative council or the legislativeservices agency.
(d) Payments authorized for members of the advisory board undersubsections (a) through (b) are payable from the tobacco farmers andrural community impact fund.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.