2-616.   Purpose of extension councils and districts certain feesauthorized; limitations.(a) Each county extension council or extension district shallhave for its sole purpose the givingof instruction and practical demonstrations in agriculture, marketing, homeeconomics, 4-H club and youth work, community and resource development,and economic development initiatives toall persons in the county or extension district, as the case may be, andthe imparting to such persons of informationon those subjects through practical demonstrations, meetings, publications,or otherwise, in accordance with the program and service prescribed bythe council or the governing body of the extension district, as the case maybe. Extension councils and extension districts shall notengage in commercial or other privateenterprises, legislative programs, or other activities not authorized bythis act and shall not give preferred service to any individual, group ororganization.

      (b)   County extension councils and the governing bodies of extensiondistricts may collect fees for specificservices which require special equipment or personnel, such as a soiltesting laboratory, seed testing service or other educational service, butsuch councils and governing bodies shall not collect membershipdues nor shall such councils and governing bodies collect dues fororpay dues to any local, state or national organization or association.The furnishing of supplies or services deemed necessaryby the director of extension and the executive board of the countyextension council or the governing body of the extension district, as thecase may be, to the conduct of any educational program authorizedunder this act shall not be considered private enterprise or commercialactivity within the meaning of this act.

      (c)   Nothing in this act or any act amendatory thereof shall prevent anycounty extension council, any multicounty extension governingboard,or any extension district, or any extension agents employed by suchcouncil, board or district, from usingor seeking opportunities to reach an audience of persons interested inextension work through the help of interested farm organizations, civicorganizations or any other group. In usingor seeking such opportunities the county extension council,multicounty extension governing board, or extension district, or the agentsemployed by such council, board or district, shall make availableto all groups and organizations in the county, multicounty area or extensiondistrict, as the case may be, equalopportunity to cooperate in the educational extension program.Extension agents shall notrequire uniform bylaws,rules, regulations and methods of procedure in groups, clubs ororganizations wishing to do extension work.This prohibition shall not prevent extension agents from suggestingbylaws, regulations and methods of procedure for such groups, clubs ororganizations.

      History:   L. 1951, ch. 8, § 9; L. 1972, ch. 3, § 7;L. 1987, ch. 6, § 4;L. 1991, ch. 2, § 10; July 1.