§ 6-64-706 - Central Branch Station.
6-64-706. Central Branch Station.
(a) There is created and established by the State of Arkansas an agricultural station and model farm combined in central Arkansas, to be located as provided in subsection (j) of this section and to be known as the Central Branch Station of the Main Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas.
(b) The scope and work of the institution shall be to:
(1) Conduct scientific experiments in the several branches of agriculture;
(2) Breed and distribute at reasonable prices pure-bred livestock and pure seed of high yielding strains of the staple field crops of the state with a view to further development of the agricultural industry of the state;
(3) Disseminate through bulletins and reports the results of experiments made at the station;
(4) Lay out and conduct a model farm of not less than forty (40) acres nor more than eighty (80) acres; and
(5) Furnish the farmers and planters of the state such information relative to the various plants and animals of the state as may be available to the assistant director.
(c) The branch station and the work and experiments conducted therein and thereon shall be under the direction of the Main Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas.
(d) (1) An assistant director shall be placed in charge of the central branch station.
(2) The assistant director shall reside on or in close proximity to the central branch station and shall be learned and skilled in scientific and practical agriculture and acquainted with the farm conditions of the state, so far as possible.
(e) (1) In addition to his or her other duties, the assistant director in charge shall keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures of the branch station, a report of which, together with all other matters pertaining to the branch station, shall be made by him or her annually to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas.
(2) A complete report of the branch station shall be made by the board of trustees to the Governor at least thirty (30) days before the meeting of each General Assembly.
(f) The assistant director shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas.
(g) The assistant director shall have such assistance and labor furnished him or her as may be necessary to properly carry on the work of the institution.
(h) (1) The employees of the central branch station shall be elected or appointed by the same authority as those of the main station and shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the same authority.
(2) Salaries of employees and running expenses of the station shall be paid out of funds provided therefor.
(i) (1) For the purpose of this section, a commission of seven (7) members is created.
(2) The commission shall be composed of the Governor, the Director of the Main Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas, the assistant director, who is appointed for the central branch station, and four (4) farmers and planters of the state, who shall be appointed by the Governor.
(3) A secretary shall be elected by the commission from its own body.
(j) (1) It shall be the duty of the commission to decide upon the location of the station at some suitable, convenient, and accessible point in central Arkansas.
(2) In locating the station, the commission provided for in this section is authorized to accept donations of land, lumber, timber, implements, money, notes, other obligations, or any property which may be of use in establishing the station.
(3) The location shall be on a tract of not less than three hundred sixty (360) acres of tillable land of at least average fertility.
(4) The commission shall take a ten-year option on not less than six hundred forty (640) acres of adjoining land so that this adjoining land may later be purchased if found necessary.
(5) The location shall be within walking distance of a railroad station on some trunk line.
(k) (1) As soon as convenient after acquiring the property, there shall be erected thereon necessary buildings, outhouses, etc., and the station shall be properly supplied with tools, apparatus, stock, and other equipment necessary to successfully carry on the work of the station.
(2) For the details of buildings and equipment, the assistant director shall be primarily responsible, but he or she shall be directed by the commission and shall be responsible to the commission.
(l) The expenditures for all purposes shall not exceed the amount of the appropriation hereinafter provided to carry into effect this section.
(m) The members of the commission shall serve without special compensation but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with 25-16-901 et seq.
(n) All expense accounts are to be kept in itemized form and certified to by the Governor, who shall be the chair of the commission.
(o) The duties and authority of the commission shall terminate upon the completion of the establishment and proper equipment of the institution, after which time the board of trustees shall assume the same control of the station as they have over the Main Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas.
(p) (1) The sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated out of the funds of the State Treasury to carry this section into effect.
(2) (A) Not more than four-fifths (4/5) of this sum shall be expended by the commission created by this section in purchasing and optioning the necessary real estate, the erection of buildings, and in equipping the branch station.
(B) (i) No bills or accounts contracted or incurred shall be allowed or paid except upon the written order of the secretary of the commission directing the Auditor of State to draw his or her warrant on the Treasurer of State in favor of the person, firm, or corporation named in the order.
(ii) No such order is to be given by the secretary until all liens of whatever kind or character against the property involved shall have been first released or satisfied by the person holding the lien.
(3) (A) The remainder of the appropriation, the proceeds of the sales of the products of the branch station, and any other available funds which may be set apart by the board of trustees for the support of the station shall be expended in the same manner and through the same channels as other moneys expended for the Agricultural Experiment Station of the university.
(B) However, for the payment of small current accounts and bills, the trustees may provide a cash contingent fund from sales and any other moneys that may be available, to be paid out by the assistant director by check drawn against proper vouchers, under the general direction of the trustees. The assistant director shall keep an accurate record of all such vouchers and checks and shall account to the trustees for them.