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 the
tobacco farmers and rural community impact fund advisory board
established 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 tobacco
farmers and rural community impact fund established by section 3 of
this 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 fund
is established. The fund shall be administered by the director. The
fund consists of:
(1) amounts, if any, that another statute requires to be
distributed to the fund from the Indiana tobacco master
settlement 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 from
money in the fund.
(c) Notwithstanding IC 5-13, the treasurer of state shall invest the
money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the
fund in the same manner as money is invested by the public
employees retirement fund under IC 5-10.3-5. The treasurer of state
may contract with investment management professionals, investment
advisers, and legal counsel to assist in the management of the fund
and may pay the state expenses incurred under those contracts.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of the state fiscal year does not
revert 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 be
used for the following purposes:
(1) Agricultural grant and loan programs to assist cooperative
arrangements consisting of tobacco quota owners and tobacco
growers working together to change from tobacco production to
other agricultural enterprises and to assist individual tobacco
quota owners and tobacco growers who are in the process of
changing to other agricultural enterprises.
(2) Value added cooperatives, incubators, and other enterprises
or facilities established to assist tobacco quota owners and
tobacco growers to capture additional revenues from
non-tobacco agricultural commodities.
(3) Agricultural mentoring programs, entrepreneurial leadership
development, and tuition and scholarships to assist displaced
tobacco growers in acquiring new training and employment
skills.
(4) Academic research to identify new transitional crop
enterprises to replace tobacco production.
(5) Market facility development for marketing current and new
crop enterprises.
(6) Administrative and planning services for local communities
and economic development entities that suffer a negative impact
from the loss of tobacco production.
(7) Establishment and operation of a regional economic
development consortium to address common problems faced by
local communities that suffer a negative impact from the loss of
tobacco production.
(b) Expenditures from the fund are subject to appropriation by the
general assembly and approval by the director. The director may not
approve an expenditure from the fund unless that expenditure has
been 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 advisory
board; members
Sec. 5. (a) The tobacco farmers and rural community impact fund
advisory board is established. The advisory board shall meet at least
quarterly and at the call of the director to make recommendations
concerning 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 as
chairperson of the advisory board.
(2) Two (2) members of the senate, who may not be members
of the same political party, appointed by the president pro
tempore of the senate.
(3) Two (2) members of the house of representatives, who may
not be members of the same political party, appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives.
(4) The following appointees by the governor who represent the
following organizations or interests:
(A) Two (2) tobacco growers.
(B) One (1) tobacco quota owner.
(C) Two (2) persons with knowledge and experience in state
and regional economic development needs.
(D) One (1) person representing small towns or rural
communities.
(E) One (1) person representing the Southern Indiana Rural
Development Project.
(F) One (1) person representing agricultural programs at
universities located in Indiana.
The members of the advisory board listed in subdivisions (1) through
(3) are nonvoting members. The members of the advisory board
listed 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 the
advisory board is four (4) years. However, a legislative member of
the advisory board ceases to be a member of the advisory board if the
member:
(1) is no longer a member of the legislative chamber from
which 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 removed
at any time by the appointing authority who appointed the legislative
member.
(c) The term of office of a member of the advisory board
appointed under section 5(b)(4) of this chapter is four (4) years.
However, the member serves at the pleasure of the governor and may
be removed for any reason.
(d) If a vacancy exists on the advisory board with respect to a
legislative member or the members appointed under section 5(b)(4)
of this chapter, the appointing authority who appointed the former
member whose position has become vacant shall appoint an
individual 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 constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the advisory
board. The affirmative vote of at least five (5) voting members of the
advisory 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 state
employee is not entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by
IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). The member is, however, entitled to
reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4
and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's
duties as provided in the state policies and procedures established by
the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget
agency.
(b) Each member of the advisory board who is a state employee
but who is not a member of the general assembly is entitled to
reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4
and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's
duties as provided in the state policies and procedures established by
the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget
agency.
(c) Each member of the advisory board who is a member of the
general assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage,
and travel allowances paid to legislative members of interim study
committees established by the legislative council. Per diem, mileage,
and travel allowances paid under this subsection shall be paid from
appropriations made to the legislative council or the legislative
services agency.
(d) Payments authorized for members of the advisory board under
subsections (a) through (b) are payable from the tobacco farmers and
rural community impact fund.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.