Section 750.30  Sustainable Agriculture Committee

a)         A Sustainable Agriculture Committee is established under the authority of 505 ILCS 135/1-5 of the Act effective January 9, 1990.

1)         This Committee shall be comprised of 1 member representing and appointed by the Governor, 1 member representing and appointed by the Board of Higher Education, 1 member representing and appointed by the Department, and 4 members appointed by the Department who are farmers actively involved in production agriculture.

2)         Farmer members shall be appointed based upon geographic location, production practices, and leadership abilities so as to represent the diverse interests of farmers and agricultural organizations.

b)         The term of office for a Committee member shall be for up to 5 years.  The term of office shall expire on January 1, 1995.  Beginning January 1, 1995 and every 5 years thereafter, new appointments will be made.  There is no limit on the number of terms a Committee member may serve.

c)         Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled with an appointee from the respective field affected by the vacancy as outlined in Section 750.30(a)(1) above. A vacancy shall exist when an appointee resigns from the Committee or is deemed to no longer represent the respective field from which he/she was appointed.

d)         The Committee shall meet at least once annually.

e)         Each appointed Committee member is entitled to 1 vote. A Committee member cannot vote by proxy or be represented by another person.

f)         Any action taken by the Committee shall require a majority vote of those members present, provided a quorum is present.

g)         In the event an appointed Committee member misses 3 consecutive meetings of the Committee, the chairman shall declare the position vacant and the procedure for filling vacancies shall be implemented.

h)         Appointed Committee members shall be entitled to actual and necessary travel expenses at the reimbursement rate approved by the State's Travel Control Board while attending meetings of the Committee.  Committee members are not entitled to receive any salary for their service on the Committee.

i)          The Committee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from its membership as officers.  Officers shall be elected at the first Committee meeting held each year.  The first Committee meeting shall be held within 60 days after January 1 each year.

1)         The duties of the Chairman shall be to:

A)        Preside at all meetings of the Committee.

B)        Call Committee meetings when deemed necessary or when requested by 3 or more Committee members.

C)        Perform all acts and duties usually required of a presiding officer.

2)         The duties of the vice-chairman shall be to perform the duties of the chairman in his/her absence.

j)          It is the duty of the Committee to seek sources of funding as outlined in 505 ILCS 135/1-5 of the Act for projects described in 505 ILCS 135/1-4 of the Act.  Funding secured by the Committee from the State or through grants or other sources shall be placed into a State trust fund as identified in 505 ILCS 135/1-5 of the Act.

k)         Funds obtained by the Committee shall be used by the Department:

1)         to pay expenses such as travel, telephone, printing, and postage of Committee members incurred while performing their duties and responsibilities;

2)         to provide funds for the various research, demonstration and education projects approved by the Department which address the purposes of the Act; and

3)         to print and disseminate information concerning projects funded by the Program.