1.1    .................... moves to amend H. F. No. 2972 as follows:
1.2Page 5, after line 16, insert:

1.3    "Sec. 12. [116V.01] DEFINITIONS.
1.4    For purposes of this chapter:
1.5    (1) "institute" means the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute established
1.6in section 116V.02; and
1.7    (2) "board" means the board of directors of the Agricultural Utilization Research
1.8Institute.

1.9    Sec. 13. [116V.02] AGRICULTURAL UTILIZATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
1.10    Subdivision 1. Establishment. The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is
1.11established as a nonprofit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
1.12Code of 1986, as amended. The institute shall promote the establishment of new products
1.13and product uses and the expansion of existing markets for the state's agricultural
1.14commodities and products, including direct financial and technical assistance for
1.15Minnesota entrepreneurs. The institute must establish or maintain facilities and work
1.16with private and public entities to leverage the resources available to achieve maximum
1.17results for Minnesota agriculture.
1.18    Subd. 2. Board of directors. The board of directors of the institute is comprised of:
1.19    (1) the chairs of the senate and the house of representatives standing committees
1.20with jurisdiction over agriculture finance or the chair's designee;
1.21    (2) two representatives of statewide farm organizations;
1.22    (3) two representatives of agribusiness; and
1.23    (4) three representatives of the commodity promotion councils.
1.24    Subd. 3. Duties. (a) The institute shall:
1.25    (1) identify development opportunities for agricultural products;
2.1    (2) implement a program that identifies techniques to meet those opportunities;
2.2    (3) monitor and coordinate research among the public and private organizations and
2.3individuals specifically addressing procedures to transfer new technology to businesses,
2.4farmers, and individuals;
2.5    (4) provide research grants to public and private educational institutions and other
2.6organizations that are undertaking basic and applied research to promote the development
2.7of emerging agricultural industries;
2.8    (5) assist organizations and individuals with market analysis and product marketing
2.9implementations;
2.10    (6) to the extent possible earn and receive revenue from contracts, patents, licenses,
2.11royalties, grants, fees-for-service, and memberships;
2.12    (7) work with the Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of
2.13Agriculture, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and other
2.14agencies to maximize marketing opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally; and
2.15    (8) leverage available funds from federal, state, and private sources to develop new
2.16markets and value added opportunities for Minnesota agricultural products.
2.17    (b) The board shall have the sole approval authority for establishing agricultural
2.18utilization research priorities, requests for proposals to meet those priorities, awarding
2.19of grants, hiring and direction of personnel, and other expenditures of funds consistent
2.20with the adopted and approved mission and goals of the institute. The actions and
2.21expenditures of the institute are subject to audit. The institute shall annually report
2.22by February 1 to the senate and house of representatives standing committees with
2.23jurisdiction over agricultural policy and funding. The report must list projects initiated,
2.24progress on projects, and financial information relating to expenditures, income from other
2.25sources, and other information to allow the committees to evaluate the effectiveness of
2.26the institute's activities.
2.27    (c) The institute shall convene a Renewable Energy Roundtable, the purpose of
2.28which shall be to further the state's leadership on bioenergy issues.
2.29    (i) The Renewable Energy Roundtable shall consist of one representative appointed
2.30by the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, one appointed by the
2.31commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, one appointed by the chancellor
2.32of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and one appointed by the president of
2.33the University of Minnesota. The appointees must have expertise relevant to bioenergy.
2.34    (ii) The board shall oversee the activities and shall provide staff to assist the
2.35Renewable Energy Roundtable.
3.1    (iii) The Renewable Energy Roundtable will engage professionals and experts from
3.2private, government, academic, and nonprofit entities across the state to identify bioenergy
3.3opportunities and collaborate with a broad group of interested parties to identify future
3.4alternative courses of action the state can take to sustain a long-term competitive position
3.5in renewable energy through the year 2025. The Renewable Energy Roundtable will
3.6consult, advise, and review projects and initiatives funded by the state as directed by the
3.7administration and the legislature.
3.8    Subd. 4. Staff. The board shall hire staff for the institute. Persons employed by
3.9the institute are not state employees and may participate in state retirement, deferred
3.10compensation, insurance, or other plans that apply to state employees generally and are
3.11subject to regulation by the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
3.12    Subd. 5. Agricultural research grants. The institute may make matching grants
3.13for agricultural product utilization research to the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota
3.14State Colleges and Universities, a Minnesota private college or university, a private
3.15corporation, or a person. Grants may be matched from private sources, including farm
3.16commodity groups and farm organizations.
3.17    Subd. 6. Research contracts. The institute may enter into contracts with
3.18individuals, businesses, or organizations to provide research and development assistance
3.19at institute facilities or at other sites the board of directors determines appropriate.
3.20    Subd. 7. Advisory board. A 26-member advisory board may be established
3.21to identify priorities for the institute. Members of the advisory board are appointed
3.22by the board. The advisory board consists of: the chair of the Minnesota House of
3.23Representatives Agricultural Committee; the chair of the Minnesota Senate Agricultural
3.24Committee; a representative from each of the ten largest agricultural-related businesses
3.25in the state as determined by the board; a member from each of the appropriate trade
3.26organizations representing producers of beef cattle, dairy, corn, soybeans, pork, wheat,
3.27turkey, barley, wild rice, edible beans, eggs, and potatoes; a member of the Farmers's
3.28Union; and a member of the Farm Bureau. Terms and removal of members must be set
3.29by the board and members of the advisory board serve without compensation but shall
3.30receive their necessary and actual expenses.
3.31    The advisory board shall annually provide a list of priorities and suggested research
3.32and marketing studies that should be performed by the institute.
4.1    Subd. 8. Bylaws. The board shall adopt bylaws necessary for the conduct of the
4.2business of the institute consistent with this section. The board must publish bylaws and
4.3amendments to the bylaws in the State Register.
4.4    Subd. 9. Place of business. The board shall locate and maintain the institute's
4.5place of business within the state.
4.6    Subd. 10. Chair. The board shall annually elect from among its members a chair
4.7and other officers necessary for the performance of its duties.
4.8    Subd. 11. Meetings. The board shall meet at least twice each year and may hold
4.9additional meetings upon giving notice in accordance with the bylaws of the institute.
4.10Board meetings are subject to chapter 13D, except subdivision 1b as it pertains to financial
4.11information, business plans, income and expense projections, customer lists, market and
4.12feasibility studies, and trade secret information as defined by section 13.37, subdivision 1,
4.13paragraph (b).
4.14    Subd. 12. Conflict of interest. A director, employee, or officer of the institute may
4.15not participate in or vote on a decision of the board relating to an organization in which
4.16the director has either a direct or indirect financial interest.
4.17    Subd. 13. No benefit to private individuals or corporations. This institute shall
4.18not afford pecuniary gain, incidental or otherwise, to any private individual, firm, or
4.19corporation, except the payment of reasonable fees for goods and services provided and
4.20approved in accordance with the bylaws of the corporation. No part of the net income or
4.21net earnings of the institute shall, directly or indirectly, be distributable to or otherwise
4.22inure to the benefit of any individual.
4.23    Subd. 14. Funds. The institute may accept and use gifts, grants, or contributions
4.24from any source. Unless otherwise restricted by the terms of a gift or bequest, the board
4.25may sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of and invest or reinvest the money, securities, or
4.26other property given or bequested to it. The principal of these funds, the income from
4.27them, and all other revenues received by it from any nonstate source must be placed in the
4.28depositories the board determines and is subject to expenditure for the board's purposes.
4.29Expenditures of more than $25,000 must be approved by the full board.
4.30    Subd. 15. Accounts; audits. The institute may establish funds and accounts that it
4.31finds convenient. The board shall provide for and pay the cost of an independent annual
4.32audit of its official books and records by the legislative auditor subject to sections 3.971
4.33and 3.972. A copy of this audit shall be filed with the secretary of state.

5.1    Sec. 14. [116V.03] AGRICULTURAL PROJECT UTILIZATION ACCOUNT.
5.2    The agricultural project utilization account is an account in the special revenue fund.
5.3Money in the account is appropriated to the institute to be used for agricultural research
5.4grants as provided in section 116V.02, and for the institute."
5.5Page 5, line 19, after "1a," insert "2,"
5.6Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
5.7Amend the title accordingly