2006 Kentucky Revised Statutes - .170   Kentucky Agriculture Resources Development Authority.

11.170 Kentucky Agriculture Resources Development Authority. (1) The Kentucky Agriculture Resources Development Authority (KARDA) is created. KARDA shall serve to unify the efforts of agricultural groups working on behalf of farmers and agribusiness and shall be attached to the Office of the Governor for administrative purposes. (2) The functions of KARDA shall be to: (a)  Advise the Governor and other state officials on economic development initiatives to improve the farm economy; (b)  Conduct long-range planning and provide continuity for agriculture and agribusiness; (c)  Work with the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch on legislation, policies, and programs with specific emphasis on increasing farm income and strengthening rural communities; (d)  Develop market potentials and encourage the "value-added" concept to the full extent of its potential; (e)  Fully develop existing enterprises and identify, explore, and evaluate new enterprise opportunities; and (f)  Improve the flow of information from the federal and state governments and the university system to agricultural commodity organizations, their members, and the farm community in general. (3) The membership of KARDA shall consist of twenty-seven (27) members as follows: (a)  The Governor or his designee; (b)  Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky; (c)  Commissioner of Agriculture; (d)  Chair, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; (e)  Chair, House Agriculture and Small Business Committee; (f)  President, Kentucky Farm Bureau or his designee; (g)  President, Kentucky National Farmers Organization or his designee; (h)  President, Kentucky Bankers Association or his designee; (i)  Seven (7) members appointed by the Governor as follows: one (1) each from the seven (7) agriculture commodity organizations with the greatest cash receipts from farm marketings as reported by the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service. The commodity organizations' representatives shall be elected at the organizations' annual meeting of membership. The election shall be conducted at the annual meeting of membership immediately prior to the expiration of the term of that organization's representative; (j)  Four (4) appointees by the Governor from the following organizations, each of whom shall submit one (1) name for consideration: Kentucky Agriculture Communicators, Kentucky Aquaculture Association, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, Kentucky Beekeepers Association, Kentucky Farm Page 1 of 2 and Power Equipment Dealers Association, Kentucky Feed and Grain Dealers Association, Kentucky Fertilizer and Agriculture Chemical Association, Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, Kentucky Forest Industry Association,  Kentucky  Ginseng  Association,  Kentucky  Milk  Goat Association, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Kentucky Seed Improvement Association, Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association, Kentucky State Horticultural Society, Kentucky Sweet Sorghum Producers and Processors Association, Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, Kentucky Vineyard Society, and Kentucky Young Farmers Association; and (k)  Eight (8) members at large selected and appointed by the Governor; (l)  Initial terms of members, other than those serving ex officio, shall be staggered to provide continuity. Thereafter, terms shall be for four (4) years. (4) The Governor shall designate one (1) of the members as chair whose term shall be concurrent with that of the Governor. KARDA may elect by majority vote a vice chair and other officers as may be deemed necessary. (5) No member of KARDA shall receive a salary, fee, or other remuneration for services as a member of KARDA, but each member shall be reimbursed for ordinary travel expenses, including meals and lodging, incurred in the performance of duties incident to implementation of the provisions of this section. (6) KARDA shall meet at the call of the Governor or the chair, but not less often than four (4) times during each calendar year. A majority of the members appointed to KARDA shall constitute a quorum. (7) KARDA shall use, so far as practical, and subject to the approval of the Governor, secretarial and clerical staff of the Governor's Office to carry out the provisions of this section. Effective: July 15, 1994 History: Created 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 274, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1994. Page 2 of 2