A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct a comprehensive systemic analysis of the scientific merits of the agricultural research stations, agricultural research farm, and university field laboratories.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  A comprehensive systemic analysis of the scientific merits of all of the following shall be conducted for the purpose of determining whether these entities individually and as a whole meet current and future agricultural research needs efficiently and effectively:
(1)	The agricultural research stations that are currently jointly managed by North Carolina State University and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
(2)	The university research farm managed by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
(3)	The university field laboratories owned and managed by North Carolina State University.
SECTION 1.(b)  The analysis under subsection (a) of this section shall be conducted by a scientific review panel, each member of which shall reside out-of-state in order to ensure an independent and balanced assessment of the issues to be considered by the panel. No later than July 1, 2009, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall each select two members of this scientific review panel. This analysis shall not focus on specific commodities or specific facilities, but shall be a comprehensive, systemic review. The scientific review panel shall consider the current research needs of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the capacity for teaching and extension activities that the agricultural research stations, agricultural research farm, and university field laboratories provide, and the anticipated future research needs.  Specifically, the scientific review panel shall consider all of the following:
(1)	Whether any individual agricultural research station, agricultural research farm, or university field laboratory should be closed.
(2)	Whether any discrete parcels of land that currently comprise part or all of any individual agricultural research station, agricultural research farm, or university field laboratory should be sold for the reason that:
a.	The parcel is not being used for research.
b.	The parcel does not provide an important function, such as provide a buffer or provide an area for future expansion of the research station, research farm, or university.
(3)	Whether to consolidate the management of any or all of the agricultural research stations, agricultural research farm, and university field laboratories.
(4)	Whether to replace the Central Crops Research Station located in Johnston County with similarly convenient but less commercially valuable property.
(5)	Any other issue the panel considers pertinent to whether the agricultural research stations, agricultural research farm, and university field laboratories individually and as a whole meet current and future agricultural research needs efficiently and effectively.
SECTION 2.  The scientific review panel under Section 1 of this act shall commence its comprehensive systemic analysis no later than September 1, 2009, and shall report its results no later than January 1, 2010, to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Chairs of the House Agriculture Committee, the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee, and the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Natural and Economic Resources. The Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall consider this report as part of the joint study they are conducting under Section 9.13 of S.L. 2008‑107 for the purpose of developing a strategic plan for the management of the agricultural research stations, agricultural research farm, and university field laboratories.  The report required under this section shall include findings, recommendations, including recommendations on any land that might be sold, purchased, or transferred and any associated costs, and any legislative proposals. The report shall also include a projected time line that might be used to demonstrate accountability or to guide the implementation of any recommendations.
SECTION 3.  The joint study by the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the Commissioner of Agriculture under Section 9.13 of S.L. 2008‑107 shall not terminate, but shall continue, and the deadline for submitting a comprehensive strategic plan for the management of the agricultural research stations shall be extended until April 1, 2010.
SECTION 4.  The costs of conducting the comprehensive systemic analysis under Section 1 of this act shall be jointly and equally funded from funds appropriated to each of the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
SECTION 5.  Section 3 of this act becomes effective April 30, 2009. The remaining sections of this act become effective July 1, 2009.