A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to stop funding the continued evaluation of north carolina's agricultural research system and the agricultural research stations and research farms by the performance EVALUATION Division of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Findings. – The General Assembly makes the following findings:
(1)	During the 2007 Regular Session of the General Assembly, the Senate considered a proposal for the State budget to transfer the Division of Research Stations from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina to be allocated to North Carolina State University, and the 18 agricultural research stations and research farms so transferred were to be under the direction and control of North Carolina State University, in consultation with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. North Carolina State University was also directed to consolidate and downsize the agricultural research stations and research farms and determine which of the stations or farms should be retained by the State and which should be sold by the State, with any proceeds to be reinvested in the State's agricultural research efforts. This proposal was rejected. Instead, the 2007 Appropriations Act directed the Performance Evaluation Division of the General Assembly to study the current structure and management practices of the agricultural research stations and research farms and determine whether it is desirable and feasible to consolidate or transfer the research stations and research farms to another State department.
(2)	In its May 2008 report, the Program Evaluation Division included recommendations that were substantially the same as the Senate's proposal for the 2007 State budget.
(3)	During the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly, after considering the report of the Program Evaluation Division and considering the positions of the various stakeholders, the General Assembly again rejected this proposal. The General Assembly instead directed a 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 to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the management of the agricultural research stations and research farms. Much time and effort has gone into developing a comprehensive strategic plan, including the input of stakeholders, including 52 agricultural organizations, an external advisory committee, and members of the public who attended four regional public meetings held across the State. The General Assembly receives annual reports of the progress being made in developing the comprehensive strategic plan.
(4)	In February 2011, the Program Evaluation Division briefed the members of the General Assembly of the unrealized savings presented in its proposal from its 2008 report regarding the agricultural research stations and research farms. The Program Evaluation Division has also included another evaluation of the agricultural research stations and research farms in its 2011‑2012 work plan.
(5)	The recommendations of the Program Evaluation Division in its 2008 report are not in the best interest of our citizens. Further discussion of those recommendations by the Program Evaluation Division is not a wise investment of State resources, and the continued reference to those recommendations has caused and will continue to cause considerable confusion and unnecessary concern among farmers, agribusiness operators, and public servants, including State and local elected officials. The comprehensive strategic plan under subdivision (3) of this section that is currently being developed is an effort that better supports North Carolina's unique system of agricultural research to provide support for the agricultural needs of a growing State, national, and world population. Any further evaluation by the Program Evaluation Division now while this other effort is in progress serves only to distract from this important endeavor.
(6)	During this time of economic hardship, agriculture is one sector in North Carolina that has experienced growth. Further, real estate prices have declined significantly since the sale of this farmland was first considered and rejected in 2007. World food prices have risen dramatically during this same period of time. North Carolina can be a leader in achieving food independence. The long‑term benefits of preserving this State's property for its current use as agricultural research stations and research farms to develop innovative and improved methods of producing food and agricultural products exceed any short‑term gains from selling the property to help address the State's immediate and temporary budget shortfall.
SECTION 2.  Prohibit Further Evaluation by the Program Evaluation Division. – No funds appropriated or otherwise available to the General Assembly for the Program Evaluation Division for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year, the 2011‑2012 fiscal year, or for the 2012‑2013 fiscal year may be used for further evaluating or proposing additional evaluation of North Carolina's Agricultural Research System, the Division of Research Stations of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or  the 18 agricultural research stations and research farms of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
SECTION 3.  Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.