Page:2021 North Dakota Session Laws.pdf/237

Agriculture CHAPTER 60 HOUSE BILL NO. 1475 (Representatives Satrom, Hagert, Kempenich, Kiefert, Mitskog, Ostlie) (Senators Conley, Wanzek)

AN ACT to create and enact three new sections to chapter 4.1-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an agriculture diversification and development fund, agriculture diversification and development committee, and agriculture diversification and development fund grants program; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to provide for a transfer.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:

SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 4.1-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows:

Agriculture diversification and development fund - Continuing appropriation.

1. There is created in the state treasury the agriculture diversification and development loan fund. The fund consists of all moneys transferred to the fund by the legislative assembly, interest upon moneys in the fund, and payments of interest and principal on loans made from the fund. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the Bank of North Dakota on a continuing basis for loan disbursements, grants, and administrative costs pursuant to this section. No more than twenty-five percent of the fund may be utilized for grants in a biennium.

2. Loans, interest rate buydowns, or grants may be issued from the fund to support new or expanding value-added agriculture businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability for farmers and ranchers, create jobs, and grow the state's economy. Value-added agriculture businesses include food production or processing facilities; feed or pet food processing facilities; commodity processing facilities; agriculture product manufacturers; and animal agriculture production facilities, including swine, poultry, dairy, and feed lot production facilities.

3. The Bank of North Dakota shall develop policies in consultation with the agriculture diversification and development committee. The Bank shall review loan applications. To be eligible for a loan under this section, an entity shall agree to provide the Bank with information as requested. The Bank may develop policies for loan participation with local financial institutions. The Bank shall deposit in the fund all principal and interest paid on the outstanding loans. The Bank may use a portion of the interest paid as a servicing fee to pay for administrative costs, which may not exceed one-half of one percent of the amount of the outstanding loans. The Bank shall contract with a certified public accounting firm to audit the fund if the fund has any loans. The cost of the audit must be paid from the fund.

SECTION 2. A new section to chapter 4.1-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows: