Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/559

 PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 112 STAT. 533 "(2) The process established to consult with users of agricultural research regarding the identification of critical agricultural issues in the State and the development of research programs and projects targeted to address the issues. "(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with other colleges and universities within the State, and within other States, that have a unique capacity to address the identified agricultural issues in the State and the extent of current and emerging efforts (including regional efforts) to work with those other institutions. "(4) The manner in which research and extension, including research and extension activities funded other than through formula funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues in the State, including the activities to be carried out separately, the activities to be carried out sequentially, and the activities to be carried out jointly. " (f) RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.— "(1) DEVELOPMENT. — The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary research activities and joint research and extension activities in addressing critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of work submitted under subsection (d). "(2) CONSULTATION. — The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop the protocols in consultation with the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board established under section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) and land-grant colleges and universities. "(g) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER PURPOSES.— To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a plan of work submitted under subsection (d) to satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting requirements.". (c) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by this section 7 USC 344 note, take effect on October 1, 1999. SEC. 203. CONSISTENT MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS UNDER HATCH ACT OF 1887 AND SMITH-LEVER ACT. (a) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: "(d) MATCHING FUNDS.— "(1) REQUIREMENT.—No allotment shall be made to a State under subsection (b) or (c), and no payments from the allotment shall be made to a State, in excess of the amount that the State makes available out of non-Federal funds for agricultural research and for the establishment and maintenance of facilities for the performance of the research. "(2) FAILURE TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS.—I f a State fails to comply with the requirement to provide matching funds for a fiscal year under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall withhold from payment to the State for that fiscal year an amount equal to the difference between— "(A) the amount that would be allotted and paid to the State under subsections (b) and (c) (if the full amount of matching funds were provided by the State); and

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