Section 1.3 Extension Work With State University (State of Maine)

§191. Purpose

In order to aid in diffusing among the people of this State useful and practical information on subjects relating to agriculture and natural resources, youth development, and home economics and community life and to encourage the application of the same, there may be inaugurated in each of the several counties of the State extension work which shall be carried on in cooperation with the Trustees of the University of Maine System and the University of Maine. [1985, c. 779, § 26 (amd).]

§192. Demonstrations and information

Cooperative extension work shall consist of the giving of practical demonstrations in agriculture and natural resources, youth development, and home economics and community life and imparting information on those subjects through field demonstrations, publications and otherwise. This work shall be carried on in each county in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon by the executive committee of the county extension association provided for in section 193, and the trustees of the University of Maine System, the University of Maine, or their duly appointed representatives. [1985, c. 779, § 27 (amd).]

§193. County extension associations

For the purpose of carrying out this chapter, there may be created in each county or combination of 2 counties within the State an organization to be known as a “county extension association,” and its services available to all residents of a county. Such county extension association shall have adopted a constitution and set of bylaws acceptable to the University of Maine and they shall be recognized as the official body within that county or counties for carrying on extension work in agriculture and natural resources, youth development, and home economics and community life within that county or counties in cooperation with the University of Maine. The county extension is viewed as a unique and important educational program of county government. The county extension association may make such regulations and bylaws for its government and the carrying on of its work as are not inconsistent with that chapter, provided that one such organization shall be formed in each county. [1985, c. 779, § 28 (amd).]

§194. Budget and taxes

The executive committee of each county extension association shall prepare an annual budget as requested, showing in detail its estimate of the amount of money to be expended under this chapter within the county or counties for the fiscal year, shall submit the same to a vote of the association at the regular annual meeting and, if the budget is approved by a majority vote of the members of the association present at such meeting, the executive committee shall submit the same to the board of county commissioners on a date requested by the county commissioners, and the county commissioners may, if they deem it justifiable, adopt an appropriate budget for the county extension program and levy a tax therefor. The amount thus raised by direct taxation within any county or combination of counties for the purposes of this chapter shall be used for the salaries of clerks, provision of office space, supplies, equipment, postage, telephone, a contribution toward the salaries of county agents and such other expenses as necessary to maintain an effective county extension program. Whenever the inhabitants of 2 counties shall unite for organization in one association, the executive committee shall present its budget to the county commissioners of both counties. The county commissioners of those counties shall meet jointly to consider and adopt a budget for each county. The amount and proportion of the budget shall be shared in a manner determined by mutual agreement at a joint meeting of the county commissioners. [1985, c. 283, § 4 (amd).]

§195. Annual reports

A county extension association shall annually present to the University of Maine and the county commissioners its plan of extension work for the ensuing year and a full detailed report of its extension activities for the preceding fiscal year, including a detailed report of its receipts and expenditures from all sources. The financial report of a county extension association must be on forms prescribed by the University of Maine and the county commissioners. [2005, c. 512, §3 (amd).]

§196. Building associations authorized

The county commissioners of a county or combination of 2 counties in which there is a county extension association may form a county extension building association pursuant to this section and Title 13, chapter 81. In addition to the powers and authority granted and duties and limitations imposed under Title 13, chapter 81, the county extension building association has all the powers and authority granted under this section and is subject to all the duties and limitations imposed under this section, except that, in the case of any conflict between this section and Title 13, chapter 81, this section controls. A county extension building association is a political subdivision of the State and a constituted authority for purposes of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 103. [2001, c. 594, §1 (new).]

1. Purpose. The purpose of a county extension building association is to acquire, by purchase, lease or otherwise, buildings and other real and personal property to be used by a county extension association in carrying out its public purposes under this chapter.[2001, c. 594, §1 (new).]

2. Directors. The county commissioners of the county or counties forming the county extension building association shall determine the method of choosing the building association’s directors. A majority of the directors of a county extension building association must be appointed by the county commissioners of the county or counties comprising the affiliated county extension association.[2001, c. 594, §1 (new).]

3. Borrowing. In order to carry out its purpose, a county extension building association by a vote of the directors may borrow money on behalf of the county or of either or both of the counties comprising the affiliated county extension association by the issuance of bonds or notes and grant mortgages and security interest in the county extension building association’s property to secure the obligations. All bonds or notes must be for a term not to exceed 30 years and contain such terms and conditions as the directors of the county extension building association determine. The bonds or notes may not be an obligation of or pledge the faith and credit of the State or any county or political subdivision other than the county extension building association. Bonds or notes may be issued by the county extension building association under this section without obtaining the consent of any commission, board, bureau or agency of the State or of the county or counties comprising the affiliated county extension association and without any other proceeding or conditions than those proceedings or conditions that are specifically required by this section.[2001, c. 594, §1 (new).]

4. Limitations; dissolution. No part of the net earnings of a county extension building association may inure to the benefit of any member, director or officer of the county extension building association or any private individual, except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered, and a member, director or officer of a county extension building association or any private individual is not entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets on dissolution of the county extension building association. On the dissolution of a county extension building association or on the termination of its activities, the assets of the county extension building association remaining after the payment of its liabilities must be distributed to the county in which the county extension building association is housed. [2001, c. 594, §1 (new).]

–Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, 2005