Agricultural education

Agricultural education. Agricultural Education Section Fairs, which shall not be located in more than 25 sections, shall be organized and conducted under the supervision of the Department. The Department shall designate the sections of the State for Agricultural Education Fairs. These fairs shall participate in an appropriation at a rate designated by the Bureau that is in compliance with the current year's appropriation for each section holding an Agricultural Education Section Fair or Fairs during the current year. Such monies are to be paid as premiums awarded to agricultural education students exhibiting livestock or agricultural products at the fair or fairs in the section in which the student resides. No premium shall be duplicated for any particular exhibition of livestock or agricultural products in the fair or fairs held in any one section. Within 30 days after the close of the fair, a section fair manager as designated by the Department shall certify to the Department under oath on forms furnished by the Department a detailed report of premium awards showing all premiums awarded to agricultural education students at that fair. Warrants shall be issued by the State Comptroller payable to the agricultural education teacher or teachers on vouchers certified by the Department. If after all approved claims are paid there remains any amount of the appropriation, the remaining portion shall be distributed equally among the participating agricultural education section fairs to be expended for the purposes set forth in this Section. A fiscal accounting of the expenditure of funds distributed under this paragraph shall be filed with the Department by each participating fair not later than one year after the date of its receipt of such funds. For State fiscal year 2020 only, any section unable to hold an Agricultural Education Section Fair or Fairs shall receive all funds appropriated, at the rate designated by the Bureau of County Fairs, for the purpose of issuing premiums awarded to agricultural education students. Warrants shall be issued by the State Comptroller payable to the agricultural education teacher or teachers on vouchers certified by the Department. (Source: P.A. 101-636, eff. 6-10-20.)