Public Act 095-0099
 
HB1313 Enrolled LRB095 10394 NHT 30609 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Southern Illinois University Management Act
is amended by changing Section 6.6 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 520/6.6)
    Sec. 6.6. The Illinois Ethanol Research Advisory Board.
    (a) There is established the Illinois Ethanol Research
Advisory Board (the "Advisory Board").
    (b) The Advisory Board shall be composed of 13 members
including: the President of Southern Illinois University who
shall be Chairman; the Director of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity; the Director of Agriculture; the President of the
Illinois Corn Growers Association; the President of the
National Corn Growers Association; the President of the
Renewable Fuels Association; the Dean of the College of
Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Science, University
of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana; and 6 at-large members
appointed by the Governor representing the ethanol industry,
growers, suppliers, and universities.
    (c) The 6 at-large members shall serve a term of 4 years.
The Advisory Board shall meet at least annually or at the call
of the Chairman. At any time a majority of the Advisory Board
may petition the Chairman for a meeting of the Board. Seven
members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum.
    (d) The Advisory Board shall:
        (1) Review the annual operating plans and budget of the
    National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Pilot Plant.
        (2) Advise on research and development priorities and
    projects to be carried out at the Corn-to-Ethanol Research
    Pilot Plant.
        (3) Advise on policies and procedures regarding the
    management and operation of the ethanol research pilot
    plant. This may include contracts, project selection, and
    personnel issues.
        (4) Develop bylaws.
        (5) Submit a final report to the Governor and General
    Assembly outlining the progress and accomplishments made
    during the year along with a financial report for the year.
        (6) Establish and operate, subject to specific
    appropriation for the purpose of providing facility
    operating funds, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research
    Center at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville as a
    State Biorefining Center of Excellence with the following
    purposes and goals:
            (A) To utilize interdisciplinary,
        interinstitutional, and industrial collaborations to
        conduct research.
            (B) To provide training and services to the ethanol
        fuel industry to make projects and training to advance
        the biofuels industry in the State more affordable for
        the institutional and industrial bodies, including,
        but not limited to, Illinois farmer-owned ethanol
        cooperatives.
            (C) To coordinate near-term industry research
        needs and laboratory services by identifying needs and
        pursuing federal and other funding sources.
            (D) To develop and provide hands-on training to
        prepare students for the biofuels workforce and train
        workforce reentrants.
            (E) To serve as an independent, third-party source
        for review, testing, validation standardization, and
        definition in areas of industry need.
            (F) To provide seminars, tours, and informational
        sessions advocating renewable energy.
            (G) To provide consultation services and
        information for those interested in renewable energy.
            (H) To develop demonstration projects by pursuing
        federal and other funding sources.
    (e) The Advisory Board established by this Section is a
continuation, as changed by the Section, of the Board
established under Section 8a of the Energy Conservation and
Coal Act and repealed by this amendatory Act of the 92nd
General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)