290 DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY IN MAINTAINING
INTERNAL FINANCIAL RECORDS, FILES, AND DOCUMENTATION
APPENDIX II
SECTION C-RESPONSIBILITY
This section covers the general responsibilities of
the Department and the States in the conduct of State Extension
programs.
- The Department of Agriculture is responsible for
the administration of the Federal Acts affecting State
Extension Programs. Section 9 of the Smith-Lever Act
provides authorization for the Secretary of Agriculture
to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary
for carrying out the provisions of the Act. The Secretary
has delegated to the Administrator of the ES the
responsibility for administration of the Smith-Lever Act
and pertinent sections of other Federal Acts authorizing
Extension work. ES receives such amounts as Congress
determines for administration, technical, and other
services, and for coordinating the work of the State
Extension Services.
- States
The Smith-Lever Act provides appropriations to
institutions designated under the First Morrill Act, and
such appropriations under the Act shall be administered
by the Land-Grant college or colleges as the legislature
of each State may direct. The First Morrill Act provided
that each State shall, by action of its legislature,
assent to the provisions of the Act. As a result, each of
the States had by its legislative action, designated the
college which will administer the Cooperative Extension
program in cooperation with the Department, and the
official in the State who is authorized to receive funds
appropriated by Congress in furtherance of Cooperative
Extension work. Any change in the designated payee should
be initiated by the State.
The Memoranda of Understanding between the 1862
Land-Grant Institutions and the Department for
Cooperative Extension work provide that the Land-Grant
Institutions organize and maintain a definite and
distinct administrative division for the management and
conduct of all Cooperative Extension work with a Director
selected by the institution and satisfactory to the
Secretary of Agriculture and administer, through such
offices, any and all funds received for such work from
appropriations made by Congress or the State legislature.
The 1862 Land-Grant Institution and the Department
mutually agree that, subject to the approval of the
president of the Land-Grant Institution and the
Secretary of Agriculture (or their duly appointed
representatives), Cooperative Extension work in the State
involving the use of Federal funds shall be planned under
the joint supervision of the Director of the State
Cooperative Extension Service and the Administrator of
the Extension Service; and that approved plans for such
Cooperative Extension work in the State shall be carried
out in accordance with the terms of a project agreement.
The Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 provides that
appropriations under Section 1444 of the Act shall be
administered in the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. The Act
(7 U.S.C. 3221, as amended) requires that the
Institutions designate an officer who is authorized to
receive funds appropriated by Congress in furtherance of
Extension work.
The Memoranda of Understanding entered between the 1890
Land-Grant Institutions and the Department provide that
the Land-Grant Institution will maintain a definite and
distinct administrative office for the management and
conduct of Extension work with an Administrator selected
by the institution and satisfactory to the Secretary of
Agriculture and administer through such offices any and
all funds received to carry our the Extension work. The
1890 Land-Grant Institutions and the Department mutually
agree that, subject to the approval of the President of
the 1890 Land-Grant Institution and the Secretary of
Agriculture (or their duly appointed representatives),
Extension work in the State involving the use of Federal
funds shall be planned under the joint supervision of the
1890 Administrator and the Administrator
for Extension Service.
The 1862 and the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions mutually
agree to develop a comprehensive program of State
Extension work, and to mutually develop a 4-year plan of
work and annual updates that will be submitted to ES for
review and approval by the Administrator for ES. The 1862
and 1890 Institutions agree that approved plans for
Extension work in the State shall be carried out in
accordance with terms of their project agreement. The
administrative responsibility of the State Extension
Director and the 1890 Administrator includes authority to
cooperate with the Department in formulating the
Extension program of the State; supervise and authorize
all expenditures under their respective approved budgets;
select and maintain a competent staff; plan and make
arrangements for carrying out their program components;
and maintain conditions and relationships favorable to a
productive Extension program.
Revised May 1994