Land-Grant Opportunity Act

To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to provide for an equitable distribution of formula funds between land-grant colleges and universities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the The Land-Grant Opportunity Act 2. Equitable distribution of formula funds to land-grant colleges and universities (a) In general Subtitle G of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3221 et seq. 1449A. Formula for distribution of extension funds to land-grant colleges and universities (a) Definitions In this section: (1) 1862-institution; 1890-institution The terms 1862-institution 1890-institution 7 U.S.C. 7601 (2) Distribution formula State The term distribution formula State (A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at least one 1890-institution are located; (B) that provides matching funds in an amount equal to more than 50 percent of the extension funds to be distributed to such land-grant colleges and universities; and (C) (i) with respect to any 1890-institution in such State, that does not provide matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to such institution under section 1444; or (ii) with respect to any 1862-institution in such State, that does not provide matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to such institution under the Act of May 8, 1914 ( 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. (3) Extension funds The term extension funds (A) in the case of an 1890-institution, under section 1444; and (B) in the case of an 1862-institution, under the Act of May 8, 1914 ( 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. (4) Fully matched ratio The term fully matched ratio (A) in the case of an 1862-institution, if the State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to the institution under the Act of May 8, 1914 ( 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. (B) in the case of an 1890-institution, if the State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to the institution under section 1444 for a fiscal year, the ratio that the sum of the amount of funds that would be distributed to such institution under such Act for such fiscal year and the amount of matching funds the State would provide to such institution for such fiscal year would bear to, with respect to each other land-grant college or university in the State, the sum of the amount of funds that would be distributed to such land-grant college or university in the State under section 1444 or under the Act of May 8, 1914 ( 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. (5) Shortfall percentage The term shortfall percentage (6) Shortfall State The term shortfall State (A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at least one 1890-institution are located; and (B) that provides matching funds in an amount equal to 50 percent or less of the extension funds to be distributed to such land-grant colleges and universities. (b) Determination of Non-Federal Sources of Funds Beginning not later than September 30, 2016, and each September 30 thereafter, each land-grant college or university in a distribution formula State shall submit to the Secretary a report describing for the preceding fiscal year— (1) the sources of non-Federal funds made available by the State to the land-grant college or university for agricultural extension and education to meet the requirement of section 1449; and (2) the amount of such funds generally available from each source. (c) Distribution formula (1) In general Beginning with fiscal year 2016, in the case of a distribution formula State, the amount of extension funds to be distributed to land-grant colleges and universities in such State shall be distributed for a fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Formula (A) In general Of the extension funds available to be distributed to a land-grant college or university in a distribution formula State for a fiscal year, such funds shall be distributed such that the ratio described in subparagraph (B) for land-grant colleges and universities in the State is made to equal the fully matched ratio for land-grant colleges and universities in the State. (B) Adjusted distribution ratio The ratio described in this subparagraph is— (i) the ratio that, in the case of an 1862-institution in a State, the sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to such institution under the Act of May 8, 1914 ( 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. (ii) the ratio that, in the case of an 1890-institution in a State, the sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to such institution under section 1444 for a fiscal year and the amount of matching funds the State provides to such institution for such fiscal year bears to, with respect to each other land-grant college or university in the State, the sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to such other land-grant college or university in the State under section 1444 or under the Act of May 8, 1914 ( 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. (3) Treatment of shortfall States (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the formula described in paragraph (2)(A) shall apply with respect to the distribution of extension funds to land-grant colleges and universities in a shortfall State in the same manner as such formula applies to the distribution of extension funds to land-grant colleges and universities in a distribution formula State for a fiscal year. (B) Amount of Federal funds available for distribution In the case of a shortfall State, the total amount of extension funds available to be distributed to the land-grant colleges and universities in such State shall equal the product of— (i) the total amount which such colleges and universities are eligible to receive under the Act of May 8, 1914 ( 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. (ii) the shortfall percentage for such State and such fiscal year. 1449B. Formula for distribution of research funds to land-grant colleges and universities (a) Definitions In this section: (1) 1862-institution; 1890-institution The terms 1862-institution 1890-institution 7 U.S.C. 7601 (2) Distribution formula State The term distribution formula State (A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at least one 1890-institution are located; (B) that provides matching funds in an amount equal to more than 50 percent of the research funds to be distributed to such land-grant colleges and universities; and (C) (i) with respect to any 1890-institution in such State, that does not provide matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to such institution under section 1445; or (ii) with respect to any 1862-institution in such State, that does not provide matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to such institution under the Act of March 2, 1887 ( 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (3) Fully matched ratio The term fully matched ratio (A) in the case of an 1862-institution, if the State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to the institution under the Act of March 2, 1887 ( 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (B) in the case of an 1890-institution, if the State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to the institution under section 1445 for a fiscal year, the ratio that the sum of the amount of funds that would be distributed to such institution under such Act for such fiscal year and the amount of matching funds the State would provide to such institution for such fiscal year would bear to, with respect to each other land-grant college or university in the State, the sum of the amount of funds that would be distributed to such land-grant college or university in the State under section 1445 or under the Act of March 2, 1887 ( 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (4) Research funds The term research funds (A) in the case of an 1890-institution, under section 1445; and (B) in the case of an 1862-institution, under the Act of March 2, 1887 ( 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (5) Shortfall percentage The term shortfall percentage (6) Shortfall State In this section, the term shortfall State (A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at least one 1890-institution are located; and (B) that provides matching funds in an amount equal to 50 percent or less of the research funds to be distributed to such land-grant colleges and universities. (b) Determination of Non-Federal Sources of Funds Beginning not later than September 30, 2016, and each September 30 thereafter, each land-grant college or university in a distribution formula State shall submit to the Secretary a report describing for the preceding fiscal year— (1) the sources of non-Federal funds made available by the State to the land-grant college or university for agricultural research to meet the requirement of section 1449; and (2) the amount of such funds generally available from each source. (c) Distribution formula (1) In general Beginning with fiscal year 2016, in the case of a distribution formula State, the amount of research funds to be distributed to land-grant colleges and universities in such State shall be distributed in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Formula (A) In general Of the research funds available to be distributed to a land-grant college or university in a distribution formula State for a fiscal year, such funds shall be distributed such that the ratio described in subparagraph (B) for land-grant colleges and universities in the State is made to equal the fully matched ratio for land-grant colleges and universities in the State. (B) Adjusted distribution ratio The ratio described in this subparagraph is— (i) the ratio that, in the case of an 1862-institution in a State, the sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to such institution under the Act of March 2, 1887 ( 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (ii) the ratio that, in the case of an 1890-institution in a State, the sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to such institution under section 1445 for a fiscal year and the amount of matching funds the State provides to such institution for such fiscal year bears to, with respect to each other land-grant college or university in the State, the sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to such land-grant college or university in the State under section 1445 or under the Act of March 2, 1887 ( 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (3) Treatment of shortfall States (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the formula described in paragraph (2)(A) shall apply with respect to the distribution of extension funds to land-grant colleges and universities in a shortfall State in the same manner as such formula applies to the distribution of extension funds to land-grant colleges and universities in a distribution formula State for a fiscal year. (B) Amount of Federal funds available for distribution In the case of a shortfall State, the total amount of extension funds available to be distributed to the land-grant colleges and universities in such State shall equal the product of— (i) the total amount which such colleges and universities are eligible to receive under the Act of March 2, 1887 ( 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (ii) the shortfall percentage for such State and such fiscal year. . (b) Conforming amendments Section 1449 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3222d (1) in subsection (c), by striking subtitle, the State shall provide subtitle, the State shall provide to eligible institutions, with respect to the maximum amount such institutions are eligible to receive under sections 1444 and 1445, (2) by striking subsection (d); and (3) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively.

Summary: Land-Grant Opportunity Act This bill amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to modify the formula that the Department of Agriculture uses to distribute funds for land-grant colleges and universities to provide additional funding for certain historically black colleges and universities.