State Law Establishing

House Bill No. 279

An act to create a more efficient county extension department in agriculture and home economics in the several counties of the state, and to repeal chapter 211 of the laws of 1932; chapter 263 of the laws of 1940; chapter 207 of the laws of 1942, and sections 278 to 282 inclusive of the code of 1930.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, That it is declared to be the policy of this state to develop and promote agriculture, including the raising of livestock and all enterprises and activities dependent upon the products of the soil, and in line with this policy to make available to the citizens of this state useful and practical information on subjects relating to agriculture and home economics that research has discovered and encourage the application of the same, and to obtain, to help carry out this policy, all the assistance and advantages that the federal government offers to provide.

The board of supervisors of each county in this state may establish a county extension department in agriculture and home economics; and the purpose of this department shall be to disseminate useful information among the farmers, farm women, farm boys and girls, and to develop the agricultural resources and improve the farm homes of this state.

The county extension department shall be in charge of a county agent and such assistant county agents and home economics agents as the board of supervisors and the extension department of the Mississippi State College may deem adequate to the needs of the county. The board of supervisors upon the recommendation of the director of extension of the Mississippi State College and the approval of the United States Department of Agriculture shall appoint the county agent, assistant county agents and home economics agents, fix their salaries and other necessary expenses, and the amount so fixed shall be paid out of the general fund of the county, but may be supplemented by the extension department of the Mississippi State College and/or United States Department of Agriculture.

The board of supervisors shall provide office space for the county extension department; shall equip the said office with the necessary office equipment and furniture, and shall also furnish the necessary record books, maps, stationery, postage and other items incidental to the proper operation of the department. The board of supervisors shall also employ such clerical assistance for the department as in the judgment of the board will enable the department to efficiently perform the duties required of it by this act. All such expense shall be paid out of the general fund of the county, but may be supplemented by the extension department of the Mississippi State College and/or the United States Department of Agriculture.

It shall be the duty of the county extension department to carry on farm and home demonstration work, boys and girls club work, organized production and cooperative marketing work, and all other phases of extension work under the joint supervision and control of the board of supervisors, the extension department of the Mississippi State College, and the United States Department of Agriculture, under the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act and other related acts of congress.

The duties prescribed by this section shall be construed to include and emphasize actual work in the field as distinguished from executive or administrative tasks or office work. In order that the several county extension departments may fully comply with the requirements of this section and perform the duties required of them, the extension department of Mississippi State College may, upon the approval of the director of extension and the United States Department of Agriculture, employ and pay the salary of an assistant county agent in any county in which the director of extension shall find the services of such assistant necessary and his appointment justified.

The enumeration in the foregoing sections of duties to be performed by agents appointed under this act shall not be taken as exclusive but such agents may perform any duties to accomplish the purposes of this act which they may be directed to perform by the extension department of the Mississippi State College with the approval of the United States Department of Agriculture the expense of which is covered in whole or in part by appropriations received from the federal government or any department thereof for agricultural extension work.

That chapter 211 of the laws of 1932, chapter 263 of the laws of 1940, chapter 207 of the laws of 1942, sections 278 to 282 inclusive of the code of 1930, and all other laws or parts of laws in conflict herewith, be and the same are hereby repealed.

That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved March 24, 1944.

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