41-1505.06

41-1505.06. Powers and duties; services; quarterly report; liability; public record

A. The commission has the following powers and duties:

1. Develop comprehensive long-range strategic economic plans for this state and submit them to the director.

2. Assist the department in the coordination of the independent efforts of all state and local agencies involved in economic planning and economic development.

3. Develop and annually update a ten-year strategic economic plan for submission to the director.

4. Adopt resolutions and act on such resolutions.

5. Either directly or indirectly, provide financial assistance to businesses locating or expanding within this state. The value of the assistance provided shall not exceed fifty per cent of the estimated total increase in tax revenues accruing to this state and its political subdivisions as a direct or indirect result of the location, retention or expansion of such business as determined by the department.

6. Accept gifts, grants or loans and enter into contracts or other transactions with any federal or state agency, municipality, private organization or other source.

7. Adopt and use a seal.

8. Purchase, acquire or hold by grant, gift, devise, lease or otherwise real or personal property or interests in real or personal property.

9. Improve, employ or use any real or personal property or interests in any real or personal property purchased, acquired or held for purposes of this article.

10. Sell, convey, lease, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property or any interest in its property, wherever situated.

11. Adopt rules necessary to carry out its duties.

B. The commission shall utilize the services of employees of the department. The times and conditions of the use of such employees shall be determined by the chairman of the commission.

C. The commission may utilize the services of professionals in the field of economic development under contractual arrangements as deemed appropriate. Such contracts shall be entered into in accordance with chapter 23 of this title.

D. On or before the conclusion of each calendar quarter the commission shall report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on the activities of the commission. The report shall include a detailed accounting of any expenditures made from the funds established by sections 41-1505.09 and 41-1505.10.

E. A member or any person acting on behalf of the commission through the execution of any contracts, commitments or agreements issued pursuant to the work of the commission is not personally liable under the contracts, commitments or agreements. A member or any person acting on behalf of the commission is not personally liable for damages or injury resulting from the performance of commission duties.

F. Any contract or agreement made in violation of this section is void and does not give rise to any action against the commission.

G. Notwithstanding any other law, information regarding assistance provided by the commission shall be public record, except for trade secrets or other information exempted pursuant to section 41-1505.07, subsection J.