A. Out of this appropriation, funds and positions each year are designated for Agriculture and Forestry Research in the amounts that follow: at least $20,511,752 and 333.57 positions from the general fund and $6,044,253 and 96.51 positions in nongeneral funds. This appropriation includes an additional $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund for the Agricultural Research and Extension Centers.

B. Appropriations for this agency shall include operating expenses for research and investigations, and the several regional and county agricultural experiment stations under its control, in accordance with law.

C.1. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Cooperative Extension Service give highest priority to programs and services which comprised the original mission of the Extension Service, especially agricultural programs at the local level. The University shall ensure that the service utilizes information technology to the extent possible in the delivery of programs.

2. Out of this appropriation, funds and positions are designated for the Cooperative Extension Service in the amounts that follow: in the first year at least $23,168,355 and 510.15 positions from the general fund and $10,017,273 and 209.89 positions in nongeneral funds and in the second year, at least $23,168,355 and 510.15 positions from the general fund and $10,077,273 and 209.89 positions in nongeneral funds. In addition to the appropriated nongeneral funds, $5,050,000 in each year in revenues paid directly by localities are estimated to be available for operations.

3. The budget of this agency shall include and separately account for local payments. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in conjunction with Virginia State University, shall report, by fund source, actual expenditures for each program area and total actual expenditures for the agency, annually, by September 1, to the Department of Planning and Budget and the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. The report shall include all expenditures from local support funds.

D. The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service shall implement the recommendations contained in House Document 2 (1993 Session), "Increasing the Public Knowledge of the Gypsy Moth." The Director of the Cooperative Extension Service shall provide semi-annual reports to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services on progress in implementing the recommendations.

E. Of the additional positions provided for fiscal year 1999 and fiscal year 2000, at least two-thirds each year shall be assigned to service areas throughout the Commonwealth and not to central functions in Blacksburg.