(1) Sections 54-2801 to 54-2805 shall be known and may be cited as the Livestock Growth Act.

(2) The Legislature finds that livestock production has traditionally served a significant role in the economic vitality of rural areas of the state and in the state's overall economy and that the growth and vitality of the state's livestock sector are critical to the continued prosperity of the state and its citizens. The Legislature further finds that a public interest exists in assisting efforts of the livestock industry and rural communities to preserve and enhance livestock development as an essential element of economic development and that a need exists to provide aid, resources, and assistance to rural communities and counties seeking opportunities in the growth of livestock production. It is the intent of the Legislature to seek reasonable means to nurture and support the livestock sector of this state.

(1) The Director of Agriculture shall establish a process, including criteria and standards, to recognize and assist efforts of counties to maintain or expand their livestock sector. A county that meets the criteria may apply to the director to be designated a livestock friendly county. A county may remove itself from the process at any time. Such criteria and standards may include, but are not limited to, the following factors: Consideration of the diversity of activities currently underway or being initiated by counties; a formal expression of interest by a county board, by a duly enacted resolution following a public hearing, in developing the livestock production and processing sectors of such county's economy; an assurance that such county intends to work with all other governmental jurisdictions within its boundaries in implementing livestock development within the county; flexible and individual treatment allowing each county to design its own development program according to its own timetable; and a commitment to compliance with the Livestock Waste Management Act.

(2) The designation of any county or counties as a livestock friendly county shall not be an indication nor shall it suggest that any county that does not seek or obtain such a designation is not friendly to livestock production.

(3) In order to assist any county with information and technology, the Department of Agriculture shall establish a resource database to provide, upon written request of the county zoning authority or county board, information sources that may be useful to the county in evaluating and crafting livestock facility conditional use permits that meet the objectives of the county and the livestock producer applicant.

(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit or prevent any county board from adopting a resolution that designates the county a livestock friendly county.

(1) From funds available in the Livestock Growth Act Cash Fund, the Director of Agriculture may administer a grant program to assist counties designated by the director as livestock friendly counties pursuant to section 54-2802 in livestock development planning and associated public infrastructure improvements. The director shall receive applications submitted by county boards or county planning authorities for assistance under this section and award grants for any of the following eligible purposes:

(a) Strategic planning to accommodate and encourage investment in livestock production, including one or more of the following activities:

(i) Reviewing zoning and land-use regulations;

(ii) Evaluating workforce availability, educational, institutional, public infrastructure, marketing, transportation, commercial service, natural resource, and agricultural assets, and needs of the county and surrounding areas to support livestock development;

(iii) Identifying livestock development goals and opportunities for the county;

(iv) Identifying and evaluating a location or locations suitable for placement of livestock production facilities; and

(v) Developing a marketing strategy to promote and attract investment in new or expanded livestock production and related livestock service and marketing businesses within the county; and

(b) Improvements to public infrastructure to accommodate one or more livestock development projects, including modifications to roads and bridges, drainage, and sewer and water systems. An application for a grant under this subdivision shall identify specific infrastructure improvements relating to a project for the establishment, expansion, or relocation of livestock production to which the grant funds would be applied and shall include a copy of the county conditional use permit issued for the livestock operation if required by county zoning regulations.

(2) A grant award under subdivision (1)(a) of this section shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars. A grant award under subdivision (1)(b) of this section shall not exceed one-half of the unobligated balance of the Livestock Growth Act Cash Fund or two hundred thousand dollars, whichever is less.

The Livestock Growth Act Cash Fund is created. The fund may be used to carry out the Livestock Growth Act. The State Treasurer shall credit to the fund any funds transferred or appropriated to the fund by the Legislature and funds received as gifts or grants or other private or public funds obtained for the purposes of the act. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

The Department of Agriculture may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Livestock Growth Act.