Section 2-616 - Purpose of extension councils and districts certain fees authorized; limitations(a) Each county extension council or extension district shall have for its sole purpose the giving of instruction and practical demonstrations in agriculture, marketing, home economics, 4-H club and youth work, community and resource development, and economic development initiatives to all persons in the county or extension district, as the case may be, and the imparting to such persons of information on those subjects through practical demonstrations, meetings, publications, or otherwise, in accordance with the program and service prescribed by the council or the governing body of the extension district, as the case may be. Extension councils and extension districts shall not engage in commercial or other private enterprises, legislative programs, or other activities not authorized by this act and shall not give preferred service to any individual, group or organization.(b) County extension councils and the governing bodies of extension districts may collect fees for specific services which require special equipment or personnel, such as a soil testing laboratory, seed testing service or other educational service, but such councils and governing bodies shall not collect membership dues nor shall such councils and governing bodies collect dues for or pay dues to any local, state or national organization or association. The furnishing of supplies or services deemed necessary by the director of extension and the executive board of the county extension council or the governing body of the extension district, as the case may be, to the conduct of any educational program authorized under this act shall not be considered private enterprise or commercial activity within the meaning of this act.(c) Nothing in this act or any act amendatory thereof shall prevent any county extension council, any multicounty extension governing board, or any extension district, or any extension agents employed by such council, board or district, from using or seeking opportunities to reach an audience of persons interested in extension work through the help of interested farm organizations, civic organizations or any other group. In using or seeking such opportunities the county extension council, multicounty extension governing board, or extension district, or the agents employed by such council, board or district, shall make available to all groups and organizations in the county, multicounty area or extension district, as the case may be, equal opportunity to cooperate in the educational extension program. Extension agents shall not require uniform bylaws, rules, regulations and methods of procedure in groups, clubs or organizations wishing to do extension work. This prohibition shall not prevent extension agents from suggesting bylaws, regulations and methods of procedure for such groups, clubs or organizations.L. 1951, ch. 8, § 9; L. 1972, ch. 3, § 7; L. 1987, ch. 6, § 4; L. 1991, ch. 2, § 10; July 1.