Section 483. General functions, powers and duties

The state office of rural
  affairs  by and through the director or his duly authorized officers and
  employees, shall have the following functions, powers and duties:
    1. To serve as a clearinghouse and provide  comprehensive  information
  relating  to  rural  development  and revitalization upon request to any
  agency, individual or corporation.
    2. To advise and assist  agencies,  individuals  and  corporations  in
  answering   particular   rural  revitalization  and  development  needs;
  including cooperative efforts  among  such  agencies,  individuals,  and
  corporations  to  solve  common  problems  or  provide services in rural
  areas.
    3. To receive  notification  from  all  state  and  federal  agencies,
  individuals   or   corporations   engaged   in   rural  development  and
  revitalization  of  program  descriptions,   appropriation   data,   and
  application  procedures. The office shall maintain a listing of existing
  programs and advise local agencies, individuals or corporations of their
  existence.
    4. To assist, upon request, applicant local agencies,  individuals  or
  corporations  located  in  rural areas in obtaining timely and efficient
  responses from state and federal agencies; to assist such applicants  in
  consideration  of  alternative program grant strategies; to assist state
  and federal agencies in cooperative approaches to address the  needs  of
  such  applicants;  and  to  provide  technical assistance to agencies in
  formulating  and  implementing  rural  development  and   revitalization
  programs.
    5.  To  review application procedures formulated by state agencies and
  to recommend improvements designed to increase the cost-effectiveness of
  such procedures for rural revitalization and development efforts; and to
  enhance the probability such procedures will benefit rural areas.
    6. To encourage the assistance of the private sector  in  effectuating
  rural development and revitalization.
    7.  To  provide legal consultation concerning local government matters
  to officials of municipalities located in rural areas on a wide range of
  problems and programs, including  the  exercise  of  home  rule  powers,
  reapportionment  of  local  legislative bodies, drafting and revising of
  local  laws  including  charters,  and  drafting  and  implementing   of
  municipal  cooperation agreements. All such assistance shall be advisory
  in nature, and shall not include the  actual  drafting  of  final  legal
  documents or the provision of actual legal representation.
    8.  To  assist the governor and the legislature in the integration and
  formulation of state rural development  and  revitalization  policy  and
  long-range plans for rural areas and in answering needs related thereto.
    9.   To   facilitate   efforts  of  local  agencies,  individuals  and
  corporations  in  developing  cooperative  responses  to  rural   needs.
  Personnel of the office shall be available to participate in an advisory
  capacity  at  local  meetings exploring such cooperative agreements; and
  shall assist in the identification of  appropriate  state  agencies  and
  personnel who may be instrumental in facilitating such efforts.
    10.   To   provide   legal  advice  and  assistance  concerning  rural
  development and revitalization matters to  officials  of  the  executive
  department  and the legislature; and to analyze and make recommendations
  concerning proposed new state legislation or programs  that  may  affect
  rural areas.
    11.   To   apply  for  and  receive,  consistent  with  appropriation,
  notification, and approval requirements of the state finance law, grants
  or financial assistance from the federal government  or  other  approved
  agencies, individuals or corporations.

    12. To adopt such rules and regulations, procedures, instructions, and
  forms  as  are  required  to  carry out the functions, powers and duties
  imposed upon the office by this article.
    13. To assist the governor in coordinating the activities and services
  of those departments and agencies of the state having relationships with
  local  rural  agencies, individuals and corporations in order to provide
  more effective service to them and to simplify state procedures relating
  thereto.
    14. To keep the governor informed about  the  problems  and  needs  of
  agencies,  individuals  and  corporations  that  are involved with rural
  development and revitalization; and to assist  in  formulating  policies
  with respect thereto and utilizing the resources of the executive branch
  of the state government for the benefit of rural areas.
    15.  To  refer  local  agencies,  individuals  and corporations to the
  appropriate  departments  and  agencies  of  the   state   and   federal
  governments for advice, assistance, and available services in connection
  with particular rural development and revitalization problems or needs.
    16.  To  develop  pilot  programs  or  projects  and  make studies and
  analyses of the problems or needs of rural areas and to make the results
  thereof available for the benefit of such agencies as the  director  may
  deem appropriate.
    17.  To encourage the expansion and improvement of in-service training
  opportunities and to make information available to  officials  of  local
  agencies  in  rural areas on matters pertaining to rural development and
  revitalization.
    18.  To  consult  with  and  cooperate  with  agencies  and  officers,
  organizations, groups, and individuals representing rural areas or doing
  rural  development and revitalization in such manner as the director may
  determine will effectively carry out the functions, powers,  and  duties
  of the office.
    19.  To  do  all  things  necessary  or  convenient  to  carry out the
  functions, powers, and duties expressly set forth in this section.