IL SB3270

Eliminates fixed fund allocation percentages to specific universities and instead directs the Illinois Department of Agriculture to allocate research funds to Illinois public and non-public institutions of higher education as determined by the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research.

Requires the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research to prepare and deliver annual reports to the General Assembly, Governor, Director of Agriculture, and participating institutions summarizing supported research programs.

Changes competitive grants program administration from joint administration by four institutions to administration by the Department of Agriculture within guidelines established by the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research, with a minimum of 15% of allocated funds reserved for this program.

Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to seek additional grants and donations for research to be deposited in a Food and Agricultural Research Fund, a special state treasury fund protected from sweeps and chargebacks except as specified in the Act.

Establishes the Food and Agricultural Research Fund as a dedicated special fund in the State Finance Act with restrictions on transfers and use limited to purposes specified in the Food and Agriculture Research Act.