Pennsylvania Act 1994-99 — DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM

Act text

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
                  Act of Nov. 23, 1994, P.L. 646, No. 99              Cl. 03
                             Session of 1994
                               No. 1994-99

     HB 1860

                                  AN ACT

     Reenacting the proceeds disposition provision of the act of June
        18, 1982 (P.L.549, No.159), entitled "An act providing for
        the administration of certain Commonwealth farmland within
        the Department of Agriculture," and providing for an
        agricultural land conservation assistance grant program.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Section 7.1 of the act of June 18, 1982 (P.L.549,
     No.159), entitled "An act providing for the administration of
     certain Commonwealth farmland within the Department of
     Agriculture," added May 13, 1988 (P.L.398, No.64), is reenacted
     and amended to read:
      Section 7.1.  Proceeds from the sale of land, equipment or
                    facilities.
        (a)  Proceeds from the sale of all land, or portions of land,
     equipment or facilities, transferred to the Department of
     Agriculture under this act and subsequently disposed of by the
     Commonwealth under Article XXIV-A of the act of April 9, 1929
     (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929,
     shall, notwithstanding section 623 of The Administrative Code of
     1929 or any other provision of the law to the contrary, be
     credited to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase
     Fund.
        (b)  Proceeds from the sale of all land, or portions of land,
     equipment or facilities at the Woodville State Farm, Collier
     Township, Allegheny County, and transferred to the Department of
     Agriculture under this act and subsequently disposed of by the
     Commonwealth under Article XXIV-A of The Administrative Code of
     1929 shall, notwithstanding any other provision of the law to
     the contrary, be credited to the Farm Products Show Fund.
        (c)  Section 623 of The Administrative Code of 1929, relating
     to disposition of Commonwealth assets, shall not apply to
     section 7.1(a) of this act insofar as it is inconsistent with
     this section.
        Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:
      Section 7.3.  Agricultural land conservation assistance grant
                    program.
        (a)  The department, in consultation with the State
     Agricultural Land Preservation Board, is hereby authorized to
     use up to $750,000 of the funds deposited into the Agricultural
     Conservation Easement Purchase Fund under section 7.1(a) to make
     grants to counties for the following purposes:
            (1)  To cover costs incurred by a county in creating a
        spatial mapping database. Such database shall contain county
        topographic data, property boundaries, soil boundaries, soil
        capability classes and soil productivity ratings.
            (2)  To cover costs incurred by a county to train staff,
        contract with consultants and pay for computer software.
            (3)  To assist counties in the development and
        implementation of agricultural zoning ordinances, including
        model ordinances for possible adoption by local government
        units.
        (b)  Grants made pursuant to subsection (a) shall not exceed
     the lesser of $10,000 or 50% of the costs incurred by the
     county.
        (c)  A county may submit an application for a grant under
     this section to the department in such form and manner and
     containing such documentation as the department, in consultation
     with the State board, shall prescribe.
        (d)  The department, in consultation with the State board,
     shall establish eligibility criteria for awarding grants for the
     purposes enumerated herein. No county shall be eligible for more
     than an accumulative total of $25,000 in grants pursuant to this
     section. A county which receives a grant pursuant to this
     section but which fails to implement an agricultural
     conservation easement purchase program shall be required to
     repay the grant to the Commonwealth. Any such repayments shall
     be credited to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase
     Fund and may be used for the purposes of this section.
        (e)  The department shall administer the provisions of this
     section and is authorized, in consultation with the State board,
     to adopt and promulgate regulations for the administration and
     enforcement of the provisions of this section.
        Section 3.  The reenactment of and the amendment to section
     7.1 shall be retroactive to August 14, 1991.
        Section 4.  This act shall take effect January 1, 1995.

     APPROVED--The 23rd day of November, A. D. 1994.

     ROBERT P. CASEY