PRINTER'S NO. 2304
No. 1869 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY CALTAGIRONE, DeWEESE, CAPPABIANCA, BELARDI,
BELFANTI, BISHOP, BROWNE, M. COHEN, COY, DALEY, DeLUCA,
EVANS, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GORDNER, GRUCELA, HALUSKA,
HASAY, HORSEY, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LESCOVITZ, LUCYK,
MANDERINO, McCALL, MELIO, OLIVER, PETRARCA, PETRONE, RAMOS,
READSHAW, SANTONI, SCRIMENTI, SERAFINI, SHANER, SOLOBAY,
STABACK, STEELMAN, TANGRETTI, TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, VAN HORNE,
WALKO, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, BATTISTO AND HARHAI,
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
AN ACT
1 Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to issue grants to
2 farmers for the payment of premiums on crop loss insurance;
3 and making an appropriation.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Crop Loss
8 Insurance Grant Act.
9 Section 2. Definitions.
10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12 context clearly indicates otherwise:
13 "Agricultural crop." Any of the following agricultural
14 products grown in a field:
1 (1) Corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, hay, potatoes and
2 dry beans.
3 (2) Fruits, including apples, peaches, grapes, cherries
4 and berries.
5 (3) Vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans, cabbage,
6 carrots, beets, onions and mushrooms.
7 "Department." The Department of Agriculture of the
8 Commonwealth.
9 "Drought disaster county." A county in which the Governor
10 has proclaimed or declared a drought and water shortage
11 emergency pursuant to 35 Pa.C.S. Part V (relating to emergency
12 management services).
13 "Farmer." A person who is a resident of this Commonwealth,
14 who is engaged in the commercial production of an agricultural
15 crop and who owns and occupies the real property on which the
16 agricultural crop is produced.
17 Section 3. Grants.
18 (a) Authorization.--The department may authorize grants of
19 up to $5,000 to farmers whose agricultural crops are situate in
20 drought disaster counties for the purchase of crop loss
21 insurance.
22 (b) Application.--In order to receive a grant under this
23 act, a farmer must submit an application to the department and
24 such other documentation as may be required by the department.
25 (c) Amount of grant.--A grant under this act shall not
26 exceed the cost of crop loss insurance actually purchased.
27 Section 4. Regulation.
28 The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the
29 implementation of this act.
30 Section 5. Appropriation.
19990H1869B2304 - 2 -
1 The sum of $2,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
2 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of
3 Agriculture for the fiscal year July 1, 1999, to June 30, 2000,
4 to provide grants under this act.
5 Section 6. Effective date.
6 This act shall take effect immediately.
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