PRINTER'S NO. 1646
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1229
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY VOGEL, SCHWANK, BARTOLOTTA, COMITTA AND J. WARD,
MAY 29, 2024
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, MAY 29, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in crop insurance, further providing for short
title of chapter, for purpose of chapter, for definitions,
for establishment of program, for powers and duties of
department, providing for Dairy Margin Coverage Program
Financial Assistance; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 47 heading and sections 4701 and 4702 of
Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to
read:
CHAPTER 47
CROP INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT
§ 4701. Short title of chapter.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Crop
Insurance and Risk Management Act.
§ 4702. Purpose of chapter.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a program within
the department to encourage producers of agricultural
commodities to purchase Federal crop insurance and adopt risk
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management practices and to provide crop insurance financial
assistance, subject to the availability of funding, to eligible
producers for crop insurance and risk management premium costs.
Section 2. The definition of "agricultural commodity" in
section 4703 of Title 3 is amended to read:
§ 4703. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agricultural commodity." [Any of the following, transported
or intended to be transported in commerce:
(1) Agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural,
floricultural, viticultural or dairy products.
(2) Agricultural crops.
(3) Livestock and products of livestock.
(4) Poultry and products of poultry.
(5) Ranch-raised furbearing animals and the products of
ranch-raised furbearing animals.
(6) The products of bee raising.
(7) Forestry and forestry products.
(8) Any products raised or produced on farms intended
for on farm or human consumption and the processed or
manufactured products of such products intended for human
consumption.] As defined in section 2 of the act of June 10,
1982 (P.L.454, No.133), referred to as the Right-to-Farm Law.
* * *
Section 3. Sections 4704 and 4705(a) of Title 3 are amended
to read:
§ 4704. Establishment of program.
The department shall establish a program to educate producers
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on the benefits of Federal crop insurance and risk management
practices. The program shall promote the purchase of Federal
crop insurance and risk management programs and may provide
financial assistance to eligible producers to partially offset
Federal crop insurance and risk management premiums. The
provision of financial assistance shall be subject to the
availability of funding.
§ 4705. Powers and duties of department.
(a) Administration of chapter.--Subject to the conditions
contained in this chapter, the department shall administer this
chapter and shall exercise all administrative powers necessary
to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including, but not
limited to, drafting and entering into agreements necessary to
implement this chapter, establishing eligibility criteria for
crop insurance and risk management financial assistance and
developing an application and application procedure for crop
insurance financial assistance, including time frames for the
submission, review and approval of applications.
* * *
Section 4. Title 3 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 4706.1. Dairy Margin Coverage Program financial assistance.
The department may provide financial assistance to producers
who enroll in Federal dairy margin coverage programs in an
amount to be determined by the secretary in years in which funds
are appropriated or made available to the department. Funding
shall be used to assist producers with enrolling, initial
purchasing and purchasing additional levels of coverage, or to
offset the cost of participating in the program, based on
availability of funding. The department shall develop and
establish program guidelines and eligibility criteria.
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Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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