(a) Proposals for creation.--Any owner or owners of land used for agricultural production or of viable agricultural land a portion of which is used for commercial equine activity may submit a proposal to the governing body for the creation of an agricultural security area within such local government unit, provided that such owner or owners own at least 250 acres of viable agricultural land proposed to be included in the area. The proposed area may also consist of any number of noncontiguous tax parcels or accounts: Provided, That each tax parcel or account is at least ten acres or has an anticipated yearly gross income of at least $2,000 from the agricultural production of crops, livestock and livestock products on such parcel or account.

(a.1) Submitting the proposal.--Such proposal for creation of an agricultural security area shall be submitted in such manner and form as may be prescribed by the governing body of the local government unit wherein the proposed area is situated and shall include a description of the proposed area, including the boundaries thereof. Such proposal to the governing body shall be submitted by certified mail with return receipt requested. The return receipt shall serve as notice of the official receipt of the proposal by the governing body and shall verify the official submission date.

(a.3) Fees.--Except as provided in this subsection, a governing body shall not require landowners included in a proposed agricultural security area to pay any fees in connection with the application for or the review of agricultural security areas as required in this section and sections 6, 7, 8 and 9.² A governing body may by resolution impose reasonable filing fees in connection with the administration and review of an agricultural security area application that proposes to include substantially the same lands as proposed in a previously submitted application that the governing body had rejected within the last 36 months based on the recommendations of the Agricultural Security Area Advisory Committee and the planning commission.

(b) Notice.--Upon the receipt of such a proposal, the governing body shall acknowledge receipt of the proposal at the next regular or special meeting and shall thereupon provide notice of such proposal by publishing a notice in a newspaper having general circulation within the proposed agricultural security area and by posting such notice in five conspicuous places within, adjacent or near to the proposed area. If the governing body fails to provide the required notice within 15 days of receiving a proposal as provided in this subsection, a person who is adversely affected by this inaction may bring an action in mandamus to compel compliance. The notice shall contain the following information:

(c) Modification proposals.--The governing body shall receive any proposals for modifications of such proposal which may be submitted by such landowners or local government units up to seven days prior to advertisement of public hearing as provided in section 6(a).

(e) Referral to advisory committee.--The governing body shall also, upon the termination of such 15-day period, refer such proposal and proposed modifications to the Agricultural Security Area Advisory Committee. The committee shall have up to 45 days to review the proposal and proposed modifications and report to the governing body its recommendations concerning the proposal and proposed modifications. The failure of the advisory committee to submit a report within 45 days shall be deemed to constitute approval of the proposed agricultural security area by the advisory committee.