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§ 914.5. Supplemental Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 3 P.S. AgricultureEffective: June 29, 2001

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 3 P.S. Agriculture (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 14A. Agricultural Area Security (Refs & Annos)
Effective: June 29, 2001
3 P.S. § 914.5
§ 914.5. Supplemental Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program
Currentness
(a) Establishment.--There is established the Supplemental Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program. Funds appropriated for the program shall be allocated by the State board in accordance with the following:
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), funds may be allocated to eligible counties in accordance with section 14.1(h)(8.1) and (8.2)1 for any purpose authorized under this act.
(2) Up to $500,000 may be allocated to provide technical assistance to eligible counties or groups of eligible counties regarding long-term installment purchases of agricultural conservation easements in this Commonwealth. An eligible county must file an application with the State board to receive reimbursement or payment under this paragraph. Technical assistance may include department contracts with individuals with legal or financial expertise to assist eligible counties. Funds may be used for administrative expenses of the department incurred under this paragraph.
(3) Up to $500,000 may be allocated to reimburse land trusts for expenses incurred to acquire agricultural conservation easements in this Commonwealth. Eligible expenses include the cost of appraisals, legal services, title searches, document preparation, title insurance, closing fees and survey costs. Reimbursement shall be limited to $5,000 per easement. Funds may be used for administrative expenses of the department incurred under this paragraph. In order to be eligible under this paragraph, a land trust must:
(i) be a tax-exempt institution under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)) and include the acquisition of agricultural or other conservation easements in its stated purpose;
(ii) register with the State board;
(iii) coordinate with the farmland preservation activities of the county if the farmland preservation activity occurs in an eligible county or coordinate with the activities of the State board if the activity does not occur in an eligible county; and
(iv) submit an application to the State board, with a statement of costs incidental to the acquisition, the deed of easement and any other documentation required by the State board, within 60 days of closing on the easement.
(b) Account.--
(1) An account is established in the fund, to be known as the Supplemental Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Account. All funds appropriated to the Supplemental Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program shall be deposited in the account for allocation under this section.
(2) Funds allocated under subsection (a)(1) which are unexpended or unencumbered on June 30, 2001, shall be restored to the account. If no funds are appropriated to the program by June 30, 2001, the restored funds shall be transferred to the fund.
(c) Local appropriation.--Within 60 days of the effective date of any additional appropriations to the program, eligible counties shall be authorized to appropriate additional local money for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements for the current county fiscal year. This additional local money shall be included when determining each eligible county's share of money allocated under this section for supplemental agricultural easement purchase programs under methodologies in section 14.1(h)(8.1) and (8.2).

Credits

1981, June 30, P.L. 128, No. 43, § 14.5, added 2001, May 30, P.L. 103, No. 14, § 4, effective in 30 days.

Footnotes

1
3 P.S. § 914.1.
3 P.S. § 914.5, PA ST 3 P.S. § 914.5
Current through Act 13 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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