SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1562, 1628 PRINTER'S NO. 2096
No. 1344 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY COLE, HAYES, RUDY, STAIRS, HERSHEY, ARNOLD,
STEELMAN, BISHOP, FREEMAN, BILLOW, PESCI, SURRA, BELFANTI,
PETRARCA, COY, STUBAN, HANNA, CARONE, KREBS, FLEAGLE,
SCHEETZ, ARMSTRONG, LUCYK, COLAIZZO, CHADWICK, JOHNSON,
SEMMEL, TRICH, BOWLEY AND BROUJOS, MAY 8, 1991
SENATOR HELFRICK, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, IN SENATE, AS
AMENDED, JUNE 25, 1991
AN ACT
1 Relating to agriculture and rural youth; creating an Agriculture
2 and Rural Youth Organization Grant Program; imposing duties
3 on the Department of Agriculture; and making an
4 appropriation.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Agricultural
9 and Rural Youth Development Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Agriculture and rural youth organization." Any organization
15 composed mainly of youth and organized to promote development in
16 the areas of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational
1 training and peer fellowship. The term includes, but is not
2 limited to, Future Farmers of America PENNSYLVANIA FFA, 4-H, Ag <--
3 in the classroom, Future Homemakers of America and vocational
4 education programs.
5 "Board." The State Agriculture and Rural Youth Development
6 Board.
7 "Department." The Department of Agriculture of the
8 Commonwealth.
9 "Program." The Agricultural and Rural Youth Organization
10 Grant Program.
11 Section 3. Board membership.
12 The board shall consist of the following members:
13 (1) The Secretary of Agriculture OR HIS DESIGNEE, who <--
14 shall serve as chairperson.
15 (2) The Secretary of Education OR HIS DESIGNEE. <--
16 (3) One representative from the Pennsylvania Agriculture
17 Teachers Association and one from the Penn State Cooperative
18 Extension, both of whom shall be appointed by the Governor.
19 (4) The Statewide president of the Future Farmers of <--
20 America PENNSYLVANIA FFA. <--
21 (5) The Statewide president of the 4-H A YOUTH <--
22 REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA 4-H.
23 (6) One representative of the Pennsylvania Rural <--
24 Coalition.
25 (6) UP TO THREE REPRESENTATIVES, EACH FROM A DIFFERENT <--
26 PENNSYLVANIA FARM OR RURAL ORGANIZATION HAVING A YOUTH
27 PROGRAM, SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
28 (7) The majority chairman and the minority chairman of
29 the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the Senate OR <--
30 THEIR DESIGNEE and the majority chairman and the minority
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1 chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of
2 the House of Representatives OR THEIR DESIGNEE. <--
3 Section 4. Authorization and purpose.
4 (a) Grant program.--The department, in consultation with the
5 board, shall establish a program of grants to agriculture and
6 rural youth organizations qualifying to receive grants under
7 this act.
8 (b) Purpose.--Grants awarded under the provisions of this
9 act may be used for any of the following purposes:
10 (1) To cover the costs of special projects conducted by
11 the organization and approved by the board.
12 (2) For educational programs conducted by the
13 organization and approved by the board.
14 (3) For educational seminars and field trips conducted
15 by the organization and approved by the board.
16 (4) For agricultural safety training programs conducted
17 by the organization and approved by the board.
18 (5) For certain capital projects and equipment purchases
19 approved by the board.
20 (c) Guidelines.--The department, with approval of IN <--
21 CONSULTATION WITH the board, shall establish guidelines to award
22 grants for the purposes set forth in subsection (b) and other
23 purposes approved by DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE DEPARTMENT IN <--
24 CONSULTATION WITH the board.
25 Section 5. Applications.
26 (a) Application procedure.--An agriculture and rural youth
27 organization may make application at the time, in the manner and
28 containing any information as the department may require. The
29 department shall determine from the information provided whether
30 the application is eligible for consideration by the board.
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1 (b) Annual meeting.--The board shall meet annually to award <--
2 RECOMMEND TO THE DEPARTMENT THE AWARDING OF grants to qualifying <--
3 organizations.
4 (c) Other meetings.--The board shall meet at the call of the
5 chairperson to conduct business related to the award of grants.
6 Section 6. Grants.
7 (a) General rule.--Grants THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE GRANTS <--
8 in an amount not to exceed $2,500 shall be awarded to qualifying <--
9 agriculture and rural youth organizations selected by the board <--
10 to receive the awards UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD. <--
11 (b) Matching funds.--Grants in an amount not to exceed
12 $15,000 shall be awarded to qualifying agriculture and rural
13 youth organizations selected by the board to receive these <--
14 awards for the purposes of capital projects. Grants for capital
15 projects must be matched by private funds in an amount equal to
16 the State grant.
17 (c) Annual allocation.--The first annual allocation of
18 grants to qualifying organizations shall not exceed $150,000.
19 The board shall establish annual allocation thresholds for each
20 subsequent year.
21 Section 7. Regulations.
22 The department is charged with administering the provisions
23 of this act and is authorized to prescribe, adopt and enforce
24 program policy guidelines or regulations relating to the
25 administration and enforcement of this act.
26 Section 8. Funding.
27 The department shall use as much moneys as are necessary and
28 available from the Rural Rehabilitation Corporation assets for
29 the implementation of the provisions of this act.
30 SECTION 9. EXPIRATION. <--
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1 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL TERMINATE WHEN THE RURAL
2 REHABILITATION CORPORATION ASSETS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED.
3 Section 9 10. Effective date. <--
4 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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