PRINTER'S NO.  1519

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

1243

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY VANCE, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY AND M. WHITE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), entitled "An

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act authorizing the creation of agricultural areas," further

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providing for the purchase of agricultural conservation

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easements.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 14.1(i)(1) of the act of June 30, 1981

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(P.L.128, No.43), known as the Agricultural Area Security Law,

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amended November 23, 1994 (P.L.621, No.96), is amended to read:

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Section 14.1.  Purchase of agricultural conservation easements.

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* * *

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(i)  Subdivision of land after easement purchase.--

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(1)  Each county program shall specify the conditions

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under which the subdivision of land subject to an

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agricultural conservation easement may be permitted. In no

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case, however, shall a county program permit a subdivision

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which will:

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(i)  harm the economic viability of the farmland for

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agricultural production; or

 


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(ii)  convert land which has been devoted primarily

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to agricultural use to another primary use, except that a

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county program may permit one subdivision [for the

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purpose of the construction of a principal residence for

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the landowner or an immediate family member.], provided

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that the tract of land so subdivided may not exceed two

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acres and may only be used for residential purposes or

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for agricultural or forest reserve as defined under

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section 2 of the act of December 19, 1974 (P.L.973,

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No.319), known as the "Pennsylvania Farmland and Forest

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Land Assessment Act of 1974."

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* * *

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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