PRINTER'S NO. 774
No. 681 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY BUNT, HERSHEY, S. MILLER, DALEY, BARRAR, BASTIAN,
BOYD, BROWNE, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CRAHALLA, DALLY,
DENLINGER, EACHUS, FABRIZIO, FICHTER, FLEAGLE, FRANKEL,
FREEMAN, GILLESPIE, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI,
HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HICKERNELL, JAMES, M. KELLER, LEDERER,
LEH, MAITLAND, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSICO, McCALL, McGILL,
O'NEILL, PAYNE, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, PRESTON, READSHAW,
REICHLEY, ROBERTS, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER,
SEMMEL, SHANER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, R. STEVENSON, TANGRETTI,
E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, WALKO, WATSON, WHEATLEY, WILT, WRIGHT,
YOUNGBLOOD AND ZUG, MARCH 1, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
MARCH 1, 2005
AN ACT
1 Authorizing the incurring of indebtedness, with the approval of
2 the electors, of $150,000,000 to provide additional funding
3 for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements for
4 the preservation of agricultural land; and making a repeal.
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 Conservation Easement Purchase Bond Act.
10 Section 2. Referendum.
11 The question of incurring indebtedness of $150,000,000 to
12 provide additional funding for the purchase of agricultural
13 conservation easements for the preservation of agricultural land
14 shall be submitted to the electors at the next primary,
1 municipal or general election following the effective date of
2 this section.
3 Section 3. Certification.
4 The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall certify the question
5 to the county boards of election.
6 Section 4. Form of question.
7 The question shall be in substantially the following form:
8 Do you favor the incurring of indebtedness by the
9 Commonwealth of $150,000,000 to provide additional
10 funding for the purchase of agricultural conservation
11 easements for the preservation of agricultural land in
12 perpetuity?
13 Section 5. Conduct of referendum.
14 The election shall be conducted in accordance with the act of
15 June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania
16 Election Code, except that the time limits for advertisement of
17 notice of the election may be waived as to the question.
18 Section 6. Use of bond proceeds.
19 Proceeds of borrowing shall be used to provide additional
20 funding to purchase agricultural conservation easements to
21 promote the planned preservation of agricultural land throughout
22 this Commonwealth under the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128,
23 No.43), known as the Agricultural Area Security Law.
24 Section 7. Repeal.
25 Section 14.3(f) of the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43),
26 known as the Agricultural Area Security Law, is repealed.
27 Section 8. Effective date.
28 This act shall take effect immediately.
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