PRINTER'S NO. 798
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
660
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY J. WARD, VOGEL, STEFANO, AUMENT, K. WARD, BAKER
AND BROWNE, MAY 17, 2019
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, MAY 17, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, providing for agriculture and rural youth
development; establishing the State Agriculture and Rural
Youth Development Board; and providing for the Agriculture
and Rural Youth Organization Grant Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
is amended by adding a part to read:
PART IX
GRANT PROGRAMS
Chapter
101. (Reserved)
103. Agriculture and Rural Youth Development
CHAPTER 101
(Reserved)
CHAPTER 103
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
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10301. Definitions.
10302. Board membership.
10303. Authorization and purpose.
10304. Applications.
10305. Grants.
10306. Regulations.
10307. Funding.
§ 10301. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agriculture and rural youth organization." An organization
composed mainly of youth and organized to promote development in
the areas of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational
training and peer fellowship. The term includes, but is not
limited to, Pennsylvania FFA, 4-H, Ag in the Classroom, the
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and vocational
education programs.
"Board." The State Agriculture and Rural Youth Development
Board.
"Program." The Agriculture and Rural Youth Organization
Grant Program.
§ 10302. Board membership.
The board shall consist of the following members, with a
majority of members constituting a quorum:
(1) The secretary or a designee, who shall serve as
chairperson.
(2) The Secretary of Education or a designee.
(3) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the Senate or a
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designee and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the House of
Representatives or a designee.
(4) One representative from the Pennsylvania Association
of Agriculture Educators and one from the Penn State
Cooperative Extension, both of whom shall be appointed by the
Governor.
(5) The Statewide president of the Pennsylvania FFA.
(6) The 4-H Statewide Council President.
(7) Up to three representatives, each from a different
Pennsylvania farm or rural organization having a youth
program, whom shall be appointed by the secretary.
(8) A representative of an urban agriculture community
program.
(9) A youth representative of an urban garden operation
or another urban agriculture operation.
§ 10303. Authorization and purpose.
(a) Grant program.--The department, in consultation with the
board, shall establish a program of grants for agriculture and
rural youth organizations qualifying to receive grants under
this chapter.
(b) Purpose.--Grants awarded under this chapter may be used
for any of the following purposes:
(1) To cover the costs of special projects conducted by
the organization and approved by the board.
(2) For educational programs conducted by the
organization and approved by the board.
(3) For educational seminars and field trips conducted
by the organization and approved by the board.
(4) For agricultural safety training programs conducted
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by the organization and approved by the board.
(5) For certain capital projects and equipment purchases
approved by the board.
§ 10304. Applications.
(a) Application procedure.--An agriculture and rural youth
organization may make application at the time, in the manner and
containing information as the department may require. The
department shall determine, from the information provided,
whether the application is eligible for consideration by the
board.
(b) Annual meeting.--The board shall meet annually to
recommend to the department the awarding of grants to qualifying
organizations.
(c) Other meetings.--The board shall meet at the call of the
chairperson to conduct business related to the award of grants.
§ 10305. Grants.
(a) General rule.-- The department shall make grants in an
amount not to exceed $2,500 to qualifying agriculture and rural
youth organizations upon the recommendation of the board.
(b) Matching funds.--Grants in an amount not to exceed
$25,000 shall be awarded to qualifying agriculture and rural
youth organizations selected to receive the awards for the
purposes of capital projects. Grants for capital projects must
be matched by private funds in an amount equal to the State
grant.
(c) Annual allocation.--The board shall establish annual
allocation limits for each fiscal year.
§ 10306. Regulations.
The department shall administer the provisions of this
chapter and, with the approval of the board, shall prescribe and
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adopt program policy guidelines or regulations to administer and
enforce this chapter. Until or unless supplanted by program
policy guidelines or regulations adopted under this section, the
program guidelines promulgated under the act of August 6, 1991
(P.L.326, No.33), known as the Agriculture and Rural Youth
Development Act, shall be the policy guidelines for the program.
§ 10307. Funding.
(a) Funds available basis.--The Agriculture and Rural Youth
Organization Grant Program shall only be administered in years
in which funds are specifically allocated or received and made
available to the department under this chapter for that purpose.
(b) General.--For purposes of implementing the provisions of
this chapter, the department may use:
(1) Any funding appropriated by the General Assembly to
the department to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Any other money, contributions or payments which may
be made available to the department by the Federal Government
or by any public or private source.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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