CORRECTIVE REPRINT HOUSE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1412, 1678, 1736 PRINTER'S NO. 1747
No. 1193 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY STAPLETON, JUNE 3, 1993
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NOVEMBER 23, 1993
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), entitled "An 2 act authorizing the creation of agricultural areas," defining <-- 3 "eligible counties"; further providing for allocation of 4 State moneys, for average realty transfer tax revenues and 5 for weighted transfer tax revenues. PROHIBITING REALLOCATION <-- 6 OF STATE MONEYS. 7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 8 hereby enacts as follows: 9 Section 1. Section 3 of the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, <-- 10 No.43), known as the Agricultural Area Security Law, is amended 11 by adding a definition to read: 12 Section 3. Definitions. 13 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 14 have the meanings given to them in this section, unless the 15 context clearly indicates otherwise: 16 * * * 17 "Eligible counties." Counties whose easement purchase 18 programs have been approved by the State Agricultural Land
1 Preservation Board. For the purpose of annual allocations, an 2 eligible county must have its easement purchase program approved 3 by the State board by January 1 of the year in which the annual 4 allocation is made. Counties of the first class are not eligible 5 under any circumstances. 6 * * * 7 Section 2. Section 14.1(c)(6)(iv) and (h) of the act, 8 amended June 22, 1990 (P.L.242, No.57) and April 13, 1992 9 (P.L.100, No.23), are amended to read: 10 Section 14.1. Purchase of agricultural conservation easements. 11 * * * 12 (c) Restrictions and limitations.--An agricultural 13 conservation easement shall be subject to the following terms, 14 conditions, restrictions and limitations: 15 * * * 16 (6) An agricultural conservation easement shall not 17 prevent: 18 * * * 19 (iv) Construction and use of structures on the 20 subject land for the purpose of providing the landowner's 21 principal residence or for providing necessary housing 22 for seasonal or full-time employees: Provided, That only 23 one such structure may be constructed on no more than two 24 acres of the subject land during the term of the 25 agricultural conservation easement. 26 * * * 27 (h) Allocation of State moneys.--The State board shall make 28 an annual allocation among counties, except counties of the 29 first class, for the purchase of agricultural conservation 30 easements, except for counties that do not have an easement 19930S1193B1747 - 2 -
1 purchase program approved by the State board by January 1 of the 2 year in which the annual allocation is made. 3 (1) As used in this subsection, the following words and 4 phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this 5 paragraph unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: 6 (i) "Adjusted weighted transfer tax revenues." An 7 amount equal to the weighted transfer tax revenues of a 8 county divided by the sum of the weighted transfer tax 9 revenues of all counties except counties of the first 10 class. 11 (ii) "Annual agricultural production." The total 12 dollar volume of sales of livestock, crops and 13 agricultural products according to the most recent Annual 14 Crop and Livestock Summary published by the Pennsylvania 15 Agricultural Statistics Service. 16 (iii) "Annual easement purchase threshold." An 17 amount annually determined by the State board which 18 equals at least $10,000,000. 19 (iv) "Average realty transfer tax revenues." The 20 total annual realty transfer tax revenues collected in 21 [all counties, except counties of the first class, 22 divided by 66] those counties with an easement purchase 23 program approved by the State board by January 1 of the 24 year in which the annual allocation is made, divided by 25 the number of counties with approved easement programs by 26 January 1. 27 (v) "Realty transfer tax revenues." The tax imposed 28 and collected under section 1102-C of the act of March 4, 29 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the "Tax Reform Code of 30 1971." 19930S1193B1747 - 3 -
1 (vi) "Weighted transfer tax revenues." An amount 2 equal to the total annual realty transfer tax revenues 3 collected in [a] an eligible county divided by the sum of 4 the total annual realty transfer tax revenues collected 5 in all eligible counties [except counties of the first 6 class] which does not exceed three times the average 7 realty transfer tax revenues. 8 (2) An annual allocation shall be made to each eligible 9 county[, except counties of the first class,] for the 10 purchase of agricultural conservation easements by the 11 Commonwealth at the beginning of the county fiscal year which 12 equals 50% of the annual easement purchase threshold 13 multiplied by the adjusted weighted transfer tax revenues of 14 the county for the preceding calendar year. 15 (3) If the aggregate annual allocation under this 16 paragraph to all eligible counties does not exceed 50% of the 17 annual easement purchase threshold, an additional annual 18 allocation from 50% of the annual easement purchase threshold 19 shall be made to [a] an eligible county[, except a county of 20 the first class,] at the beginning of the county fiscal year 21 for the joint purchase of agricultural conservation easements 22 by the Commonwealth and a county. The additional annual 23 allocation under this paragraph shall equal the sum of: 24 (i) The annual appropriation of local moneys by [a] 25 an eligible county for the purchase of agricultural 26 conservation easements which does not exceed the average 27 annual allocation under paragraph (2) multiplied by four. 28 (ii) The annual appropriation of local moneys by [a] 29 an eligible county for the purchase of agricultural 30 conservation easements which does not exceed the average 19930S1193B1747 - 4 -
1 annual allocation under paragraph (2) multiplied by four, 2 if the county has an annual agricultural production which 3 equals at least 2% of the total annual agricultural 4 production of the Commonwealth for the same year. 5 (4) If the aggregate annual allocation under paragraph 6 (3) to all eligible counties would exceed 50% of the annual 7 easement purchase threshold, paragraph (3) shall not apply, 8 and an additional annual allocation shall be made under this 9 paragraph at the beginning of the county fiscal year for the 10 joint purchase of agricultural conservation easements by the 11 Commonwealth and [a county, except a county of the first 12 class] an eligible county. The additional annual allocation 13 to [a] an eligible county under this paragraph shall equal 14 50% of the annual easement purchase threshold multiplied by a 15 percentage equal to the annual appropriation of local moneys 16 appropriated by the county for the purchase of agricultural 17 conservation easements divided by the aggregate of local 18 moneys appropriated by all eligible counties for the purchase 19 of agricultural conservation easements and in all cases shall 20 not exceed the average annual allocation under paragraph (2) 21 multiplied by four. 22 (5) An additional annual allocation shall be made to [a] 23 an eligible county, except a county of the first class, from 24 the amount by which 50% of the annual easement purchase 25 threshold exceeds the total allocations made under paragraph 26 (3) or (4), as the case may be, as follows: 27 (i) An additional annual allocation shall be made 28 for the joint purchase of agricultural conservation 29 easements by the Commonwealth and a county which equals 30 six-tenths of the amount by which 50% of the annual 19930S1193B1747 - 5 -
1 easement purchase threshold exceeds the total allocations 2 made under paragraph (3) or (4), as the case may be, 3 multiplied by a percentage equal to the annual 4 appropriation of local moneys appropriated by the county 5 for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements 6 divided by the aggregate of local moneys appropriated by 7 all eligible counties for the purchase of agricultural 8 conservation easements. 9 (ii) An additional annual allocation shall be made 10 for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements 11 by the Commonwealth which equals four-tenths of the 12 amount by which 50% of the annual easement purchase 13 threshold exceeds the total allocations made under 14 paragraph (3) or (4), as the case may be, multiplied by 15 the adjusted weighted transfer tax revenues of the county 16 for the preceding calendar year. 17 (6) The allocation of a county shall be adjusted for 18 purchases of agricultural conservation easements made with 19 moneys from the county's allocation, for all costs, except 20 administrative costs, incurred by the Commonwealth or a 21 county incident to the purchase of agricultural conservation 22 easements and for the costs of reimbursing nonprofit land 23 conservation organizations for expenses incurred in acquiring 24 and transferring agricultural conservation easements to the 25 Commonwealth or county. No purchase of an agricultural 26 conservation easement shall be made with State moneys 27 allocated to a county unless the amount of the purchase price 28 is equal to or less than the adjusted allocation or the 29 county pays the portion of the purchase price which 30 represents the difference between the purchase price and the 19930S1193B1747 - 6 -
1 adjusted allocation. 2 (7) The first annual allocation to a county under 3 paragraphs (3), (4) and (5)(i) shall continue for three 4 county fiscal years occurring after the effective date of 5 this act, and the second and third such annual allocations 6 shall each continue for two county fiscal years occurring 7 after the effective date of this act. Thereafter each such 8 annual allocation shall be for one county fiscal year. Such 9 annual allocations which have not been expended or encumbered 10 at the end of the period for which they were allocated shall 11 be reallocated in the subsequent county fiscal year to a 12 county which used at least 90% of the allocation made to the 13 county at the start of the period. The reallocation to a 14 county under this paragraph shall be the total amount of the 15 annual allocation available for reallocation under this 16 paragraph multiplied by a percentage equal to the annual 17 appropriation of local moneys appropriated by the county for 18 the purchase of agricultural conservation easements at the 19 start of the county fiscal year in which the annual 20 allocation was made divided by the aggregate of local moneys 21 appropriated by all eligible counties for the purchase of 22 agricultural conservation easements at the start of the 23 county fiscal year in which the annual allocation was made. 24 Money reallocated to a county under this paragraph shall be 25 available for one county fiscal year. Money reallocated to a 26 county under this paragraph that has not been spent or 27 encumbered at the conclusion of one county fiscal year shall 28 be restored to the fund. 29 (8) Initial allocations to counties under paragraphs (2) 30 and (5)(ii) shall continue until the end of the fourth county 19930S1193B1747 - 7 -
1 fiscal year occurring after the effective date of this act. 2 The sum of the total annual allocations of all counties under 3 paragraphs (2) and (5)(ii) which have not been expended or 4 encumbered by the end of the fourth county fiscal year, and 5 every county fiscal year thereafter, occurring after the 6 effective date of this act shall be reallocated in the 7 subsequent county fiscal year to a county which used at least 8 90% of the allocation made to the county at the start of the 9 period. For purposes of determining eligibility for 10 reallocation of funds and the amounts of reallocation, funds 11 allocated to counties will be segregated and accounted for on 12 a county fiscal year basis. Fifty percent of the amount 13 available for allocation under this paragraph shall be 14 reallocated in the manner set forth in paragraph (2), and 50% 15 of the amount available for allocation under this paragraph 16 shall be reallocated in the manner set forth in paragraphs 17 (3), (4) and (5). For purposes of reallocating funds in the 18 manner set forth in paragraph (2), realty transfer tax 19 revenues used to calculate weighted transfer tax revenues 20 shall correspond to the year for which funds are being 21 reallocated and weighted transfer tax revenues shall be 22 calculated only for counties eligible under this paragraph. 23 Money reallocated to a county under this paragraph shall be 24 available for one county fiscal year. Money reallocated to a 25 county under this paragraph that has not been spent or 26 encumbered at the conclusion of one county fiscal year shall 27 be restored to the fund. 28 (9) The allocation made to a county under this 29 subsection shall be used for the purchase of agricultural 30 conservation easements in perpetuity: Provided, That no more 19930S1193B1747 - 8 -
1 than 30% of such allocation may be used at the option of a 2 county for the purchase of agricultural conservation 3 easements for a term of 25 years in the manner provided for 4 in this act. 5 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. 6 SECTION 1. SECTION 14.1(H) 14.1(H)(7) AND (8) OF THE ACT OF <-- 7 JUNE 30, 1981 (P.L.128, NO.43), KNOWN AS THE AGRICULTURAL AREA 8 SECURITY LAW, IS AMENDED ARE AMENDED AND THE SUBSECTION IS <-- 9 AMENDED BY ADDING A PARAGRAPH TO READ: 10 SECTION 14.1. PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. 11 * * * 12 (H) ALLOCATION OF STATE MONEYS.--THE STATE BOARD SHALL MAKE 13 AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION AMONG COUNTIES, EXCEPT COUNTIES OF THE 14 FIRST CLASS, FOR THE PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION 15 EASEMENTS. 16 * * * <-- 17 (7) THE FIRST ANNUAL ALLOCATION TO A COUNTY UNDER 18 PARAGRAPHS (3), (4) AND (5)(I) SHALL CONTINUE FOR THREE 19 COUNTY FISCAL YEARS OCCURRING AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF 20 THIS ACT, AND THE SECOND AND THIRD SUCH ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS 21 SHALL EACH CONTINUE FOR TWO COUNTY FISCAL YEARS OCCURRING 22 AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT. THEREAFTER EACH SUCH 23 ANNUAL ALLOCATION SHALL BE FOR ONE COUNTY FISCAL YEAR. SUCH 24 ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN EXPENDED OR ENCUMBERED 25 AT THE END OF THE PERIOD FOR WHICH THEY WERE ALLOCATED SHALL 26 BE REALLOCATED IN THE SUBSEQUENT COUNTY FISCAL YEAR TO A 27 COUNTY WHICH USED AT LEAST 90% OF THE ALLOCATION MADE TO THE 28 COUNTY AT THE START OF THE PERIOD. AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION SHALL 29 BE CONSIDERED TO BE ENCUMBERED AND SHALL NOT BE REALLOCATED 30 IF, BY DECEMBER 31 OF THE YEAR IN WHICH THAT ANNUAL 19930S1193B1747 - 9 -
1 ALLOCATION WAS MADE TO THE COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT HAS 2 RECEIVED AN AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE LANDOWNER AND THE 3 COUNTY TO PURCHASE A SPECIFIC AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION 4 EASEMENT AS PART OF THE COUNTY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR 5 PURCHASE. THE REALLOCATION TO A COUNTY UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH 6 SHALL BE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE ANNUAL ALLOCATION AVAILABLE 7 FOR REALLOCATION UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MULTIPLIED BY A 8 PERCENTAGE EQUAL TO THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF LOCAL MONEYS 9 APPROPRIATED BY THE COUNTY FOR THE PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL 10 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AT THE START OF THE COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 11 IN WHICH THE ANNUAL ALLOCATION WAS MADE DIVIDED BY THE 12 AGGREGATE OF LOCAL MONEYS APPROPRIATED BY ALL ELIGIBLE 13 COUNTIES FOR THE PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION 14 EASEMENTS AT THE START OF THE COUNTY FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH THE 15 ANNUAL ALLOCATION WAS MADE. MONEY REALLOCATED TO A COUNTY 16 UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR ONE COUNTY FISCAL 17 YEAR. MONEY REALLOCATED TO A COUNTY UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH THAT 18 HAS NOT BEEN SPENT OR ENCUMBERED AT THE CONCLUSION OF ONE 19 COUNTY FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE RESTORED TO THE FUND. SUCH MONEY 20 SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE ENCUMBERED AND SHALL NOT BE 21 RESTORED TO THE FUND IF, BY DECEMBER 31 OF THE YEAR IN WHICH 22 A REALLOCATION WAS MADE TO THE COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT HAS 23 RECEIVED AN AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE LANDOWNER AND THE 24 COUNTY TO PURCHASE A SPECIFIC AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION 25 EASEMENT AS PART OF THE COUNTY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR 26 PURCHASE. 27 (8) INITIAL ALLOCATIONS TO COUNTIES UNDER PARAGRAPHS (2) 28 AND (5)(II) SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF THE FOURTH COUNTY 29 FISCAL YEAR OCCURRING AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT. 30 THE SUM OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS OF ALL COUNTIES UNDER 19930S1193B1747 - 10 -
1 PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (5)(II) WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN EXPENDED OR 2 ENCUMBERED BY THE END OF THE FOURTH COUNTY FISCAL YEAR, AND 3 EVERY COUNTY FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, OCCURRING AFTER THE 4 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT SHALL BE REALLOCATED IN THE 5 SUBSEQUENT COUNTY FISCAL YEAR TO A COUNTY WHICH USED AT LEAST 6 90% OF THE ALLOCATION MADE TO THE COUNTY AT THE START OF THE 7 PERIOD. AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE 8 ENCUMBERED AND SHALL NOT BE REALLOCATED IF, BY DECEMBER 31 OF 9 THE YEAR IN WHICH THAT ANNUAL ALLOCATION WAS MADE TO THE 10 COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AN AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY 11 THE LANDOWNER AND THE COUNTY TO PURCHASE A SPECIFIC 12 AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT AS PART OF THE COUNTY 13 BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR PURCHASE. FOR PURPOSES OF 14 DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR REALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND THE 15 AMOUNTS OF REALLOCATION, FUNDS ALLOCATED TO COUNTIES WILL BE 16 SEGREGATED AND ACCOUNTED FOR ON A COUNTY FISCAL YEAR BASIS. 17 FIFTY PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION UNDER 18 THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE REALLOCATED IN THE MANNER SET FORTH 19 IN PARAGRAPH (2), AND 50% OF THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR 20 ALLOCATION UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE REALLOCATED IN THE 21 MANNER SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPHS (3), (4) AND (5). FOR PURPOSES 22 OF REALLOCATING FUNDS IN THE MANNER SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 23 (2), REALTY TRANSFER TAX REVENUES USED TO CALCULATE WEIGHTED 24 TRANSFER TAX REVENUES SHALL CORRESPOND TO THE YEAR FOR WHICH 25 FUNDS ARE BEING REALLOCATED AND WEIGHTED TRANSFER TAX 26 REVENUES SHALL BE CALCULATED ONLY FOR COUNTIES ELIGIBLE UNDER 27 THIS PARAGRAPH. MONEY REALLOCATED TO A COUNTY UNDER THIS 28 PARAGRAPH SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR ONE COUNTY FISCAL YEAR. 29 MONEY REALLOCATED TO A COUNTY UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH THAT HAS 30 NOT BEEN SPENT OR ENCUMBERED AT THE CONCLUSION OF ONE COUNTY 19930S1193B1747 - 11 -
1 FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE RESTORED TO THE FUND. SUCH MONEY SHALL 2 BE CONSIDERED TO BE ENCUMBERED AND SHALL NOT BE RESTORED TO 3 THE FUND IF, BY DECEMBER 31 OF THE YEAR IN WHICH A 4 REALLOCATION WAS MADE TO THE COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT HAS 5 RECEIVED AN AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE LANDOWNER AND THE 6 COUNTY TO PURCHASE A SPECIFIC AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION 7 EASEMENT AS PART OF THE COUNTY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR 8 PURCHASE. 9 * * * 10 (10) (I) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS 11 SUBSECTION OR ANY PROVISION OF REGULATIONS PROMULGATED 12 PURSUANT TO THIS ACT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT REALLOCATE 13 FUNDS WHICH WERE ALLOCATED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1994, IF, 14 BY DECEMBER 31, 1993, THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AN 15 AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE LANDOWNER AND THE COUNTY BOARD TO 16 PURCHASE A SPECIFIC AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT AS 17 PART OF THE COUNTY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR PURCHASE. 18 (II) NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL AFFECT ANY 19 REALLOCATION MADE PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS 20 PARAGRAPH. 21 SECTION 2. THE PROVISIONS OF 7 PA. CODE CH. 138E (RELATING <-- 22 TO AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PURCHASE PROGRAM), ARE 23 ABROGATED INSOFAR AS THEY ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT. 24 SECTION 2 3. THIS ACT SHALL BE RETROACTIVE TO DECEMBER 31, <-- 25 1993, IF ENACTED AFTER THAT DATE. 26 SECTION 3 4. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. <-- E28L03JLW/19930S1193B1747 - 12 -