PRINTER'S NO. 2181
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1777
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BRENNAN, GREINER, KHAN, MADDEN, BOROWSKI, HILL-
EVANS, SAPPEY, PASHINSKI, GUENST, SANCHEZ, HADDOCK, MERCURI,
HANBIDGE AND MENTZER, OCTOBER 19, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
OCTOBER 19, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), entitled "An
act authorizing the creation of agricultural areas," further
providing for purchase of agricultural conservation
easements, for Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase
Fund and for Land Trust Reimbursement Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 14.1(b.2)(1) and 14.2(a)(2) and (3) of
the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), known as the
Agricultural Area Security Law, are amended to read:
Section 14.1. Purchase of agricultural conservation easements.
* * *
(b.2) Eligible nonprofit entity participation.--An eligible
nonprofit entity may participate, along with an eligible county,
the Commonwealth and a local government unit eligible to
participate under subsection (b.1), in the preservation of
farmland through the purchase of agricultural conservation
easements.
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(1) The eligible nonprofit entity may purchase an
agricultural conservation easement if all of the following
apply:
(i) The agricultural conservation easement is a
joint purchase with the county and may include the
Commonwealth or a local government unit, or both.
(ii) The deed of agricultural conservation easement
is as prescribed by the State board for agricultural
conservation easements purchased by the Commonwealth.
(iii) The eligible nonprofit entity does not seek
reimbursement for the purchase of the agricultural
conservation easement under section 14.6(b).
* * *
Section 14.2. Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund.
(a) Purpose of fund.--
* * *
(2) Except as set forth in paragraph 3, the moneys
appropriated to the fund shall be utilized in accordance with
the expenditures and distribution authorized, required or
otherwise provided in the program for purchase of
agricultural conservation easements contained in section
14.1, and for the purpose of paying all costs, except
administrative costs, incurred by the Commonwealth or a
county incident to the purchase of agricultural conservation
easements.[, and for the purpose of reimbursing nonprofit
land conservation organizations for expenses incurred in
acquiring and transferring agricultural conservation
easements to the Commonwealth or a county.
(3) Each fiscal year, up to $200,000 of the money in the
fund may be used for the purpose of reimbursement allocation
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under section 14.6(b). Up to 10% of these funds may be used
for administrative expenses of the department incurred under
section 14.6(b).]
(3) By March 1 of each year, the State board shall make
the following annual allocations from the fund:
(i) The greater amount of $1,000,000 or 80% of the
amount restored to the fund under section 14.1(h)(8.2)
for the purpose of reimbursing eligible nonprofit
entities for the purchase of agricultural conservation
easements under section 14.6(b). The amount allocated
under this subparagraph shall not exceed 10% of the total
annual allocation made under section 14.1(h).
(ii) The amount of $200,000 plus 20% of the amount
restored to the fund under section 14.1(h)(8.2) for the
purpose of reimbursing eligible nonprofit entities for
transaction expenses under section 14.6(c) relating to
the purchase of agricultural conservation easements under
section 14.6(b). Up to $20,000 of the amount allocated
under this subparagraph for transaction expenses relating
to the purchase of agricultural conservation easements
may be used for administrative expenses incurred by the
department under section 14.6(b) and (c).
* * *
Section 2. Section 14.6(b), (c), (d) and (e) of the act are
amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
read:
Section 14.6. Land Trust Reimbursement Program.
* * *
(b) Reimbursement.--[The] In accordance with section 14.2(a)
(3), the State board [may] shall allocate funds to reimburse
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land trusts for the purchase of agricultural conservation
easements and for transaction expenses incurred in acquiring
agricultural conservation easements in this Commonwealth. Money
allocated under this subsection which has not been expended by
December 31 of the year in which the money was allocated shall
lapse back to the fund.
(c) Eligible transaction expenses.--Eligible expenses
include:
(1) Appraisals.
(2) Legal services.
(3) Title searches.
(4) Document preparation.
(5) Title insurance.
(6) Closing fees.
(7) Survey costs.
(c.1) Eligible purchase expenses.--Eligible agricultural
conservation easement purchase expenses under this section shall
include payments by a land trust to acquire an agricultural
conservation easement.
(d) Limitations.--
(1) Reimbursement for the purchase of an agricultural
conservation easement shall [be limited to $5,000 per
easement] not exceed $2,500 per acre or 50% of the appraised
per-acre value, whichever is less.
(2) The term of an agricultural conservation easement
shall be perpetual.
(3) An agricultural conservation easement shall:
(i) consist of at least 10 acres;
(ii) contain the greater of 50% or 10 acres of
harvested cropland, pasture or grazing land; and
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(iii) comply with the provisions of 7 Pa. Code ยง
138e.16(a)(1) and (3) (relating to minimum criteria for
applications).
(4) A land trust must provide matching funds equal to
the amount of the reimbursement for the purchase of an
agricultural conservation easement. Up to 50% of the donated
value of the agricultural conservation easement may be used
to satisfy the provisions of this paragraph.
(5) Reimbursement shall not be provided to a land trust
for the expense of an agricultural conservation easement
purchased jointly with the county under section 14.1(b.2)(1).
(6) Reimbursement of transaction expenses shall be
limited to $10,000 per agricultural conservation easement.
(e) Eligibility.--To be eligible under this subsection, a
land trust shall be an eligible nonprofit entity and shall:
(1) register with the State board;
(2) coordinate agricultural conservation easement
purchase activities with the eligible county in which the
activity occurs or coordinate such activities with the State
board, if the activity does not occur within an eligible
county; and
(3) submit an application to the State board, with the
statement of costs [incidental to] of the acquisition and
transaction expenses, the deed of easement and any other
documentation required by the State board, within 60 days of
closing on the easement.
(f) Transfer to county.--
(1) If a land trust ceases to exist, an agricultural
conservation easement purchased by the land trust which was
reimbursed for purchase costs under this section shall be
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transferred to the eligible county where the agricultural
conservation easement was recorded or to another eligible
nonprofit entity.
(2) (Reserved).
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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