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2001 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1600 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Dillard
Co-Patron(s): Bloxom, Bryant, Clement, Cox, Deeds, Griffith, Jackson, Morgan, Moss, Plum, Thomas
Virginia Land Conservation Foundation

Item 410 #6h

Item 410 #6h

First Year - FY2001 Second Year - FY2002
Natural Resources
Conservation and Recreation, Department of FY2001 $0 FY2002 $8,200,000 GF

Language
Page 377, line 35, strike "$30,302,981" and insert "$38,502,981".
Page 379, line 40, after "year" insert:
"and $8,200,000 the second year".
Page 379, line 45, after "Virginia." insert:
"Pursuant to §10.1-1020 of the Code of Virginia, the portion of this appropriation designated for farmlands preservation shall be expended by the Foundation in the form of matching grants to local purchase of development rights programs to aid in securing open-space easements on farmland in support of the Virginia Agricultural Vitality Program as developed by the Department of Agriculture.  The Commissioner  of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall present recommendations for land conservation funding priorities under the Agricultural Vitality Program to the Board of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation by September 1, 2001.  No matching grants shall be made from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund to any local purchase of development rights program for farmlands preservation unless the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services has recommended that the grant be made."


Explanation
(This amendment restores $6.2 million in the second year for the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation that was provided in Chapter 1073 but was eliminated in the Governor's recommended budget. This amendment also provides an additional $2.0 million in the second year in an effort to bring together two state programs that address land conservation, the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and the Virginia Agricultural Vitality Program. The accompanying budget language provides that the portion of the funds which by statute is required to be spent on farmland preservation must be used for land conservation priorities pursuant to the Agricultural Vitality Program.)