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2001 Session

Budget Amendments - SB800 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Houck
VA Agricultural Vitality Program

Item 410 #8s

Item 410 #8s

First Year - FY2001 Second Year - FY2002
Natural Resources
Conservation and Recreation, Department of FY2001 $0 FY2002 $2,000,000 GF

Language
Page 377, line 35, strike "$30,302,981" and insert "$32,302,981".
Page 379, line 40, unstrike "and".
Page 379, line 41, unstrike "$6,200,000 the second year".
Page 379, after line 53, insert:
"4.  This Item includes $2,000,000 the second year from the general fund for the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation to use for farmlands preservation in the form of matching grants to local purchase of development rights programs.  The purpose of the appropriation is to secure open-space easements on farmland in support of the Virginia Agricultural Vitality Program developed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall present in writing recommendations for land conservation funding priorities under the Agricultural Vitality Program to the Foundation by September 3, 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 has recommended funding for the local program.".


Explanation
(This amendment provides $2.0 million of general fund support for local programs to purchase the development rights of farmers for their lands. The Commissioner of Agriculture is directed to develop a priority funding list under the Agricultural Vitality Program and to provide the list to the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. The Foundation will be responsible for carrying out this matching grant program. A companion amendment restores the $6.2 million appropriation proposed for elimination in the introduced budget bill.)