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2012 Special Session I

Budget Amendments - HB1301 (Committee Approved)

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Beekeeper Grant Fund

Item 92 #1s

Item 92 #1s

First Year - FY2013 Second Year - FY2014
Agriculture And Forestry
Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of FY2013 $175,000 FY2014 $175,000 GF

Language
Page 64, line 26, strike "$17,775,649" and insert "$17,950,649".
Page 64, line 26, strike "$17,924,649" and insert "$18,099,649".
Page 66, after line 13, insert:
"J. 1.  Included in these amounts is $175,000 the first year and $175,000 the second year from the general fund for the Beehive Grant Fund, to be
established on the books of the Comptroller. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of each fiscal year, including interest thereon, shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund, which shall be in the form of grants, shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon the written request signed by the Commissioner. Grants from the Fund shall only be made to applications to the Beehive Grant Program pursuant to subsection 2 of this Item.
2.  Beginning January 1, 2013, any individual who purchases equipment to construct a new hive and receives an inspection of his new hives from the Department may apply for a grant from the Fund. Such grant shall be in an amount equal to $200 per new hive, not to exceed $2,400 per individual per year.
3. An individual shall apply to the Department for a grant for hives. Grants shall be issued in the order that each completed eligible application is received. In the event that the amount of eligible grants requested in a fiscal year exceeds the funds available in the Fund, such grants shall be paid in the next fiscal year in which funds are available.
4. The Department shall develop guidelines setting forth the general requirements of qualifying for a grant.
5. The Department shall compile, maintain, and distribute a Virginia Beekeeping Guide to provide information to beekeepers on beekeeping."


Explanation
(This amendment provides funding to establish the Beehive Grant Fund to assist beekeepers in establishing new beehives in an effort to address the loss of bees that are vital to agricultural production.)