Authority: Title 3.2, Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 28, 38, 41.1 and 44; Title 15.2, Chapter 18, Code of Virginia.
A. The Commissioner may enter into agreements with local and state agencies, or other persons, for the control of black vultures, coyotes, and other wildlife that pose danger to agricultural animals. The Commissioner shall enter into an agreement with the federal government to establish and maintain the Virginia Cooperative Wildlife Damage Management Program.
B. Out of the amounts in this Item, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year from the general fund shall be deposited to the Beehive Grant Fund established pursuant to § 3.2-4415, Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 3.2-4416, Code of Virginia, the department shall not accept applications for grants from the Beehive Grant Program if funds are not appropriated for such purposes nor shall the department be required to continue to accept applications for the program if funds appropriated have been fully allocated to grantees for a given fiscal year.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 3.2-4114.2 and 3.2-4115, Code of Virginia, the Commissioner shall charge an annual nonrefundable fee of $150 on each application for registration, or renewal of registration, as an industrial hemp grower, an annual nonrefundable fee of $200 on each application for registration as an industrial hemp processor, and an annual nonrefundable fee of $250 for registration as an industrial hemp dealer pursuant to Chapter 41 of Title 3.2, Code of Virginia.
D. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall, pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 5940, administer an agricultural pilot program to study the growth, cultivation, and marketing of industrial hemp via the Commissioner’s administration of the provisions of the Industrial Hemp Law (Va. Code § 3.2-4112 et seq.). The Commissioner’s research shall include an analysis of information collected during the administration of the Industrial Hemp Law. The Commissioner shall (i) conclude such agricultural pilot program on the date that is one year after the date on which the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture establishes a plan under section 297C of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 or on the effective date of the repeal of 7 U.S.C. 5940, whichever is later, and (ii) submit a report on such research to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2020.