Bill Text: PA HB1742 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Further providing for grants; and providing for additional grants.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 48-15)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-09-11 - Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS [HB1742 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1742-Amended.html

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2215 PRINTER'S NO. 2414
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1742 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY MILLARD, GIBBONS, MILLER, SCAVELLO, ADOLPH, BAKER, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BOBACK, BROOKS, CAUSER, CREIGHTON, DALLY, DePASQUALE, ELLIS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GROVE, HANNA, HARRIS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, M. KELLER, KESSLER, KNOWLES, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MAJOR, MOUL, MURT, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PEIFER, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, RAPP, REED, REESE, REICHLEY, ROHRER, SAINATO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STERN, TALLMAN, J. TAYLOR, WHEATLEY, WHITE, YUDICHAK, KORTZ, METZGAR AND MIRABITO, JUNE 18, 2009
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JULY 8, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 8, 1986 (P.L.437, No.92), entitled "An
act providing for grants to agricultural societies and
associations to develop and improve agricultural fairs;
establishing an advisory committee in the Department of
Agriculture; and making repeals," further providing for
grants; and providing for additional grants.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5 of the act of July 8, 1986 (P.L.437,
No.92), known as the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act, is
amended to read:
Section 5. Grants.
The department is authorized to make grants in amounts
approved by the secretary in the following manner:
(1) On or before February 1, annually, to eligible
county agricultural societies, independent agricultural
societies and other organizations which conduct an annual
agricultural fair to assist the organizations as follows:
(i) Financing their operating costs, including, but
not limited to, the cost of exhibiting agribusiness
products, materials and equipment, conducting
agricultural or agribusiness educational activities and
demonstrations, and awarding premiums to contest and
exhibit winners at the fairs.
(A) A basic payment for operating expenses, the
sum of which may not exceed [$14,000] $16,800 for
Class A fairs, [$12,000] $14,000 for Class B fairs,
[$9,500] $11,400 for Class C fairs, [$7,000] $8,400
for Class D fairs and [$2,500] $3,000 for Class E
fairs.
(B) Fifty percent of money paid for all other
agricultural premiums not included in paragraph (1),
with a maximum payment for premiums not to exceed
[$15,000] $18,000.
(ii) Financing their costs to improve buildings and
grounds, add land or construct new facilities. Grants
provided under this subparagraph shall finance 75% of the
costs of the improvement, addition or construction and
may not exceed $37,500.
(iii) [Reimbursing] Notwithstanding section 225.1 of
the act of December 17, 1981 (P.L.435, No.135), known as
the Race Horse Industry Reform Act, reimbursing each
county agricultural society and each independent
agricultural society conducting harness horse racing
during its annual fair, other than races for two- and
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three-year-old colts and fillies provided for in
subparagraph (iv), in an amount of money equal to that
used during its annual fair as purse money for harness
horse racing, track and stable maintenance, starting gate
rental and the cost of all harness horse racing officials
required during the annual fair. Reimbursement shall not
exceed [$13,000] $20,000, and a minimum of $4,000 shall
be used for purse money.
(iv) Reimbursing each county agricultural society
and independent agricultural society conducting races for
two- and three-year-old colts and fillies at its annual
fair, concerning which a maximum of [$7,600] $11,500 was
paid annually. Entrance fees collected for each race
shall not be included for purposes of determining
eligibility for a grant under this section.
(2) To Statewide agricultural organizations which
contribute to the development of many phases of agriculture
or agribusiness.
(3) To countywide or Statewide 4-H and FFA or combined
FFA and FHA units of boys and girls under 21 years of age to
be used for the general operations of the units in
agriculture or agribusiness programs. An organization whose
members consist entirely of minors must apply through and be
represented by an adult advisory group, and both groups must
be recognized by their respective county governments or by
the Commonwealth. Each countywide or Statewide 4-H and FFA or
combined FFA and FHA unit shall be required to report on its
activities and justify these activities as events which
contribute to the advancement of agriculture or agribusiness.
Reports shall include a record of expenses incurred in the
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conduct of these qualifying activities. The grant awarded to
each youth group cannot exceed the amount of expenses
reported for the conduct of the activities.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 5.1. Additional grants.
(a) Transfers from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.--
Notwithstanding 4 Pa.C.S. Pt. II (relating to gaming), all sums
transferred to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for the
purpose of issuing grants under 4 Pa.C.S. § 1408(c) (relating to
transfers from State Gaming Fund) which have not been
distributed in grants to local law enforcement agencies within
12 months of transfer to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
shall, in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 per fiscal year, be <--
transferred to the department.
(b) Grants.--Any sum received by the department under
subsection (a) shall be distributed under section 5(1) to
eligible county agricultural societies, independent agricultural
societies and other organizations which conduct an annual
agricultural fair.
(c) Other grants not affected.--Any grants provided under
subsection (b) are intended to supplement, and not supplant,
grants from funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the
purposes of this act.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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