The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee reported out a bill and resolution on the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, but rescheduled action on legislation updating the Conservation District Law.

Sen. Brubaker (R-Lancaster) serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Sen. O’Pake (D-Berks) serves as Democratic chair.

Senate Bill 863 (Waugh-R-York) would permanently establish the Agricultural Land Conservation Grant Program in the Agricultural Area Security Law.

This Program provides matching grants to counties to assist with their farmland preservation programs, including the development of Geographic Information Systems, development of effective agricultural zoning ordinances, staff training, the hiring of contract services and the purchase of certain computer software.

Under the current Program, counties can receive a maximum of $25,000 in accumulative grants; in the six rounds of applications that have already been approved, six counties have reached this maximum ceiling. Senate Bill 863 would remove this $25,000 limitation and instead set an annual cap of $10,000.

"This grant program has been very valuable to counties in delaying the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses," Sen. Brubaker said. "I am very pleased that Senator Waugh has reintroduced his legislation to provide for its permanent authorization."

Sen. Brubaker also noted that during the statewide listening sessions held earlier this year by the Committee, several individuals expressed an interest in reviewing the farmland preservation program to ensure that after 25 years, it is still as effective as it could and should be.

For that reason, Sen. Brubaker said he introduced Senate Resolution 195, which was approved by the Committee today. The resolution would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the program, including an analysis of, among other items, the criteria by which farms are selected, options available to the program, and the feasibility of providing other incentives such as tax credits in lieu of cash payments.

"Our farmland preservation program has helped Pennsylvania become a leader in the number of farms and acres preserved, and is a model for other programs nationwide," Sen. Brubaker said.

"However, many people testified during the listening sessions that there are ways in which we can change and improve upon this successful program, which is why I am asking for a full review of a wide variety of parameters," Sen. Brubaker continued. "Then, using this information, this Committee will be able to develop a plan of action to direct funds to their most effective use and also keep farmland available for future generations."

The Committee also approved Senate Resolution 193, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. The Center is an agency of the General Assembly that provides assistance, conducts research and develops policy based on rural conditions and needs.

Each year, the Center approves one-year grants to qualified members of state universities and Penn State University to conduct applied research or identify local strategies that can result in legislative or policy recommendations. It also publishes a Rural Access Guide that provides information about state, federal and nonprofit/foundation grants, loans and technical assistance resources.

"Rural life, enjoyed by more than three million Pennsylvanians, has both its benefits and its unique challenges, such as income gaps and less access to health care and other resources," Sen. Brubaker said. "The Center for Rural Pennsylvania provides critical support to these rural and small communities to help them maintain their vitality and way of life, and I am proud to honor them for their long history of service to the Commonwealth."

Senate Bill 1020 (Wonderling-R-Montgomery), updating the Conservation District Law prompted by the 2005 review by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, was passed over by the Committee, but Sen. Brubaker said it would be brought back for consideration at their November 28 meeting.

11/16/2007