SB1151: Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program and Fund; established, sunset.

Legislative Summary

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program and Fund established. Directs the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to establish and administer the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program. The bill allows any person to participate in the Program if such person (i) owns livestock that graze in the Commonwealth, (ii) is enrolled in the federal Rainfall Index Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage insurance program (PRF insurance) and provided proof of payment of his annual premium, and (iii) certifies to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that, within the past three years and in accordance with the general sampling recommendations from Virginia Cooperative Extension for the land enrolled in PRF insurance, soil samples have been taken from the land enrolled in PRF insurance and analyzed. The bill allows the Commissioner to request documentation of such soil sampling from a Program participant who receives reimbursement through the Program and requires the person to repay such reimbursement to the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program Fund if the person fails to provide the requested documentation. The bill allows the Department to reimburse 50 percent, up to a maximum of $500, of the Program participant's annual premium payment. The bill specifies that such reimbursement shall be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and shall be subject to availability of funds. Finally, the bill creates the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program Fund to be used for carrying out the provisions of the bill. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2030.