Bill Text: VA HB1152 | 2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Beehive grant program; DACS and Consumer Services to cease reviewing applications for funding.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-03-05 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0192) [HB1152 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2018-HB1152-Chaptered.html

CHAPTER 192
An Act to amend and reenact §3.2-4416 of the Code of Virginia, relating to beehive grant program.
[H 1152]
Approved March 5, 2018

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §3.2-4416 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§3.2-4416. Beehive distribution program.

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Fund" means the Beehive Grant Fund established pursuant to §3.2-4415.

"Grant" means a grant issued pursuant to the Beehive Grant Program.

"Individual" means a beekeeper Any individual registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

B. Beginning January 1, 2013, any individual who either purchases a new hive or purchases materials or supplies to construct a new hive as a beekeeper may apply to the Department 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.

C. An individual shall apply to the Department for a grant for purchase or construction of new hives. Grants no more than three basic beehive units per year. The Department shall establish guidelines setting forth the components of a basic beehive unit and the general requirements for qualifying for such unit. Applications for beehive units shall be issued processed in the order that each in which completed eligible application is applications are received. In the event that the amount of eligible grants requested in a fiscal year exceeds the funds are not available in the Beehive Grant Fund, such grants shall be paid in established pursuant to §3.2-4415 (the Fund), the Department may cease accepting applications and notify applicants that the funds available for that fiscal year have been exhausted. The Department shall not be required to carry forward pending applications to the next fiscal year in which funds are available in the Fund.

D. The Department shall develop guidelines setting forth the general requirements of qualifying for a grant.

E. The Department shall compile, maintain, and distribute electronically a Virginia Beekeeping Guide to provide information to beekeepers on beekeeping may use funds from the Fund to pay for the costs of purchasing, building, or distributing the beehive units and for the costs of administering the beehive distribution program. The Department may work cooperatively with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station Division, established pursuant to Article 2 (§ 23.1-2608 et seq.) of Chapter 26 of Title 23.1, to carry out the provisions of this section.

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