2006 Code of Virginia § 3.1-18.25 - (Contingent effective date - see Editor\'s note) Review and termination of agricultural enterprise ...

3.1-18.25. (Contingent effective date - see Editor's note) Review andtermination of agricultural enterprise districts.

A. Upon designation of an area as an agricultural enterprise district, theproposals for regulatory flexibility, tax incentives, and other publicincentives specified in this chapter shall be binding upon the localgoverning body to the extent and for the period of time specified in theapplication for district designation. If the local governing body is unableor unwilling to provide the regulatory flexibility, tax incentives, or otherpublic incentives as proposed in the application for district designation,the agricultural enterprise district shall terminate. Qualified farm oragricultural businesses located in such district shall be eligible to receivethe state grants provided by this chapter even though the districtdesignation has terminated. No farm or agricultural business may become aqualified farm or agricultural business after the date of districttermination. The governing body may amend its application with the approvalof the Department, provided the governing body proposes an incentive equal orsuperior to the unamended application.

B. The Department shall annually review the effectiveness of state and localincentives in increasing investment in each agricultural enterprise district,and the Secretary shall annually report its findings to (i) the SenateFinance Committee, (ii) the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation andNatural Resources, (iii) the House Finance Committee, and (iv) the HouseCommittee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources. If no farm oragricultural businesses in an agricultural enterprise district have qualifiedfor benefits provided pursuant to this chapter within a five-year period, theDepartment shall terminate that agricultural enterprise district designation.

(2005, c. 795.)