| |
AgRELIEF Act -2009
NEWS UPDATE -
Dec 14, 2009 - At the 2010 NC Farm Bureau Annual Meeting earlier this past week, the NCFB position on the AgRELIEF act was discussed . And according to NCAg/NCFB members who were at the NC Farm Bureau Annual Meeting -- during the reading of all the resolutions for approval, through a parliamentary procedure, Wake County Farm Bureau President Jackie Thompson (who is also a Board member of the NCAg) moved to strike #23 (Farm Bureau's position of opposition to the AgRELIEF Act) on the floor, and with no objection, the membership voted their approval of striking resolution #23 and passing resolution #24. (See document)
This is FANTASTIC NEWS because this means that with #23 being struck and #24 being passed that NC Farm Bureau is officially no longer opposed to the AgRELIEF Act and in fact has a resolution of recommendation for a reimbursement program for farm labor procurement expenses for the farmer.
April 30, 2009
At 9:30 am in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday, April 30 in room 544 Legislative Office Building - Senate Bill 881 received a unanimous vote for a favorable report.
S. 881 - Introduced in the Senate by Senator Bob Atwater (D), who is from Chatham County and is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee.
H.1364 - Introduced in the House by Representative Larry Bell (D), who is from Sampson County and is Vice-Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. The bill has a record 96 sponsors (out of 120 representatives)...most bills have been 1 and 30 sponsors.
AgRELIEF Act
Ag (Agriculture) Reimbursement of Expenses for Legal Interim Employment of Farmworkers
H.1364 and S.881 are companion bills - which means they are identical - click on link to see actual bill.
- The AgRELIEF Act is enabling legislation to establish a cost-share program to assist any NC farmer with the upfront expenses required in order to use the federal H-2a visa program to hire LEGAL interim/temporary farmworkers.
- The AgRELIEF Act is a "First in the Nation" pilot program and represents a positive, pro-active step for State government to encourage and assist farmers with hiring legal farmworkers..
- The AgRELIEF Act cost-share fund will be funded through private donations and grants. NO state funding for this program.
- The AgRELIEF Act will cover up to 50% (with a cap of $50,000) of the "up-front" expenses paid by farmers for each worker including up to $300 for all round-trip transportation and subsistence costs for workers to/from country of origin; up to $325 for all processing charges and administrative fees and dues; any state department visa fees and border patrol crossing fees; any US consulate application and appointment fees.
- The AgRELIEF Act requires farmers to provide documentation for approved housing, workers' compensation insurance for workers, proof of insurance for vehicles transporting workers, pesticide training, compliance with all federal requirements to ensure any legally authorized US worker is hired who is available, able and willing.
- The AgRELIEF Act provides for an advisory committee to be established to solicit and review applications and process application based on date of submission as long as funding is available; and to submit a report to NC House and Senate Joint NER appropriations subcommittee.
- The AgRELIEF Act will assist farmers who are already bearing the high expense to use legal farmworkers; and hopefully will encourage farmers who have been resistant to using the program due to the high "up-front" expense to re-examine the program
|
|
