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House passes SB214, expands Agriculture Department authority and adds youth urban-ag program
Summary
The House approved SB214 to expand the Department of Agriculture’s authority to accept federal, state and private funds; a House floor amendment incorporated House Bill 195 to create a youth urban agricultural program.
Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 214, a measure supporters said provides the Kentucky Department of Agriculture with flexibility to accept federal and nonfederal funds — including private grants and donations — and to manage and distribute those funds consistent with law.
Explaining the bill, the gentleman from Christian 8 said the changes ‘‘clarify and expand the department's authority to accept federal and non-federal funds, including private grants, donations, and other funding sources’’ and that the emergency clause would let the department act on opportunities currently available.
The House adopted House floor amendment one, which incorporated the entirety of House Bill 195 to establish a youth urban agricultural program in Kentucky. Sponsors said the amendment and bill do not create ongoing state spending but remove barriers so the department can accept available funding and support programs that benefit farmers and rural communities.
The clerk reported 98 yeas and no nays on final passage of the bill as amended. Supporters emphasized rural economic benefits and programmatic flexibility; the committee and floor debate did not register recorded opposition on final passage in the transcript.
