SB354: Beehive Grant Fund and Beehive Grant Program; created.


SENATE BILL NO. 354
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee
on March 5, 2012)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Deeds)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 44 of Title 3.2 sections numbered 3.2-4415 and 3.2-4416, relating to the Beehive Grant Program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 44 of Title 3.2 sections numbered 3.2-4415 and 3.2-4416 as follows:

§ 3.2-4415. Beehive Grant Fund.

From such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources, there is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting, permanent fund to be known as the Beehive Grant Fund (the Fund), to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of each fiscal year, including interest thereon, shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund, which shall be in the form of grants, shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon the written request signed by the Commissioner. Grants from the Fund shall only be made to applications to the Beehive Grant Program pursuant to § 3.2-4416.

§ 3.2-4416. Beehive Grant 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 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 may apply 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 shall be issued in the order that each completed eligible application is received. In the event that the amount of eligible grants requested in a fiscal year exceeds the funds available in the Fund, such grants shall be paid in the next fiscal year in which funds are available.

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.


SENATE BILL NO. 354
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations
on February 27, 2012)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Deeds)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13, relating to beehive tax credit.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13 as follows:

§ 58.1-339.13. Beehive tax credit.

A. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2012, but before January 1, 2015, any taxpayer who purchases equipment to start a new beehive shall be entitled to a credit against the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-320 of an amount equal to $200 per new hive, not to exceed $2,400 per year. In order to be eligible, the taxpayer shall register as a beekeeper with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and may be subject to inspection by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

B. The total amount of tax credits under this section for a calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. In the event that applications for such credits exceed $100,000 for any calendar year, the Department of Taxation shall allocate the credits on a pro rata basis.

C. If the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer's liability for the taxable year, the excess may be carried over for credit against the income taxes of the taxpayer in the next five taxable years or until the total credit amount has been taken, whichever occurs first.

2. That the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall compile, maintain, and distribute a Virginia Beekeeping Guide to provide information to beekeepers on beekeeping.


SENATE BILL NO. 354
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance
on February 8, 2012)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Deeds)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 44 of Title 3.2 sections numbered 3.2-4415 and 3.2-4416, relating to the Beehive Grant Program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 44 of Title 3.2 sections numbered 3.2-4415 and 3.2-4416 as follows:

§ 3.2-4415. Beehive Grant Fund.

From such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources, there is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting, permanent fund to be known as the Beehive Grant Fund (the Fund), to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of each fiscal year, including interest thereon, shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund, which shall be in the form of grants, shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon the written request signed by the Commissioner. Grants from the Fund shall only be made to applications to the Beehive Grant Program pursuant to § 3.2-4416.

§ 3.2-4416. Beehive Grant 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 registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

B. Beginning January 1, 2013, any individual who purchases equipment to construct a new hive and receives an inspection of his new hives from the Department may apply 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 hives. Grants shall be issued in the order that each completed eligible application is received. In the event that the amount of eligible grants requested in a fiscal year exceeds the funds available in the Fund, such grants shall be paid in the next fiscal year in which funds are available.

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

E. The Department shall compile, maintain, and distribute a Virginia Beekeeping Guide to provide information to beekeepers on beekeeping.

2.  That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless an appropriation of general funds effectuating the purposes of this act is included in a general appropriation act passed by the 2012 Session of the General Assembly, which becomes law.

SENATE BILL NO. 354
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 11, 2012
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13, relating to beehive tax credit.
Patron-- Deeds

Referred to Committee on Finance

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13 as follows:

§ 58.1-339.13. Beehive tax credit.

A. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2012, but before January 1, 2015, any taxpayer who purchases equipment to start a new beehive shall be entitled to a credit against the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-320 of an amount equal to $200 per new hive, not to exceed $2,400 per year. In order to be eligible, the taxpayer shall register as a beekeeper with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and request and receive an inspection of his new hives from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

B. The total amount of tax credits under this section for a calendar year shall not exceed $500,000. In the event that applications for such credits exceed $500,000 for any calendar year, the Department of Taxation shall allocate the credits on a pro rata basis.

C. If the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer's liability for the taxable year, the excess may be carried over for credit against the income taxes of the taxpayer in the next five taxable years or until the total credit amount has been taken, whichever occurs first.

2. That the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall compile, maintain, and distribute a Virginia Beekeeping Guide to provide information to beekeepers on beekeeping.