Sec. 2703. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS
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## SEC. 2703 REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS Section 1271B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871b) is amended— ####
(1)by striking subsection
(b)and inserting the following: > > ### “(b) Length > > > #### “(1) In general > > A partnership agreement shall be— > > > ##### “(A) > > for a period not to exceed 5 years; or > > > ##### “(B) > > for a period that is longer than 5 years, if the longer period is necessary to meet the objectives of the program, as determined by the Secretary. > > > #### “(2) Renewal > > A partnership agreement may be renewed under subsection (e)(5) for a period not to exceed 5 years. > > > #### “(3) Extension > > A partnership agreement, or any renewal of a partnership agreement, may each be extended 1 time for a period not longer than 12 months, as determined by the Secretary.” > ; ####
(2)in subsection (c)— #####
(A)in paragraph (1)— ######
(i)in subparagraph (A)— ######
(I)by redesignating clauses
(iii)and
(iv)as clauses
(iv)and (v), respectively; and ######
(II)by striking clauses
(i)and
(ii)and inserting the following: > > ###### “(i) > > 1 or more conservation benefits that the project shall achieve; > > > ###### “(ii) > > the eligible activities on eligible land to be conducted under the project to achieve conservation benefits; > > > ###### “(iii) > > the implementation timeline for carrying out the project, including any interim milestones;” > ; ######
(ii)in subparagraph (D), by striking “funds” and inserting “contributions”; and ######
(iii)in subparagraph (E), by striking “ of the project’s effects; and ” and inserting the following: > “of— > > > ###### “(i) > > the progress made by the project in achieving each conservation benefit defined in the partnership agreement, including in a quantified form to the extent practicable; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > as appropriate, other outcomes of the project; and” > ; and #####
(B)in paragraph (2)— ######
(i)by striking “ An eligible ” and inserting the following: > > ##### “(A) In general > > An eligible” > ; and ######
(ii)by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(B) Form > > A contribution of an eligible partner under this paragraph may be in the form of— > > > ###### “(i) > > direct funding; > > > ###### “(ii) > > in-kind support; or > > > ###### “(iii) > > a combination of direct funding and in-kind support. > > > ##### “(C) Treatment > > Any amounts expended during the period beginning on the date on which the Secretary announces the approval of an application under subsection
(e)and ending on the day before the effective date of the partnership agreement by an eligible partner for staff salaries or development of the partnership agreement may be considered to be a part of the contribution of the eligible partner under this paragraph.” > ; ####
(3)by redesignating subsection
(d)as subsection (e); ####
(4)by inserting after subsection
(c)the following: > > ### “(d) Duties of Secretary > > The Secretary shall— > > > #### “(1) > > establish a timeline for carrying out the duties of the Secretary under a partnership agreement, including— > > > ##### “(A) > > entering into program contracts with producers; > > > ##### “(B) > > providing financial assistance to producers; and > > > ##### “(C) > > in the case of a partnership agreement that is funded through an alternative funding arrangement or grant agreement under section 1271C(d), providing the payments to the eligible partner for carrying out eligible activities; > > > #### “(2) > > identify in each State a program coordinator for the State, who shall be responsible for providing assistance to eligible partners under the program; > > > #### “(3) > > establish guidance to assist eligible partners with carrying out the assessment required under subsection (c)(1)(E); > > > #### “(4) > > provide to each eligible partner that has entered into a partnership agreement that is not funded through an alternative funding arrangement or grant agreement under section 1271C(d)— > > > ##### “(A) > > a semiannual report describing the status of each pending and obligated contract under the project of the eligible partner; and > > > ##### “(B) > > an annual report describing how the Secretary used amounts reserved by the Secretary for that year for technical assistance under section 1271D(f); and > > > #### “(5) > > ensure that any eligible activity effectively achieves the conservation benefits identified in the partnership agreement under subsection (c)(1)(A)(i).” > ; ####
(5)in subsection
(e)(as redesignated by paragraph (3))— #####
(A)in paragraph (1), by inserting “simplified” after “conduct a”; #####
(B)in paragraph (3)— ######
(i)by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through “ description of— ” and inserting the following: > > #### “(3) Contents > > The Secretary shall develop a simplified application that includes a description of—” > ; ######
(ii)in subparagraph (C), by striking “, including the covered programs to be used”; and ######
(iii)in subparagraph (D), by striking “financial”; #####
(C)in paragraph (4)— ######
(i)by striking subparagraph (D); ######
(ii)by redesignating subparagraphs
(E)and
(F)as subparagraphs
(G)and (H), respectively; and ######
(iii)by inserting after subparagraph
(C)the following: > > ##### “(D) > > build new partnerships with local, State, and private entities to include a diversity of stakeholders in the project; > > > ##### “(E) > > deliver a high percentage of applied conservation— > > > ###### “(i) > > to achieve conservation benefits; or > > > ###### “(ii) > > in the case of a project in a critical conservation area under section 1271F, to address the priority resource concern for that critical conservation area; > > > ##### “(F) > > implement the project consistent with existing watershed, habitat, or other area restoration plans;” > ; and #####
(D)by adding at the end the following: > > #### “(5) Renewals > > If the Secretary determines that a project that is the subject of a partnership agreement has met or exceeded the objectives of the project, the Secretary may renew the partnership agreement through an expedited noncompetitive process if the 1 or more eligible partners that are parties to the partnership agreement request the renewal in order— > > > ##### “(A) > > to continue to implement the project under a renewal of the partnership agreement; or > > > ##### “(B) > > to expand the scope of the project under a renewal of the partnership agreement, as long as the expansion is within the objectives and purposes of the original partnership agreement.” > ; and ####
(6)by adding at the end the following: > > ### “(f) Nonapplicability of Adjusted Gross Income Limitation > > The adjusted gross income limitation described in section 1001D(b)(1) shall not apply to an eligible partner under the program.” > .
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Sec. 2703
REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS
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