Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 3.djvu/365

 PUBLIC LAW 100-233—JAN. 6, 1988

101 STAT. 1663

Qy) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.—Within 15 days after the Secretary receives from the Governor of a State, a description of the agricultural loan mediation program of the State and a statement certifying that the State has met all of the requirements of subsection (c), the Secretary shall determine whether the State is a qualifying State. (c) REQUIREMENTS OF STATE PROGRAMS.—Within 15 days after the Secretary receives a description of a State agricultural loan mediation program, the Secretary shall certify the State as a qualifying State if the State program— (1) provides for mediation services to be provided to producers, and their creditors, that, if decisions are reached, result in mediated, mutually agreeable decisions between parties under an agricultural loan mediation program; (2) is authorized or administered by an agency of the State government or by the Governor of the State; (3) provides for the training of mediators; (4) provides that the mediation sessions shall be confidential; and (5) ensures that all lenders and borrowers of agricultural loans receive adequate notification of the mediation progrsmi, SEC. 502. MATCHING GRANTS TO STATES.

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7 USC 5102.

(a) MATCHING GRANTS.—Within 60 days after the Secretary certifies the State as a qualifying State under section 50103), the Secretary shall provide financial assistance to the State, in accordance with subsection (b), for the operation and administration of the agricultural loan mediation program. 0)) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 4: pay to a State under subsection (a) not more than 50 percent of the cost of the operation and administration of the agricultural loan mediation program within the State. (2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall not pay more than $500,000 per year to a single State under subsection (a). (c) USE OF GRANT.—Each State that receives an amount paid under subsection (a) shall use that amount only for the operation and administration of the agricultural loan mediation program of the State. (d) PENALTY.—If the Secretary determines that a State has not complied with subsection (c), such State shall not be eligible for additional financial assistance under this subtitle. SEC. 503. PARTICIPATION OF FEDERAL AGENCIES. (a) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, with respect to each program under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that makes, guarantees, or insures agricultural loans— (A) shall prescribe rules requiring each such program to participate in good faith in any State agricultural loan mediation program; (B) shall, on the date of the enactment of this Act, participate in agricultural loan mediation programs; and (C) shall— (i) cooperate in good faith with requests for information or analysis of information made in the course of

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7 USC 5103.

Regulations.



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