Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 4.djvu/563

 PUBLIC LAW 103-354—OCT. 13, 1994 108 STAT. 3197 for the specific risk involved is generally available from private companies. " (m) RESEARCH. — "(1) IN GENERAL.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Corporation may conduct research, surveys, pilot programs, and investigations relating to crop insurance and agriculturerelated ris^ and losses including insurance on losses involving reduced forage on rangeland caused by drought and by insect infestation, livestock poisoning and disease, destruction of bees due to the use of pesticides, and other unique special risks related to finiits, nuts, vegetables, aquacultural species, forest industry needs (including appreciation), and other agricultural producte as determined by the Board. "(2) EXCEPTION. — No action may be undertaken with respect to a risk under paragraph (1) if insurance protection against the risk is generally available from private companies. "(3) EVALUATION. —After the completion of any pilot program under this subsection, the Corporation shall evaluate the pilot program and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report of the operations of the pilot program, including the evaluation by the Corporation of the pilot program and the recommendations of the Corporation with respect to implementing the program on a natiomd basis.". SEC. 107. CROP INSURANCE YIELD COVERAGE. Section 508A (7 U.S.C. 1508a) is repealed. SEC. 108. PREEMPTION. Section 511 (7 U.S.C. 1511) is amended by adding at the end the following sentence: "A contract of insurance of the Corporation, and a contract of insurance reinsured by the Corporation, shall be exempt from taxation imposed by any State, municipality, or local taxing authority.". SEC. 109. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The Act is amended by inserting after section 514 (7 U.S.C. 1514) the following new section: "SEC. 515. ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE. 7 USC 1515. " (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary may establish within the Depgirtment an advisory committee to be known as the 'Advisory Committee for Federal Crop Insurance'. "(b) PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY. —The primary responsibihty of the Advisory Committee shall be to advise the Secretary on the implementation of this title and on other issues related to crop insurance, as determined by the Manager of the Corporation. "(c) MEMBERSHIP. — The Advisory Committee snail be composed of the Manager of the Corporation, the Secretary (or a designee of the Secretary), and not fewer than 12 members representing organizations and agencies involved in the provision of crop insurance under this title. Not fewer than 3 of the members of the Advisory Committee shall be representatives of the specialty crops industry. The organizations or agencies represented by members on the Advisory Committee may include insurance companies, insurance agents, farm producer organizations, experts on agronomic practices, and banking and lending institutions.

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