STATE, COUNTY, AND AREA COMMITTEES.

SEC. 227. STATE, COUNTY, AND AREA COMMITTEES. (a) Committees Under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act.— Section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)) is amended— (1) by inserting “(1)” after “(b)”; (2) by designating the second through eighth undesignated paragraphs as paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively; and (3) by striking paragraph (5) (as so designated) and inserting the following new paragraph: “(5) State, county, and area committees.— “(A) Appointment of state committees.— The Secretary shall appoint in each State a State committee composed of not fewer than 3 nor more than 5 members who are fairly representative of the farmers in the State. The members of a State committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for such term as the Secretary may establish. “(B) Establishment of county, area, or local committees.— (i) In each county or area in which activities are carried out under this section, the Secretary shall establish a county or area committee. “(ii) Any such committee shall consist of not fewer than 3 nor more than 5 members who are fairly representative of the agricultural producers in the county or area and who shall be elected by the agricultural producers in such county or area under such procedures as the Secretary may prescribe. “(iii) The Secretary may designate local administrative areas within the county or larger area covered by a committee established under clause (i). Only agricultural producers within a local administrative area who participate or cooperate in 108 STAT. 3217programs administered within their area shall be eligible for nomination and election to the local committee for that area, under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. “(iv) The Secretary shall solicit and accept nominations from organizations representing the interests of socially disadvantaged groups (as defined in section 355(e)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)(1)). “(v) Members of each county, area, or local committee shall serve for terms not to exceed 3 years. “(C) Termination or combination of committees.— The Secretary may not terminate a county or area committee or combine or consolidate two or more county or area committees unless— “(i) the Secretary first notifies the committee or committees involved of the proposed action; and “(ii) the State committee of the State in which the affected counties are located approves of such action in a vote taken after the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date the notification is received. “(D) Use of committees.— The Secretary shall use the services of such committees in carrying out programs under this section and the agricultural credit programs under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) and in considering administrative appeals as provided by section 226(d) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. The Secretary may use the services of such committees in carrying out programs under other authorities administered by the Secretary. “(E) Regulations.— The Secretary shall issue such regulations as the Secretary considers necessary relating to the selection and exercise of the functions of the respective committees, and to the administration through such committees of the programs described in subparagraph (D). Pursuant to such regulations, each county and area committee shall select an executive director for the area or county. Such selection shall be made in the same manner as provided for the selection of the county executive director under section 7.21(b)(2) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 1994. Regulations governing payments or grants under this subsection shall be as simple and direct as possible, and, whenever practicable, they shall be classified on the following two bases: “(i) Soil-depleting practices. “(ii) Soil-building practices. “(F) Mandatory duties of secretary.— In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall— “(i) insofar as practicable, protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers; “(ii) accord such encouragement to producer-owned and producer-controlled cooperative associations as will be in harmony with the policy toward cooperative associations set forth in Federal laws and as will tend to promote efficient methods of marketing and distribution; “(iii) in every practicable manner, protect the interests of small producers; and “(iv) in every practical way, encourage and provide for soil-conserving and soil-rebuilding practices. 108 STAT. 3218 “(G) Discretionary authorities of secretary.— In carrying out this section, the Secretary may use other approved agencies. “(H) Limitations.— In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall not have the authority to acquire any land or any right or interest in land.”. (b) Elimination of Farm County Committees.— The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) is amended— (1) by striking section 332 (7 U.S.C. 1982); and (2) in section 333 (7 U.S.C. 1983)— (A) by striking paragraph (2); and (B) redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively.