STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES.

SEC. 342. STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES. (a) Composition.— Section 1261(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(c))— (1) in paragraph (7), by striking “and” at the end; (2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(9) agricultural producers with demonstrable conservation expertise; “(10) nonprofit organizations with demonstrable conservation expertise; “(11) persons knowledgeable about conservation techniques; and “(12) agribusiness.”. (b) Responsibilities.— Section 1262 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3862) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: “Each State technical committee shall provide public notice of, and permit public attendance at meetings considering, issues of concern related to carrying out this title.”; (2) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end the following: “Each State technical committee shall establish criteria and guidelines for evaluating petitions by agricultural producers regarding new conservation practices and systems not already described in field office technical guides.”; and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (7), by striking “and” at the end; (B) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: “(8) establishing criteria and priorities for State initiatives under the environmental quality incentives program under chapter 4 of subtitle D; and”.