STATE, COUNTY, AND AREA COMMITTEES.

SEC. 1615. STATE, COUNTY, AND AREA COMMITTEES. Section 8(b)(5)(B)(ii) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)(B)(ii)) is amended—(1) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively, and indenting appropriately;(2) in the matter preceding item (aa) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking “A committee established” and inserting the following:“(I) In general.—Except as provided in subclause (II), a committee established”; and(3) by adding at the end the following:“(II) Combination or consolidation of areas.—A committee established by combining or consolidating 2 or more county or area committees shall consist of not fewer than 3 nor more than 11 members that—“(aa) are fairly representative of the agricultural producers within the area covered by the county, area, or local committee; and“(bb) are elected by the agricultural producers that participate or cooperate in programs administered within the area under the jurisdiction of the county, area, or local committee.“(III) Representation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.—The Secretary shall develop procedures to maintain representation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers on combined or consolidated committees.“(IV) Eligibility for membership.—Notwithstanding any other producer eligibility requirements for service on county or area committees, if a county or area is consolidated or combined, a producer shall be eligible to serve only as a member of the county or area committee that the producer elects to administer the farm records of the producer.”.