The bill would change how technical service providers are certified and used to help agricultural, livestock, and forest producers with conservation work. It would let approved non-Federal entities and certain State agencies certify providers, and require a faster certification path for some professionals with relevant credentials. It would also require reviews of certification rules, public reporting, and payment rates for provider services.
Eligible producers could receive conservation planning and implementation assistance from certified third-party providers. Providers could seek certification through the Secretary of Agriculture, an approved non-Federal entity, or an approved State agency. The bill also sets deadlines for approving certifying entities and adding certified providers to a public registry.
The bill directs the Secretary to set fair and reasonable payment amounts for third-party services, no higher than rates for comparable assistance provided by the Secretary. It does not state total costs or funding amounts.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.