AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE FARMLAND VALUATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
What changed between versions
Committee composition changed from 3 voting members to 7 voting members plus 3 non-voting members. New voting members include the Secretary of Finance (as chair), a person with agricultural financing knowledge, a person with farmland valuation knowledge, and the Secretary of Agriculture or designee. Three non-voting members are added from county assessment divisions in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.
The poultry grower member (appointed from a list provided by the Delmarva Chicken Association) that was added in SA 3 is not included in the final bill text.
Each member may serve only 1 additional term (maximum 6 years total), a limit not present in the prior version.
The Committee must meet at least once every quarter and all meetings are public.
The Committee must publish an annual report containing its determinations and any review of its valuation formula and methodology, submitted to the Governor, General Assembly, Division of Legislative Services, and each county assessing authority by February 1.
The Governor may remove a member for gross inefficiency, misfeasance, nonfeasance, malfeasance, or neglect of duty. Neglect is defined as absence from 3 consecutive meetings without good cause, which is treated as a resignation.
The Department of Finance, through the Secretary, shall provide reasonable staff support to assist the Committee in performing its duties.
The political party limit was increased from no more than 2 members of the same party to no more than 4 voting members of the same party, reflecting the larger committee size.
Member eligibility changed from 'citizen of this State' to 'resident of this State.'
