Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act

This Act may be cited as the “Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act”.

(a) In general.— Section 505 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1505) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H), respectively;

(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

“(E) The Chairperson of the Specialty Crop Advisory Committee established by subsection (f).”; and

(iii) in subparagraph (H) (as so redesignated), by striking “specialty crop” and inserting “livestock”; and

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of paragraph (2)” and inserting “subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H) of paragraph (2) and the members of the Specialty Crop Advisory Committee described in subsection (f)(2)”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Specialty crop advisory committee.—

(1) In general.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall—

(A) establish a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee (referred to in this subsection as the Committee); and

(B) appoint to the Committee in accordance with paragraph (2) the initial members that will assist the Corporation in the research, creation, and improvement of policies or plans of insurance for specialty crops.

(2) Composition.—

(A) Chairperson.— The Chairperson of the Committee shall be an individual with experience in crop insurance and the unique nature of the specialty crop industry.

(B) Members.— The Committee shall consist of—

(i) individuals with an understanding of the production methods, markets, and risks (including losses due to weather, trade damages, and supply chain disruptions) unique to specialty crop production;

(ii) not fewer than 5 producers and not more than 10 total members; and

(iii) not fewer than 1 producer from each of the West, Midwest, South, and Northeast regions of the United States (as identified by the Bureau of the Census).

(3) Duties.— The Committee shall—

(A) advise the manager of the Corporation on issues relating to specialty crop insurance policies;

(B) provide input, through the Chairperson of the Committee, to the Board on decisions relating to specialty crop insurance policies;

(C) review available educational programs and make recommendations to the manager of the Corporation on how to enhance the effectiveness of such programs for specialty crop producers;

(D) provide recommendations to the manager of the Corporation regarding the presentation of policies to the Board required by section 508(a)(6);

(E) advise the manager of the Corporation on entering into partnerships and contracts to carry out subsections (d) and (e)(2)(B) of section 522; and

(F) meet not less than 2 times each year to carry out the duties described in this paragraph.”.

(b) Specialty crops coordinator.— Section 507(g) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1507(g)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) Responsibilities.—

(A) In general.— The Specialty Crops Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for addressing the needs of specialty crop producers, and for providing information and advice, in connection with the activities of the Corporation to improve and expand the insurance program for specialty crops.

(B) Other duties.— In carrying out this paragraph, the Specialty Crops Coordinator shall—

(i) act as the liaison of the Corporation with representatives of specialty crop producers and the Specialty Crop Advisory Committee established under section 505(f); and

(ii) assist the Corporation with the knowledge, expertise, and familiarity of the producers with risk management and production issues pertaining to specialty crops.”.

(c) Annual review of new and specialty crops.— Section 508(a)(6)(A) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(6)(A)) is amended by inserting “(in consultation with the Specialty Crop Advisory Committee established under section 505(f))” after “Corporation”.