(a) The county commission of each county may adopt and implement a farmland protection program within the county. The county commission of each county which decides to adopt and implement a farmland protection program shall appoint a farmland protection board. The farmland protection board shall administer on behalf of the county commission all matters concerning farmland protection. The county commission has final approval authority for any and all purchases of easements for the farmland protection program by the board.
(b) The farmland protection board shall adopt bylaws prescribing the board's officers, meeting dates, record-keeping procedures, meeting attendance requirements and other internal operational procedures. The member of the farmland protection board who is a county commissioner shall serve as temporary chairman of the board until the board's bylaws are adopted and until the board's officers are selected as prescribed by those bylaws. The farmland protection board shall prepare a document proposing a farmland protection program which is consistent with the Legislature's intent.
(c) Each member of the board shall receive expense reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while engaged in the discharge of official duties, the actual expenses not to exceed the amount paid to members of the Legislature.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 12. Voluntary Farmland Protection Programs
§8A-12-1. Legislative Findings and Purpose
§8A-12-3. Content and Requirements of Farmland Protection Programs
§8A-12-4. Farmland Protection Boards -– Appointment, Composition, Terms
§8A-12-5. Farmland Protection Boards -– Powers
§8A-12-6. Farmland Protection Board Duties
§8A-12-7. West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Authority -– Established
§8A-12-8. West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Authority -– Board of Trustees
§8A-12-9. West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Authority -– Powers
§8A-12-10. West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Authority -– Duties
§8A-12-12. Methods of Farmland Protection
§8A-12-13. Offer of Conservation or Preservation Easements
§8A-12-14. Value of Conservation or Preservation Easement
§8A-12-16. Use of Land for Which Conservation or Preservation Easement Acquired
§8A-12-17. Funding of Farmland Protection Programs
§8A-12-18. Disbursements by the Authority to County Farmland Protection Boards
§8A-12-19. Classification of Land Subject to Conservation or Preservation Easement
§8A-12-20. Authorization for Commissioner of Agriculture to Promulgate Proposed Rules