Current Status Bill Number:3219 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950110 Primary Sponsor:Harvin All Sponsors:Harvin and Govan Drafted Document Number:pfm\7028bdw.95 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee 20 HANR Subject:Agricultural Heritage Preservation Program
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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House 19950110 Introduced, read first time, 20 HANR
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 60-11-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM WITHIN THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY.
Whereas, the buildings that illustrate South Carolina's rural agricultural heritage are among the most endangered historic properties in the State. Disappearing farmland threatens the survival of historic agricultural buildings and farmsteads; and
Whereas, South Carolina today has less than half the amount of land in farms that it had in 1930. The number of farms is only fifteen percent of the number in 1930, and these trends are continuing. On the remaining farms, advances in agricultural technology also threaten historic buildings and structures by making them obsolete; and
Whereas, the State is preserving many examples of plantation houses and farmhouses from the eighteenth through the early twentieth centuries, but the buildings behind the main house are more vulnerable. The historic barns, corn cribs, springhouses, well houses, smokehouses, and tenant houses that tell the story of agriculture in South Carolina are falling into ruin. Also endangered are buildings representing particular facets of our historic agricultural economy such as the traditional tobacco barns and pack houses associated with the cultivation and processing of tobacco; and
Whereas, lack of public awareness of the importance of our historic agricultural buildings contributes to their vulnerability. Many owners are not able to bear the full costs of preserving them. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 60-11-110. (A) The Agricultural Heritage Preservation Program must be established by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History to increase awareness of the importance of South Carolina's historic agricultural buildings and encourage their preservation through an audio-visual presentation and an awards program. Working with the South Carolina Educational Television Network and other appropriate agencies and organizations, the department shall research and produce an audio-visual presentation on South Carolina's vanishing historic farm sites. The presentation must include visits to historic farm buildings and interviews with local farmers. The department shall make the presentation available to historical societies and other organizations across the State.
(B) The department shall work with the agencies and organizations referenced in subsection (A) to sponsor an awards program to honor and publicize farmers who successfully have preserved historic farm buildings.
(C) The program must be funded through appropriations by the General Assembly. The department shall develop a grants proposal for the program to assist citizens' efforts to preserve significant historic agricultural buildings. Matching grants and technical assistance must be awarded on a competitive basis to stabilize, rehabilitate, and restore these buildings according to the United States Secretary of Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 1995.