7 U.S.C. § 5101 (AGRICULTURE)
§ 5101. Qualifying States
(a) In general
A State is a qualifying State if the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the “Secretary”) determines that the State has in effect a mediation program that meets the requirements of subsection (c).
(b) Determination by Secretary
Within 15 days after the Secretary receives from the Governor of a State a description of the mediation program of the State and a statement certifying that the State has met all of the requirements of subsection (c), the Secretary shall determine whether the State is a qualifying State.
(c) Requirements of State mediation programs
(1) Issues covered
(A) In general
To be certified as a qualifying State, the mediation program of the State must provide mediation services to persons described in paragraph (2) that are involved in agricultural loans (regardless of whether the loans are made or guaranteed by the Secretary or made by a third party).
(B) Other issues
The mediation program of a qualifying State may provide mediation services to persons described in paragraph (2) that are involved in one or more of the following issues under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture:
(i) Wetlands determinations.
(ii) Compliance with farm programs, including conservation programs.
(iii) Agricultural credit.
(iv) Rural water loan programs.
(v) Grazing on National Forest System land.
(vi) Pesticides.
(vii) Such other issues as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Persons eligible for mediation
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the persons referred to in paragraph (1) include—
(i) agricultural producers;
(ii) creditors of producers (as applicable); and
(iii) persons directly affected by actions of the Department of Agriculture.
(B) Voluntary participation
(i) In general
Subject to clause (ii) and section 5103 of this title, a person may not be compelled to participate in mediation services provided under this Act.
(ii) State laws
Clause (i) shall not affect a State law requiring mediation before foreclosure on agricultural land or property.
(3) Certification conditions
The Secretary shall certify a State as a qualifying State with respect to the issues proposed to be covered by the mediation program of the State if the mediation program—
(A) provides for mediation services that, if decisions are reached, result in mediated, mutually agreeable decisions between the parties to the mediation;
(B) is authorized or administered by an agency of the State government or by the Governor of the State;
(C) provides for the training of mediators;
(D) provides that the mediation sessions shall be confidential;
(E) ensures, in the case of agricultural loans, that all lenders and borrowers of agricultural loans receive adequate notification of the mediation program; and
(F) ensures, in the case of other issues covered by the mediation program, that persons directly affected by actions of the Department of Agriculture receive adequate notification of the mediation program.
(d) Definition of mediation services
In this section, the term “mediation services”, with respect to mediation or a request for mediation, may include all activities related to—
(1) the intake and scheduling of cases;
(2) the provision of background and selected information regarding the mediation process;
(3) financial advisory and counseling services (as appropriate) performed by a person other than a State mediation program mediator; and
(4) the mediation session.
(Pub. L. 100–233, title V, § 501, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1662; Pub. L. 100–399, title V, § 501, Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1005; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 282(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3233; Pub. L. 106–472, title III, § 306(a), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2072.)
heading: References in Text
text: This Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i), is Pub. L. 100–233, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1568, as amended, known as the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987. Provisions relating to mediation services are contained in title V of the Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
heading: Amendments
text: 2000—Subsec. (c)(1), (2). Pub. L. 106–472, § 306(a)(1), added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2), which required State mediation program to provide services for producers, their creditors, and other persons involved in agricultural loans, or involved in agricultural loans and such issues as wetlands determinations, compliance with farm programs, agricultural credit, rural water loan programs, grazing on National Forest System lands, pesticides, or such other issues considered appropriate.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–472, § 306(a)(2), added subsec. (d).
1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–354, § 282(a)(1), substituted “a mediation program” for “an agricultural loan mediation program”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–354, § 282(a)(2), struck out “agricultural loan” before “mediation program”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–354, § 282(a)(3), added subsec. (c) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (c). Text read as follows: “Within 15 days after the Secretary receives a description of a State agricultural loan mediation program, the Secretary shall certify the State as a qualifying State if the State program—
“(1) provides for mediation services to be provided to producers, and their creditors, that, if decisions are reached, result in mediated, mutually agreeable decisions between parties under an agricultural loan mediation program;
“(2) is authorized or administered by an agency of the State government or by the Governor of the State;
“(3) provides for the training of mediators;
“(4) provides that the mediation sessions shall be confidential; and
“(5) ensures that all lenders and borrowers of agricultural loans receive adequate notification of the mediation program.”
1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–399 struck out comma after “Governor of a State”.
heading: Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 100–399 effective as if enacted immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 100–233, which was approved Jan. 6, 1988, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 100–399, set out as a note under section 2002 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.
heading: Short Title of 2010 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 111–233, § 1, Aug. 16, 2010, 124 Stat. 2493, provided that: “This Act [amending section 5106 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Agricultural Credit Act of 2010’.”