I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4313 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 29, 2012 Mr. Boswell (for himself and Mr. Crawford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to require an evaluation of county workload assessments for purposes of the closure or relocation of a county office for the Farm Service Agency, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Farm Service Accountability Act.

2.

Evaluation required for purposes of prohibition on closure or relocation of county offices for the Farm Service Agency

(a)

Prohibition on closure or relocation of offices with high workload volume

Section 14212 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 6932a) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following subsection: (a)

Prohibition on closure or relocation of offices with high workload volume

The Secretary of Agriculture may not close or relocate a county or field office of the Farm Service Agency in a State if the Secretary determines, after conducting the evaluation required under subsection (b)(1)(B), that the office has a high workload volume compared with other county offices in the State. . (b)

Workload evaluation

Section 14212(b)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(1)) is amended— (1)by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; (2)by striking the Farm Service Agency, to the maximum extent practicable and inserting the Farm Service Agency—(A)to the maximum extent practicable ; (3)in clause (ii) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))— (A)by inserting as of the date of the enactment of this Act after employees; and (B)by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (4)by adding at the end the following subparagraph: (B)conduct an evaluation of all Farm Service Agency county office workload assessments. . (c)

Notice required

Section 14212(b)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(2)) is amended— (1)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking After the period referred to in subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Agriculture may not close a county or field office of the Farm Service Agency unless— and inserting After carrying out each of the activities required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall, before closing a county or field office of the Farm Service Agency—; (2)in subparagaph (A), by striking the Secretary holds and inserting hold; and (3)in subparagraph (B), by striking the Secretary notifies and inserting notify; (d)

Conforming amendment

Section 14212(b)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(1)) is amended by striking After the period referred to in subsection (a)(1), the Secretary and inserting The Secretary.