110 STAT. 944 PUBLIC LAW 104-127 —APR. 4, 1996 Effective date. 7 USC 1508 note. 7 USC 1508 note. begin at a date that permits the process to be completed not later than 45 days before the sales closing date.". (2) WAIVER OF MANDATORY LINKAGE.— Section 508(b)(7) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)(7)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: "(A) IN GENERAL.— Effective for the spring-planted 1996 and subsequent crops (and fall-planted 1996 crops at the option of the Secretary), to be eligible for any payment or loan under the Agricultural Market Transition Act, for the conservation reserve program, or for any benefit described in section 371 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008f), a person shall— "(i) obtain at least the catastrophic level of insurance for each crop of economic significance in which the person has an interest; or "(ii) provide a written waiver to the Secretary that waives any eligibility for emergency crop loss assistance in connection with the crop.". (3) SPECIAL RULE FOR 1996. — (A) EFFECTIVE PERIOD.— T h is paragraph shall apply only to the 1996 crop year. (B) AVAILABILITY.— During a period of not less than 2 weeks, but not more than 4 weeks, beginning on the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall provide producers with an opportunity to obtain catastrophic risk protection insurance under section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)) for a spring-planted crop, and limited additional coverage for malting barley under the Malting Barley Price and Quality Endorsement. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation may attach such limitations and restrictions on obtaining insurance during this period as the Corporation considers necessary to maintain the actuarial soundness of the crop insurance program. (C) ATTACHMENT. —Insurance coverage under any policy obtained under this paragraph during the extended sales period shall not attach until 10 days after the application. (D) CANCELLATION.— During the extended period, a producer may cancel a catastrophic risk protection policy if— (i) the policy is a continuation of a policy that was obtained for a previous crop year; and (ii) the cancellation request is made before the acreage reporting date for the policy for the 1996 crop year. (b) CROP INSURANCE PILOT PROJECT. — (1) COVERAGE. —The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop and administer a pilot project for crop insurance coverage that indemnifies crop losses due to a natural disaster such as insect infestation or disease. (2) ACTUARIAL SOUNDNESS.—^A pilot project under this paragraph shall be actuarially sound, as determined by the Secretary and administered at no net cost. (3) DURATION. —A pilot project under this paragraph shall be of two years' duration.
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