Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§5102 Matching grants to States

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 82— - STATE AGRICULTURAL LOAN MEDIATION PROGRAMS › § 5102

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must give a qualifying State money to run its mediation program within 60 days after the State is certified. The grant can pay up to 70% of the program’s operating and administrative costs, but no State may receive more than $500,000 in a year. States must spend the grant only on running the mediation program. Allowed costs include staff pay and mediator fees; office rent, utilities, and supplies; administrative items like insurance, employer Social Security payments, and travel; training; security to protect confidentiality; outreach and party preparation; and financial advice or counseling. If a State fails to follow these rules, it can lose future funding.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §5102

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Within 60 days after the Secretary certifies the State as a qualifying State under section 5101(b) of this title, the Secretary shall provide financial assistance to the State, in accordance with subsection (b), for the operation and administration of the mediation program.
(b)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall pay to a State under subsection (a) not more than 70 percent of the cost of the operation and administration of the mediation program within the State.
(2)The Secretary shall not pay more than $500,000 per year to a single State under subsection (a).
(c)(1)Each State that receives an amount paid under subsection (a) shall use that amount only for the operation and administration of the mediation program of the State with respect to which the amount was paid.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), operation and administration expenses for which a grant may be used include—
(A)salaries;
(B)reasonable fees and costs of mediators;
(C)office rent and expenses, such as utilities and equipment rental;
(D)office supplies;
(E)administrative costs, such as workers’ compensation, liability insurance, the employer’s share of Social Security, and necessary travel;
(F)education and training;
(G)security systems necessary to ensure the confidentiality of mediation sessions and records of mediation sessions;
(H)costs associated with publicity and promotion of the mediation program;
(I)preparation of the parties for mediation; and
(J)financial advisory and counseling services for parties requesting mediation.
(d)If the Secretary determines that a State has not complied with subsection (c), such State shall not be eligible for additional financial assistance under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–472 designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2). 1994—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1), (c). Pub. L. 103–354 struck out “agricultural loan” before “mediation program”. 1992—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–554, § 22(1), substituted “70” for “50”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–554, § 22(2), inserted before period at end “with respect to which the amount was paid”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 5102

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73