PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 110 STAT. 943 contracting options, and insurance protection programs by assisting and training producers in the usage of such programs. In implementing this authority, the Secretary may use existing research and extension authorities and resources of the Department of Agriculture. SEC. 193. CROP INSURANCE. (a) CATASTROPHIC RISK PROTECTION.— (1) SINGLE DELIVERY. —Section 508(b)(4) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(C) DELIVERY OF COVERAGE. — "(i) IN GENERAL.—In full consultation with approved insurance providers, the Secretary may continue to offer catastrophic risk protection in a State (or a portion of a State) through local offices of the Department if the Secretary determines that there is an insufficient number of approved insurance providers operating in the State or portion of the State to adequately provide catastrophic risk protection coverage to producers. " (ii) COVERAGE BY APPROVED INSURANCE PROVID- ERS.— To the extent that catastrophic risk protection coverage by approved insurance providers is sufficiently available in a State (or a portion of a State) as determined by the Secretary, only approved insurance providers may provide the coverage in the State or portion of the State. "(iii) TIMING OF DETERMINATIONS. — Not later than 90 days aftcy the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall announce the results of the determinations under clause (i) for policies for the 1997 crop year. For subsequent crop years, the Secretary shall make the announcement not later than April 30 of the year preceding the year in which the crop will be produced, or at such other times during the year as the Secretary finds practicable in consultation with affected crop insurance providers for those States (or portions of States) in which catastrophic coverage remains available through local offices of the Department. "(iv) CURRENT POLICIES.— Th is clause shall take effect beginning with the 1997 crop year. Subject to clause (ii) all catastrophic risk protection policies written by local offices of the Department shall be transferred to the approved insurance provider for performance of all sales, service, and loss adjustment functions. Any fees in connection with such policies that are not yet collected at the time of the transfer shall be payable to the approved insurance providers assuming the policies. The transfer process for policies for the 1997 crop year with sales closing dates before January 1, 1997, shall begin at the time of the Secretary's announcement under clause (iii) and be completed by the sales closing date for the crop and county. The transfer process for all subsequent policies (including policies for the 1998 and subsequent crop years) shall Announcement. Effective date.
�
