House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Section 3.1

Modifies the eligibility criteria for the Crop Loss Program so that the “eligibility date” for losses related to planted, but not harvested, commodities and aquaculture commodities refers to the date of the disaster set forth in the Secretarial declaration for the county in which the agricultural or aquaculture commodities are located and for which verifiable losses, damage, or degradation are claimed.

Extends the following dates and dates under the process to document the loss to be established by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Department):  

• Now requires submission to the Department by no later than 45 days (was, 30 days) after the Crop Loss Program is effective.
• Now allows for an additional 45-day extension (was, 30-day extension) for verification of nursery crops, fruit-bearing trees and bushes, and specialty crops where the survival level is not immediately known upon written request by the farmer that is received no later than 45 days (was, 30 days) after the Crop Loss Program becomes effective and with approval by the Department. 

Revises the provisions pertaining to required refunds of awards under the Agricultural Crop Loss Program so that the refund provisions are also triggered if a person received financial assistance for which they were ineligible (was, only that the amount of the financial assistance received is based on inaccurate information). States that should a triggering event occur, the recipient forfeits the assistance awarded and that it bears interest at the statutory rate set forth in GS 105-241.21 until repaid.  Now requires for forfeited financial assistance that is not repaid to be recouped through a civil action by the Attorney General at the request of the Commissioner of Agriculture (was, collection by Department of Revenue).

Adds specialty crop to the definition of agricultural commodity.