General Administrative Regulations, Catastrophic Risk Protection Endorsement; Group Risk Plan of Insurance Regulations for the 2004 and Succeeding Crop Years; and the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) finalizes the Group Risk Plan of Insurance Regulations (GRP Provisions); and the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions (Basic Provisions) to make revisions that will reduce program vulnerabilities and clarify existing policy provisions to better meet the needs of the insured. Further, FCIC is making conforming amendments to the General Administrative Regulations, Subpart L--Reinsurance Agreement--Standards for Approval; Regulations for the 1997 and Subsequent Reinsurance Years and Subpart P--Preemption of State Laws and Regulations, and the Catastrophic Risk Protection Endorsement. The changes will apply for the 2005 and succeeding crop years for all crops with a contract change date on or after the effective date of this rule, and for the 2006 and succeeding crop years for all crops with a contract change date prior to the effective date of this rule. In addition, FCIC is finalizing the interim rule published on June 30, 2000, implementing statutory mandates of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (ARPA).