Bill Text: CA AB552 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Farmer Equity Act of 2017: Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Pilot Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2024-01-25 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB552 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB552-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 06, 2023 |
Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett |
February 08, 2023 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
Existing law establishes
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 618 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:618.
(a) The Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Program is hereby established within the department.(a)The California Farmland Conservancy Program is hereby established in the department.
(b)The program may offer financial assistance, including grants or contracts, for projects and activities on agricultural lands that support agricultural conservation and sustainable land management, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1)Acquisition of agricultural conservation easements or fee title to protect the land’s agricultural use or capacity that meets the following requirements:
(A)The primary purpose for which the easement or fee title is being sought is consistent with continuing agricultural use of the property.
(B)The easement or fee title does not, and will not, substantially prevent agricultural uses on the property.
(C)Any nonagricultural qualities that will be protected by the easement or fee title, if applicable, are inherent to the property.
(2)Improvements to land protected by a conservation easement, deed restriction, or similar long-term agreement as determined by the director.
(3)Plans to protect and conserve agricultural lands and plans to protect, conserve, restore, or enhance resources or values located on, or adjacent to, agricultural lands or that were historically present on agricultural lands. These may include, but are not limited to, either of the following:
(A)An
agricultural land component or element of a general plan developed pursuant to Section 65565 of the Government Code.
(B)Land conservation strategies and plans to identify and develop potential projects.
(4)Technical assistance to develop projects, prepare applications, and implement projects.
(5)Regional farm tool lending programs.
(6)Administrative costs incurred by the department
to administer the program.
(7)Any other purposes approved by the Legislature in a funding appropriation for the program.