Bill Text: NY A10056 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Bill 10056 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relates to access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-7)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-06-05 - REFERRED TO RULES [A10056 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A10056-Introduced.html

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          10056
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                     March 13, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by M. of A. MAGEE -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Agriculture
        AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation  to  access
          to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
     2  adding a new subdivision 2-f to read as follows:
     3    2-f. Aid in efforts supporting the successful transfer of viable agri-
     4  cultural land from existing owners to new owners  and  operators,  espe-
     5  cially beginning farmers.
     6    §  2. Subdivision 5 of section 309 of the agriculture and markets law,
     7  as added by chapter 79 of the laws  of  1980,  is  amended  to  read  as
     8  follows:
     9    5.  The  advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner
    10  and other state agency heads on state  government  plans,  policies  and
    11  programs  affecting  farming and the agricultural industry of this state
    12  including, but not limited to, advice regarding tax,  financial  assist-
    13  ance  and  other  policies  and programs that could address the needs of
    14  beginning farmers and issues related to transfer of ownership of  farms.
    15  Concerned  state  agencies  shall  be  encouraged to establish a working
    16  relationship with the council and shall fully cooperate with the council
    17  in any requests it shall make.
    18    § 3. Subdivision 6 of section 323 of the agriculture and markets  law,
    19  as  amended  by  chapter  150 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as
    20  follows:
    21    6. reporting biennially to the governor and the legislature  regarding
    22  the  activities of the commissioner, including efforts to enhance access
    23  to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers, the types  of
    24  technical  assistance  rendered  to  county  agricultural  and  farmland
    25  protection boards, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts
    26  and not-for-profit conservation organizations, and the need  to  protect
    27  the state's agricultural economy and land resources.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD15115-01-8

        A. 10056                            2
     1    §  4.  The  agriculture  and  markets  law  is amended by adding a new
     2  section 329-a to read as follows:
     3    §  329-a.    Farmland  availability information. 1. The department may
     4  collect and compile information about public land  that  is  viable  for
     5  farming  and  is  available  for  purchase or lease for farming and make
     6  available such information, including contact information for the office
     7  of general services, other state  agencies,  municipalities,  and  other
     8  governmental  entities  offering such land, on its internet website. The
     9  department shall provide guidance and assistance to the office of gener-
    10  al services, other state agencies, municipalities and other governmental
    11  organizations that request such assistance, in identifying land that  is
    12  viable for farming.
    13    2.  The  department  may also make available similar information about
    14  private land available for purchase  or  lease  for  farming,  including
    15  contact information for the owners of such land.
    16    §  5.  Paragraph (c) of subdivision 3 of section 309-a of the agricul-
    17  ture and markets law, as added by chapter 129 of the laws  of  2017,  is
    18  amended to read as follows:
    19    (c) identify issues, including, but not limited to, efforts to enhance
    20  access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers, relat-
    21  ing  to  young  and  beginning  farmers  in the state and provide timely
    22  advice to the commissioner, the governor and the  relevant  state  agen-
    23  cies,  with  regard to the promotion of agriculture as a career path and
    24  the economic development of young and aspiring farmers;
    25    § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.