Bill Text: NY S04900 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2017-10-23 - VETOED MEMO.167 [S04900 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-S04900-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          4900
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                      March 3, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
        AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law  and  the  public  lands
          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
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08824-01-7
        S. 4900                             2
     1  protection boards, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts
     2  and  not-for-profit  conservation organizations, and the need to protect
     3  the state's agricultural economy and land resources.
     4    §  4.  The  agriculture  and  markets  law  is amended by adding a new
     5  section 329-a to read as follows:
     6    § 329-a.   Farmland availability information. 1.  The  department  may
     7  collect  and  compile  information  about public land that is viable for
     8  farming and is available for purchase or  lease  for  farming  and  make
     9  available such information, including contact information for the office
    10  of  general  services,  other  state agencies, municipalities, and other
    11  governmental entities offering such land, on its internet  website.  The
    12  department shall provide guidance and assistance to the office of gener-
    13  al services, other state agencies, municipalities and other governmental
    14  organizations  that request such assistance, in identifying land that is
    15  viable for farming.
    16    2. The department may also make available  similar  information  about
    17  private  land  available  for  purchase  or lease for farming, including
    18  contact information for the owners of such land.
    19    § 5. Section 2 of the public lands law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
    20  subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
    21    3-a.  Land  viable  for  farming;  identification. The commissioner of
    22  general services is authorized and directed to consult, as part  of  the
    23  state-owned  real  property  management  program, with the department of
    24  agriculture and markets to identify land that may be viable for  farming
    25  and  may  be  made  available for purchase or lease for farming and make
    26  that information available to the department of agriculture and  markets
    27  to be disseminated to the public.
    28    § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.