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. LBD08824-01-7S. 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.