S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 5482 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E May 16, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation AN ACT to amend the soil and water conservation districts law, in relation to establishing a drain tile revolving loan program THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The soil and water conservation districts law is amended by 2 adding a new section 4-a to read as follows: 3 S 4-A. DRAIN TILE REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. 1. THE SOIL AND WATER 4 CONSERVATION COMMITTEE SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A DRAIN TILE REVOLV- 5 ING LOAN PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LOW INTEREST LOANS TO FARMERS FOR THE 6 PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THEIR FARM FIELDS WITH DRAIN TILE. SUCH PROGRAM 7 SHALL PROVIDE LOW INTEREST LOANS TO FARMERS FOR SUCH DRAIN TILE PROJECTS 8 AS THE COMMITTEE SHALL DEEM TO BE ELIGIBLE PURSUANT TO RULE OR REGU- 9 LATION. 10 2. THE COMMITTEE SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE 11 PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING ESTAB- 12 LISHING: 13 A. AN APPLICATION PROCESS WHEREBY FARMERS MAY APPLY FOR LOANS; 14 B. CRITERIA AND STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING A FARMER'S ELIGIBILITY FOR A 15 LOAN; 16 C. CRITERIA AND STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING THE PRIORITY TO BE GRANTED 17 AMONG DRAIN TILE PROJECTS; 18 D. CRITERIA AND STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL 19 ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED TO A FARMER FOR A DRAIN TILE PROJECT; AND 20 E. CRITERIA AND STANDARDS TO BE USED IN DETERMINING THE LOAN REPAYMENT 21 PERIODS AND THE TERMS OF ANY REPAYMENT AGREEMENTS. 22 3. THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS IN THE DRAIN TILE REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM SHALL 23 BE SUBJECT TO A BUDGETARY APPROPRIATION. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10783-01-3 S. 5482 2 1 4. THE COMMITTEE MAY PROVIDE LOW INTEREST LOANS TO FARMERS WITHIN THE 2 AMOUNTS AVAILABLE IN THE DRAIN TILE REVOLVING LOAN FUND ESTABLISHED 3 PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. 4 S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 5 it shall have become a law; provided, however, that any rules and regu- 6 lations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effec- 7 tive date are authorized to be made on or before such date.