Bill Text: NY S07849 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishes the native plant seed supply, development and enhancement program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-05 - SUBSTITUTED BY A9043 [S07849 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S07849-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          7849

                    IN SENATE

                                     January 3, 2024
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  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, in relation  to  estab-
          lishing  a  native  plant  seed  supply,  development  and enhancement
          program

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
     2  section 142-b to read as follows:
     3    § 142-b. The New  York  native  plant  seed  supply,  development  and
     4  enhancement program. 1. The commissioners of the department, the depart-
     5  ment  of  environmental  conservation,  and  the  department of economic
     6  development shall establish a New York native plant seed supply,  devel-
     7  opment and enhancement program.
     8    2. The purpose of such program shall be to:
     9    (a)  increase  the production of native plant seeds at plant nurseries
    10  in the state;
    11    (b) increase the use of native plant seeds in public land  management,
    12  roadside   landscaping,  reforestation,  pollinator  promotion,  habitat
    13  restoration, regular groundskeeping and maintenance on state lands,  and
    14  other projects as determined by the commissioners of the department, the
    15  department of environmental conservation, and economic development; and
    16    (c)  ensure  that native plant seeds are commercially available in the
    17  state at a reasonable cost and in adequate supply.
    18    3. No later than one year after the effective date  of  this  section,
    19  the  commissioners shall promulgate rules and regulations for the estab-
    20  lishment of the program, including an initial list of plants whose seeds
    21  are eligible for consideration to participate in such program.
    22    4. Funds for the program shall be subject to appropriation and may  be
    23  used  to establish growing operations managed by the state or to support
    24  private entities that can increase the state's native plant seed supply.
    25    5. As used in this section, "native plant seed"  means  a  germinating
    26  seed,  or  other  plant part, used to propagate a plant, that originates
    27  from a plant species that is indigenous to New York state.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13584-02-3
        S. 7849                             2

     1    6. Whenever possible and practicable, the  state  shall  make  use  of
     2  native  plant  seeds  when  engaging in public land management, roadside
     3  landscaping, reforestation, pollinator promotion,  habitat  restoration,
     4  regular  groundskeeping  and  maintenance  on  state  lands,  and  other
     5  projects  as  determined  by  the  commissioners  of the department, the
     6  department of environmental conservation, and the department of economic
     7  development.
     8    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.