Relates to developing a beekeeper registry program; provides notification of such program to purchasers of bees and beekeeping equipment so purchasers can voluntarily register.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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8274--A
IN SENATE
April 25, 2018
___________
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture --
reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee
on Rules -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to develop-
ing a beekeeper registry program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 169-d of the agricultural and markets law is
2 amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
3 5. (a) Apiary industry registry. The commissioner, in cooperation with
4 the apiary industry advisory committee, is authorized to develop a beek-
5 eeper registry program for commercial beekeepers, part-time beekeepers
6 and hobbyist beekeepers. The purpose of such registry program shall be
7 to maintain a census of beekeepers and beehives and provide a means of
8 communication to and from beekeepers and bee research programs to
9 provide for monitoring of the bee population in New York state with the
10 goal of protecting the health and wellbeing of bees, preventing disease
11 and maintaining the productivity of bees for pollination and honey
12 production.
13 (b) Registry notification by sellers of bees and beekeeping equipment.
14 As part of a beekeeper registry program developed pursuant to this
15 subdivision, any person, firm, limited liability company or corporation
16 that sells bees and beekeeping equipment to New York state residents
17 shall be encouraged to provide information regarding the department's
18 beekeeper registry program to New York state purchasers of such bees or
19 beekeeping equipment, including, but not limited to, the purpose of such
20 program and how such purchasers may voluntarily register.
21 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
22 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
23 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
24 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
25 completed on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15465-05-8
