STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7011--A
IN SENATE
March 16, 2016
___________
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
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-e to read as follows:
3 2-e. 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
25 protection boards, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05590-03-6
S. 7011--A 2
1 and not-for-profit conservation organizations, and the need to protect
2 the state's agricultural economy and land resources.
3 § 4. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
4 section 329-a to read as follows:
5 § 329-a. Farmland availability information. 1. The department may
6 collect and compile information about public land that is viable for
7 farming and is available for purchase or lease for farming and make
8 available such information, including contact information for the office
9 of general services, other state agencies, municipalities, and other
10 governmental entities offering such land, on its internet website. The
11 department shall provide guidance and assistance to the office of gener-
12 al services, other state agencies, municipalities and other governmental
13 organizations that request such assistance, in identifying land that is
14 viable for farming.
15 2. The department may also make available similar information about
16 private land available for purchase or lease for farming, including
17 contact information for the owners of such land.
18 § 5. Section 2 of the public lands law is amended by adding a new
19 subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
20 3-a. Land viable for farming; identification. The commissioner of
21 general services is authorized and directed to consult, as part of the
22 state-owned real property management program, with the department of
23 agriculture and markets to identify land that may be viable for farming
24 and may be made available for purchase or lease for farming and make
25 that information available to the department of agriculture and markets
26 to be disseminated to the public.
27 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
