Establishes the New York state equine industry board, to advise and make recommendations to the state agencies on state government plans, policies and programs affecting all aspects of equine industry, and in such areas as its experience and studies may indicate to be appropriate.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7342--D
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER, BUTTENSCHON, SHIMSKY, JONES, HAWLEY,
TAGUE, KAY, FITZPATRICK, WILLIAMS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Agriculture -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee --
again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted
as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from
said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- reported and referred to the Commit-
tee on Ways and Means -- 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 estab-
lishing the New York state equine industry workgroup
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 387 to read as follows:
3 § 387. New York state equine industry workgroup. 1. There shall be
4 established within the department the New York state equine industry
5 workgroup, to advise and make recommendations to the state agencies on
6 state government plans, policies and programs affecting all aspects of
7 equine industry, as outlined below, and in such areas as its experience
8 and studies may indicate to be appropriate. The department shall provide
9 necessary secretarial and support services to the workgroup.
10 2. The commissioner shall convene an annual workgroup of stakeholders
11 which shall include the commissioner or their designee who shall act as
12 chairperson of the board, and representatives of the following stake-
13 holder groups: Cornell university college of agriculture and life
14 sciences; Cornell university college of veterinary medicine; a rescue
15 organization or the humane society; an organization involved in horse
16 sanctuaries or racehorse aftercare; an organization involved in horse
17 therapy; an equine veterinarian; a trail or recreational riding group;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11101-11-5
A. 7342--D 2
1 the equine support industry; an organizer of horse shows, rodeos or
2 competitions; horse boarders or riding stables; an urban equestrian
3 organization; the horse breeding industry; farmers and ranchers; an
4 academic researcher; the New York state horse council or a similar
5 organization; the New York state Veterinary Medical Society or a similar
6 organization; and a youth equine organization. Stakeholders shall serve
7 without salary.
8 3. (a) The duties and responsibilities of the equine advisory work-
9 group shall include, but not be limited to, providing timely advice,
10 comments and recommendations to the commissioner regarding:
11 (i) equine-tourism;
12 (ii) equine industry promotion;
13 (iii) workforce development;
14 (iv) educational and training initiatives;
15 (v) humane treatment of horses; and
16 (vi) other areas of interest identified by the workgroup.
17 (b) The commissioner may delegate to the workgroup such additional
18 duties and responsibilities as are deemed necessary.
19 4. The duties and responsibilities of the equine industry workgroup
20 shall include, but not be limited to, providing timely advice, comments
21 and recommendations to the commissioner and other state agency heads
22 regarding all aspects of the equine industry in the state. Concerned
23 state agencies shall be encouraged to establish a working relationship
24 with the workgroup and shall fully cooperate with the workgroup in any
25 requests it shall make.
26 5. The commissioner may ask other individuals to attend the equine
27 industry workgroup's meetings or work with it on an occasional or regu-
28 lar basis. The workgroup may establish committees and regional working
29 groups as necessary.
30 6. The equine industry workgroup shall produce an annual report with
31 recommendations to the commissioner, the speaker of the assembly, the
32 temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly
33 and the minority leader of the senate within one year of the effective
34 date of this section and every year thereafter concerning its activities
35 during the previous year and its program expectations for the succeeding
36 year.
37 7. (a) The equine industry workgroup shall advise the commissioner in
38 establishing procedures for making annual awards and grants, within the
39 limits of appropriations made therefor, recognizing New York equine
40 businesses, individuals, and institutions that are successful in inno-
41 vating, marketing, and/or promoting New York equine industries. The
42 commissioner shall coordinate with the commissioner of economic develop-
43 ment to determine which department shall make awards and grants in vari-
44 ous categories identified by the equine industry workgroup. These awards
45 and grants shall be given in recognition of exceptional performance,
46 innovation and support for New York equine industries by persons, firms
47 and organizations that are principally located within the state of New
48 York and engaged in the operation of New York equine farms, businesses
49 and institutions.
50 (b) The workgroup may annually nominate and forward such nominations
51 for awards and grants to the commissioner for consideration in the
52 following categories:
53 (i) veterinary practice and horse welfare;
54 (ii) equine-tourism;
55 (iii) workforce development;
56 (iv) public education;
A. 7342--D 3
1 (v) youth equine activities; and
2 (vi) such other awards and grants as the equine advisory workgroup
3 shall recommend.
4 (c) The commissioner shall have the discretion to designate award and
5 grant winners from these nominees. Current members of the workgroup and
6 their businesses are not eligible as nominees.
7 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
8 have become a law.
