STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
271
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- 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 small farm disaster recovery grant 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 325-b to read as follows:
3 § 325-b. Small farm disaster recovery grant program. 1. There is here-
4 by established a small farm disaster recovery grant program to be admin-
5 istered by the department, in conjunction with the empire state develop-
6 ment corporation.
7 2. The purpose of the program is to provide financial relief to small
8 farms that have been affected by natural disasters.
9 3. For purposes of this section, small farm shall only include farms
10 that sell produce and have annual sales of one hundred thousand dollars
11 or less.
12 4. The owner of any small farm may submit an application for a grant
13 pursuant to this section to the department. Grants awarded pursuant to
14 this section shall be used solely for the purpose of purchasing and
15 replanting crops that have been destroyed by a natural disaster.
16 5. The commissioner, upon review of an owner's application, shall
17 determine if the owner is eligible for a grant pursuant to this section.
18 The commissioner shall make the determination as to the amount of grant
19 the small farm owner needs to rebuild his or her crop, provided that
20 such amount shall in no event exceed ten thousand dollars.
21 6. This program shall be funded through annual appropriations of the
22 legislature or any other funds received by the state for the purposes of
23 this section. Grants shall only be awarded based upon the availability
24 of funds.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04930-01-9
S. 271 2
1 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
2 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
3 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
4 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
5 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.