S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1571

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, GUNTHER, JAFFEE, BRINDISI, BARRETT -- read
  once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture

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:

  Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 2-e to read as follows:
  2-E. AID IN EFFORTS SUPPORTING THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF VIABLE AGRI-
CULTURAL LAND FROM EXISTING OWNERS TO NEW OWNERS  AND  OPERATORS,  ESPE-
CIALLY BEGINNING FARMERS.
  S  2. Subdivision 5 of section 309 of the agriculture and markets law,
as added by chapter 79 of the laws  of  1980,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  5.  The  advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner
and other state agency heads on state  government  plans,  policies  and
programs  affecting  farming and the agricultural industry of this state
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADVICE REGARDING TAX,  FINANCIAL  ASSIST-
ANCE  AND  OTHER  POLICIES  AND PROGRAMS THAT COULD ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
BEGINNING FARMERS AND ISSUES RELATED TO TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF  FARMS.
Concerned  state  agencies  shall  be  encouraged to establish a working
relationship with the council and shall fully cooperate with the council
in any requests it shall make.
  S 3. Subdivision 6 of section 323 of the agriculture and markets  law,
as  amended  by  chapter  150 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as
follows:
  6. reporting biennially to the governor and the legislature  regarding
the  activities of the commissioner, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE ACCESS
TO VIABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS, the types  of
technical  assistance  rendered  to  county  agricultural  and  farmland
protection boards, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts
and not-for-profit conservation organizations, and the need  to  protect
the state's agricultural economy and land resources.

              

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05590-01-5

A. 1571                             2

  S  4.  The  agriculture  and  markets  law  is amended by adding a new
section 329-a to read as follows:
  S  329-A.   FARMLAND AVAILABILITY INFORMATION. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
COLLECT AND COMPILE INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC LAND  THAT  IS  VIABLE  FOR
FARMING  AND  IS  AVAILABLE  FOR  PURCHASE OR LEASE FOR FARMING AND MAKE
AVAILABLE SUCH INFORMATION, INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OFFICE
OF GENERAL SERVICES, OTHER STATE  AGENCIES,  MUNICIPALITIES,  AND  OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL  ENTITIES  OFFERING SUCH LAND, ON ITS INTERNET WEBSITE. THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO THE OFFICE OF GENER-
AL SERVICES, OTHER STATE AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT REQUEST SUCH ASSISTANCE, IN IDENTIFYING LAND THAT  IS
VIABLE FOR FARMING.
  2.  THE  DEPARTMENT  MAY ALSO MAKE AVAILABLE SIMILAR INFORMATION ABOUT
PRIVATE LAND AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE  OR  LEASE  FOR  FARMING,  INCLUDING
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OWNERS OF SUCH LAND.
  S  5.  Section  2 of the public lands law is amended by adding two new
subdivisions 2-a and 2-b to read as follows:
  2-A. STATE-OWNED REAL PROPERTY INVENTORY; FARMING. A. THE COMMISSIONER
OF GENERAL SERVICES IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO DEVELOP AN  INVENTORY,
IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS, OF
STATE-OWNED REAL PROPERTY THAT MAY BE VIABLE FOR FARMING.
  B. IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES THAT ANY OF SUCH PROPERTY SHOULD  BE
MADE  AVAILABLE  FOR PURCHASE OR LEASE FOR FARMING THEN SUCH INFORMATION
SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS  FOR  THE
FARMLAND  AVAILABILITY  INFORMATION  PROGRAM, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF
THE COMMISSIONER, IN COOPERATION WITH THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE
AND  MARKETS,  DETERMINES  THAT ANY OF SUCH PROPERTY SHOULD BE PROTECTED
AND PRESERVED USING  ARTICLE  TWENTY-FIVE-AAA  OF  THE  AGRICULTURE  AND
MARKETS  LAW  THEN INFORMATION ABOUT SUCH PROPERTY SHALL NOT BE PROVIDED
FOR THE FARMLAND AVAILABILITY INFORMATION PROGRAM UNTIL A REVIEW OF  THE
MERITS  AND  FEASIBILITY  OF PRESERVING SUCH PROPERTY USING SUCH ARTICLE
HAS BEEN CONSIDERED.
  2-B. REPORT. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REPORT TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE
LEGISLATURE  WITHIN  ONE  YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION
ON:
  A. THE INVENTORY OF STATE-OWNED REAL PROPERTY THAT MAY BE  VIABLE  FOR
FARMING CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO-A OF THIS SECTION;
  B. THE FEASIBILITY OF, AND BARRIERS TO, SELLING, LEASING OR USING SUCH
PROPERTY FOR FARMING;
  C. THE FEASIBILITY OF USING ARTICLE TWENTY-FIVE-AAA OF AGRICULTURE AND
MARKETS LAW TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE SUCH LAND FOR FARMING WHEN SUCH LAND
IS SOLD; AND
  D.  ANY CONCERNS RELATED TO SELLING OR LEASING SUCH PROPERTY FOR FARM-
ING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE TYPES OF FARMING ACTIVITIES THAT
MAY BE APPROPRIATE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS OF  FARM-
ING SUCH PROPERTIES.
  S  6.  Section  2  of  the public lands law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
  3-A. LAND VIABLE FOR  FARMING;  IDENTIFICATION.  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
GENERAL  SERVICES IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED, AS PART OF THE STATE-OWNED
REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, TO WORK WITH STATE AGENCIES TO IDENTI-
FY LAND THAT MAY BE VIABLE FOR FARMING AND MAY  BE  MADE  AVAILABLE  FOR
PURCHASE OR LEASE FOR FARMING.
  S 7. This act shall take effect immediately.