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

                                  8178

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 11, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Ways and Means

AN ACT to amend the tax law, in  relation  to  establishing  a  forestry
  stewardship  and  habitat  conservation credit for personal income and
  business franchise taxes

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Section  606  of  the  tax law is amended by adding a new
subsection (ccc) to read as follows:
  (CCC) FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AND HABITAT CONSERVATION CREDIT. (1) IN THE
CASE OF A TAXPAYER WHO OWNS LAND THAT IS SUBJECT  TO AN  AGREEMENT  WITH
THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION,  BY WHICH SUCH LAND IS
COMMITTED TO FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP, OR  HABITAT  CONSERVATION,  OR  BOTH,
THERE  SHALL  BE  ALLOWED  A  CREDIT FOR TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE REAL
PROPERTY TAXES PAID ON SUCH LAND. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE  CREDIT  ALLOWED
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION IN COMBINATION WITH ANY OTHER CREDIT FOR SUCH REAL
PROPERTY  TAXES UNDER THIS SECTION EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SUCH TAXES
PAID DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR.
  (2) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION:
  (A)  "ELIGIBLE  TRACT"  SHALL  MEAN  A  TRACT  OF  LAND  OF  AT  LEAST
TWENTY-FIVE  CONTIGUOUS  ACRES THAT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, A WILDLIFE  BIOLOGIST  CERTIFIED  BY  THE
WILDLIFE  SOCIETY,  OR  A  FISHERIES BIOLOGIST CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN
FISHERIES SOCIETY, AND BASED ON SUCH INSPECTION  IS  DETERMINED  BY  THE
DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  TO BE: VALUABLE HABITAT FOR
WILDLIFE, FISH, SHELLFISH OR CRUSTACEA; OR SAFE AND SUITABLE FOR FISH OR
WILDLIFE-RELATED RECREATION, INCLUDING FISHING,  HUNTING,  TRAPPING  AND
WILDLIFE  OBSERVATION;  OR  BOTH.  LAND  DIVIDED ONLY BY FEDERAL, STATE,
COUNTY OR TOWN ROADS, EASEMENTS OR RIGHTS-OF-WAY, OR ENERGY TRANSMISSION
CORRIDORS OR SIMILAR  FACILITIES  SHALL  BE  CONSIDERED  CONTIGUOUS  FOR
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06259-01-5
              

A. 8178                             2

  (B)  "AGREEMENT" SHALL MEAN A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION  AND  THE  OWNER  OF  AN  ELIGIBLE  TRACT,
EXECUTED  BY  BOTH PARTIES, BY WHICH THE ELIGIBLE  TRACT IS COMMITTED TO
HABITAT CONSERVATION, OR FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP, OR BOTH, FOR A PERIOD  OF
NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.
  (C)  "APPROVED  HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN" SHALL MEAN A PLAN, APPROVED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, FOR THE  MANAGEMENT  OF
AN  ELIGIBLE  TRACT  WHICH SHALL CONTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS WITH
WHICH THE OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE TRACT MUST COMPLY IN ORDER  TO  CONSERVE
THE  VALUE  OF THE LAND AS WILDLIFE, FISH, SHELLFISH, OR CRUSTACEA HABI-
TAT.
  (D) "FORESTRY  STEWARDSHIP"  SHALL  MEAN  PARTICIPATION  IN  A  FOREST
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (SUCH AS FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL CERTIFICATION,
SUSTAINABLE  FORESTRY  INITIATIVE,  AMERICAN  TREE  FARM  PROGRAM, ETC.)
RECOGNIZED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSER-
VATION.
  (3) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED A NEW YORK STATE FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP  AND
HABITAT CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FORESTED LANDS
IN  THE STATE AND CONSERVING THE VALUE OF LAND IN THE STATE AS WILDLIFE,
FISH, SHELLFISH OR CRUSTACEA HABITAT.
  (4) A LANDOWNER MAY MAKE APPLICATION TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRON-
MENTAL  CONSERVATION,  ON  FORMS  PRESCRIBED BY SUCH DEPARTMENT, TO HAVE
LAND INCLUDED IN THE NEW YORK STATE HABITAT  CONSERVATION  AND  FORESTRY
STEWARDSHIP  PROGRAM.  IF,  BASED  ON  AN  INSPECTION OF THE LAND BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, OR A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST CERTI-
FIED BY THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY, OR A FISHERIES BIOLOGIST CERTIFIED BY  THE
AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
DETERMINES  THAT  SUCH  LAND  IS  AN ELIGIBLE TRACT, IT SHALL NOTIFY THE
LANDOWNER THAT THE LAND IS ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION IN THE NEW YORK  STATE
HABITAT CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.
  (5)   THE   DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  MAY,  IN  ITS
DISCRETION, ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH OWNERS  OF  ELIGIBLE  TRACTS  FOR
PURPOSES OF FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP, OR HABITAT CONSERVATION, OR BOTH. SUCH
AGREEMENTS  SHALL  BE  FOR  A  MINIMUM DURATION OF FIVE YEARS, AND SHALL
CONTAIN A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE  AGREE-
MENT, AND SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE DEPARTMENT DEEMS APPROPRIATE,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
  (A)  FOR FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENTS, A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTIC-
IPATION IN A FOREST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS  THAN
FIVE YEARS;
  (B)  FOR HABITAT CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS, A REQUIREMENT THAT THE LAND-
OWNER DEVELOP A HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THE PLAN  FOR  A
PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS;
  (C)  FOR  HABITAT  CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENTS, A
REQUIREMENT THAT THE LANDOWNER DEVELOP A HABITAT CONSERVATION  PLAN  AND
IMPLEMENT  THE  PLAN  FOR  A  PERIOD  OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS; AND A
DESCRIPTION OF PARTICIPATION IN A FOREST  CERTIFICATION  PROGRAM  FOR  A
PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS;
  (D) A REQUIREMENT THAT THE LANDOWNER'S OBLIGATIONS CONCERNING THE LAND
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY BENEFITS, SHALL PASS TO
ANY  SUCCESSOR  IN INTEREST TO SUCH LAND FOR THE DURATION OF THE TERM OF
THE AGREEMENT; AND
  (E) A REQUIREMENT THAT A COPY OF THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE DULY  RECORDED
AND INDEXED AS SUCH IN THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDING OFFICER FOR THE COUN-
TY  OR  COUNTIES  WHERE  THE LAND IS SITUATE IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY
ARTICLE NINE OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW; AND THAT ANY  SUBSEQUENT  INSTRU-

A. 8178                             3

MENT  OF CONVEYANCE RELATING TO THE PROPERTY ENCUMBERED BY THE AGREEMENT
SHALL REFERENCE, BY BOOK AND PAGE NUMBER, THE AGREEMENT; AND  THAT  SUCH
INSTRUMENT  SHALL  ALSO  SPECIFY  THAT  THE  PROPERTY  IS SUBJECT TO THE
RESTRICTIONS  CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENT; AND THAT AN INSTRUMENT FOR THE
PURPOSE OF CREATING, CONVEYING, MODIFYING OR TERMINATING  THE  AGREEMENT
SHALL NOT BE EFFECTIVE UNLESS RECORDED.
  (6)  THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT THAT MAY BE CLAIMED BY A TAXPAYER PURSU-
ANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT EXCEED  TEN  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  ANY
GIVEN YEAR.
  (7)  IF THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR ANY TAXABLE
YEAR SHALL EXCEED THE TAXPAYER'S TAX FOR SUCH YEAR, THE EXCESS SHALL  BE
TREATED  AS  AN OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE CREDITED OR REFUNDED IN ACCORD-
ANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS ARTI-
CLE, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO INTEREST SHALL BE PAID THEREON.
  S 2. Paragraph 4 of subsection (n) of section 606 of the tax  law,  as
amended  by  section  2  of part F of chapter 62 of the laws of 2006, is
amended to read as follows:
  (4) Qualified agricultural property. For purposes of this  subsection,
the  term  "qualified  agricultural property" means land located in this
state which is used in agricultural production, and  land  improvements,
structures  and  buildings  (excluding buildings used for the taxpayer's
residential purpose) located on such land which are used or occupied  to
carry out such production. Qualified agricultural property also includes
land  set  aside  or  retired  under a federal supply management or soil
conservation program or land that at the time it becomes  subject  to  a
conservation easement, as defined under subsection (kk) of this section,
met  the requirements under this paragraph, AND LAND THAT AT THE TIME IT
BECOMES SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT AS DEFINED IN SUBSECTION (CCC)  OF  THIS
SECTION MET THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH.
  S  3. Section 210-B of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivi-
sion 49 to read as follows:
  49. FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AND HABITAT CONSERVATION CREDIT. (1)  IN  THE
CASE  OF  A  TAXPAYER WHO OWNS LAND THAT IS SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION,  BY  WHICH  SUCH  LAND  IS
COMMITTED  TO  FORESTRY  STEWARDSHIP,  OR HABITAT CONSERVATION, OR BOTH,
THERE SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR   TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT  OF  THE  REAL
PROPERTY  TAXES  PAID ON SUCH LAND. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CREDIT ALLOWED
UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION IN COMBINATION WITH ANY  OTHER  CREDIT  FOR  SUCH
REAL  PROPERTY  TAXES UNDER THIS SECTION EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SUCH
TAXES PAID DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR.
  (2) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION:
  (A)  "ELIGIBLE  TRACT"  SHALL  MEAN  A  TRACT  OF  LAND  OF  AT  LEAST
TWENTY-FIVE  CONTIGUOUS  ACRES THAT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, A WILDLIFE  BIOLOGIST  CERTIFIED  BY  THE
WILDLIFE  SOCIETY,  OR  A  FISHERIES BIOLOGIST CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN
FISHERIES SOCIETY, AND BASED ON SUCH INSPECTION  IS  DETERMINED  BY  THE
DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  TO BE: VALUABLE HABITAT FOR
WILDLIFE, FISH, SHELLFISH OR CRUSTACEA; OR SAFE AND SUITABLE FOR FISH OR
WILDLIFE-RELATED RECREATION, INCLUDING FISHING,  HUNTING,  TRAPPING  AND
WILDLIFE  OBSERVATION;  OR  BOTH.  LAND  DIVIDED ONLY BY FEDERAL, STATE,
COUNTY OR TOWN ROADS, EASEMENTS OR RIGHTS-OF-WAY, OR ENERGY TRANSMISSION
CORRIDORS OR SIMILAR  FACILITIES  SHALL  BE  CONSIDERED  CONTIGUOUS  FOR
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
  (B)  "AGREEMENT" SHALL MEAN A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION  AND  THE  OWNER  OF  AN  ELIGIBLE  TRACT,
EXECUTED  BY  BOTH  PARTIES, BY WHICH THE ELIGIBLE TRACT IS COMMITTED TO

A. 8178                             4

HABITAT CONSERVATION, OR FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP, OR BOTH, FOR A PERIOD  OF
NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.
  (C)  "APPROVED  HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN" SHALL MEAN A PLAN, APPROVED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, FOR THE  MANAGEMENT  OF
AN  ELIGIBLE  TRACT  WHICH SHALL CONTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS WITH
WHICH THE OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE TRACT MUST COMPLY IN ORDER  TO  CONSERVE
THE  VALUE  OF THE LAND AS WILDLIFE, FISH, SHELLFISH, OR CRUSTACEA HABI-
TAT.
  (D) "FORESTRY  STEWARDSHIP"  SHALL  MEAN  PARTICIPATION  IN  A  FOREST
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (SUCH AS FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL CERTIFICATION,
SUSTAINABLE  FORESTRY  INITIATIVE,  AMERICAN  TREE  FARM  PROGRAM, ETC.)
RECOGNIZED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSER-
VATION.
  (3) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED A NEW YORK STATE FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP  AND
HABITAT CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FORESTED LANDS
IN  THE STATE AND CONSERVING THE VALUE OF LAND IN THE STATE AS WILDLIFE,
FISH, SHELLFISH OR CRUSTACEA HABITAT.
  (4) A LANDOWNER MAY MAKE APPLICATION TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRON-
MENTAL  CONSERVATION,  ON  FORMS  PRESCRIBED BY SUCH DEPARTMENT, TO HAVE
LAND INCLUDED IN THE NEW YORK STATE HABITAT  CONSERVATION  AND  FORESTRY
STEWARDSHIP  PROGRAM.  IF,  BASED  ON  AN  INSPECTION OF THE LAND BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, OR A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST CERTI-
FIED BY THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY, OR A FISHERIES BIOLOGIST CERTIFIED BY  THE
AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
DETERMINES  THAT  SUCH  LAND  IS  AN ELIGIBLE TRACT, IT SHALL NOTIFY THE
LANDOWNER THAT THE LAND IS ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION IN THE NEW YORK  STATE
HABITAT CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.
  (5)   THE   DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  MAY,  IN  ITS
DISCRETION, ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH OWNERS  OF  ELIGIBLE  TRACTS  FOR
PURPOSES OF HABITAT CONSERVATION, OR FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP, OR BOTH. SUCH
AGREEMENTS  SHALL  BE  FOR  A  MINIMUM DURATION OF FIVE YEARS, AND SHALL
CONTAIN A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE  AGREE-
MENT, AND SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE DEPARTMENT DEEMS APPROPRIATE,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
  (A)  FOR FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENTS, A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTIC-
IPATION IN A FOREST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS  THAN
FIVE YEARS;
  (B)  FOR HABITAT CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS, A REQUIREMENT THAT THE LAND-
OWNER DEVELOP A HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THE PLAN  FOR  A
PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS;
  (C)  FOR  HABITAT  CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENTS, A
REQUIREMENT THAT THE LANDOWNER DEVELOP A HABITAT CONSERVATION  PLAN  AND
IMPLEMENT  THE  PLAN  FOR  A  PERIOD  OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS; AND A
DESCRIPTION OF PARTICIPATION IN A FOREST  CERTIFICATION  PROGRAM  FOR  A
PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS;
  (D) A REQUIREMENT THAT THE LANDOWNER'S OBLIGATIONS CONCERNING THE LAND
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY BENEFITS, SHALL PASS TO
ANY  SUCCESSOR  IN INTEREST TO SUCH LAND FOR THE DURATION OF THE TERM OF
THE AGREEMENT; AND
  (E) A REQUIREMENT THAT A COPY OF THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE DULY  RECORDED
AND INDEXED AS SUCH IN THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDING OFFICER FOR THE COUN-
TY  OR  COUNTIES  WHERE  THE LAND IS SITUATE IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY
ARTICLE NINE OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW; AND THAT ANY  SUBSEQUENT  INSTRU-
MENT  OF CONVEYANCE RELATING TO THE PROPERTY ENCUMBERED BY THE AGREEMENT
SHALL REFERENCE, BY BOOK AND PAGE NUMBER, THE AGREEMENT; AND  THAT  SUCH
INSTRUMENT  SHALL  ALSO  SPECIFY  THAT  THE  PROPERTY  IS SUBJECT TO THE

A. 8178                             5

RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENT; AND THAT AN INSTRUMENT FOR  THE
PURPOSE  OF  CREATING, CONVEYING, MODIFYING OR TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT
SHALL NOT BE EFFECTIVE UNLESS RECORDED.
  (6)  THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT THAT MAY BE CLAIMED BY A TAXPAYER PURSU-
ANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT EXCEED TEN  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  ANY
GIVEN YEAR.
  (7) IF THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION FOR ANY TAXABLE
YEAR  SHALL EXCEED THE TAXPAYER'S TAX FOR SUCH YEAR, THE EXCESS SHALL BE
TREATED AS AN OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE CREDITED OR REFUNDED  IN  ACCORD-
ANCE  WITH  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION ONE THOUSAND EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS
CHAPTER, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO INTEREST SHALL BE PAID THEREON.
  S 4. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 11 of section 210-B of the tax  law,
as  added  by section 17 of part A of chapter 59 of the laws of 2014, is
amended to read as follows:
  (d) Qualified agricultural property. For purposes of this subdivision,
the term "qualified agricultural property" means land  located  in  this
state  which  is used in agricultural production, and land improvements,
structures and buildings (excluding buildings used  for  the  taxpayer's
residential  purpose) located on such land which are used or occupied to
carry out such production. Qualified agricultural property also includes
land set aside or retired under a  federal  supply  management  or  soil
conservation program [or], land that at the time it becomes subject to a
conservation easement met the requirements under this paragraph AND LAND
THAT  AT  THE  TIME  IT BECOMES SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT AS DEFINED UNDER
SUBDIVISION FORTY-NINE OF THIS SECTION, MET THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER  THIS
PARAGRAPH.
  S  5. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph 1 of subsection (i) of section 606
of the tax law is amended by adding  a  new  clause  (xli)  to  read  as
follows:

(XLI) FOREST STEWARDSHIP AND         AMOUNT OF CREDIT UNDER
HABITAT CONSERVATION                 SUBDIVISION FORTY-NINE OF
CREDIT UNDER SUBSECTION (CCC)        SECTION TWO HUNDRED TEN-B
  S 6.  This act shall take effect immediately.