S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   4021
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 2, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- 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 young farmer agriculture advisory board
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a  new
 section 309-a to read as follows:
   §  309-A.  YOUNG FARMER ADVISORY BOARD ON AGRICULTURE.  1. THERE SHALL
 BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE YOUNG FARMER ADVISORY BOARD  ON
 AGRICULTURE, TO ADVISE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE AGENCIES ON
 STATE  GOVERNMENT PLANS, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING AGRICULTURE, AS
 OUTLINED BELOW, AND IN SUCH AREAS AS  ITS  EXPERIENCE  AND  STUDIES  MAY
 INDICATE  TO  BE  APPROPRIATE.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL PROVIDE NECESSARY
 SECRETARIAT AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE BOARD.
   2. THE YOUNG FARMER ADVISORY BOARD ON  AGRICULTURE  SHALL  CONSIST  OF
 TWENTY MEMBERS, TEN TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WITH THE ADVICE AND
 CONSENT  OF  THE  SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, SELECTED FOR THEIR EXPERIENCE AND
 EXPERTISE RELATED TO AREAS OF BOARD RESPONSIBILITY. THE BOARD  SHALL  BE
 COMPRISED OF DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY AS FOLLOWS:
   (A) OF THE TWENTY MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD:
   (1) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE DEPARTMENT;
   (2) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION;
   (3) ONE SHALL BE AN OFFICER OF THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA (FFA);
   (4) ONE SHALL BE AN URBAN FARMER;
   (5) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE NEW YORK FARM BUREAU; AND
   (6)  FIFTEEN  SHALL  BE  FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS:
 FIVE TO BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,  FIVE  TO
 BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND FIVE TO BE APPOINTED BY
 THE GOVERNOR.
   (B) EACH MEMBER SHALL:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD09202-03-7

 S. 4021                             2
 
   (1)  BE  INTERESTED IN THE PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 AND PRESERVATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL WAY OF LIFE IN NEW YORK;
   (2)  BE  UNDER THE AGE OF FORTY-FIVE YEARS OLD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
 MEMBER'S TERM;
   (3) DERIVE AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF THE MEMBER'S PERSONAL INCOME FROM
 FARMING OR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE;
   (4) BE A RESIDENT OF THE STATE; AND
   (5) BE APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS AND MAY SERVE  UNTIL  THEIR
 SUCCESSORS  ARE  CHOSEN;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST
 APPOINTED, SIX SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR, SIX SHALL SERVE FOR A
 TERM OF TWO YEARS AND EIGHT SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS.
   (C) MEMBERS SHALL SERVE  WITHOUT  SALARY  BUT  SHALL  BE  ENTITLED  TO
 REIMBURSEMENT OF THEIR ORDINARY AND NECESSARY TRAVEL EXPENSES.
   (D) THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL MEET QUARTERLY.
   3.  THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE YOUNG FARMER ADVISORY BOARD
 ON AGRICULTURE SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) ANNUALLY ELECTING FROM ITS MEMBERS A CHAIRPERSON,  A  VICE  CHAIR-
 PERSON,  AND  A  SECRETARY OF THE ADVISORY BOARD AT THE ADVISORY BOARD'S
 FIRST MEETING OF THE CALENDAR YEAR;
   (B) COMMUNICATING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT,  AND
 THE  STATE  GOVERNMENT  THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG AND BEGINNING FARMERS TO
 AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE;
   (C) IDENTIFY ISSUES RELATING TO YOUNG AND  BEGINNING  FARMERS  IN  THE
 STATE  AND  PROVIDE  TIMELY ADVICE TO THE COMMISSIONER, THE GOVERNOR AND
 THE RELEVANT STATE AGENCIES, WITH REGARD TO THE PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURE
 AS A CAREER PATH AND THE ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT  OF  YOUNG  AND  ASPIRING
 FARMERS;
   (D)  PRODUCE AN ANNUAL REPORT AND PROVIDE SUCH REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR,
 THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY ON
 OR BEFORE THE END OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR. SUCH REPORT SHALL IDENTIFY  AND
 PRIORITIZE POLICY ISSUES WHICH AFFECT YOUNG AND ASPIRING FARMERS; AND
   (E)  ESTABLISH  COMMITTEES, AS NECESSARY, TO DEVELOP PROJECTS RELATING
 TO THE ASPECTS OF LIFE FOR YOUNG AND BEGINNING FARMERS IN THE STATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.