S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   1337
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 15, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SANTABARBARA, ORTIZ, MONTESANO, CROUCH, BLANKEN-
   BUSH, COOK, PALMESANO -- Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M.  of  A.  BARCLAY,
   BLAKE, GLICK -- read once and referred 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:
 
   Section  1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
 section 325-b to read as follows:
   § 325-B. SMALL FARM DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM. 1. THERE IS HERE-
 BY ESTABLISHED A SMALL FARM DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMIN-
 ISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOP-
 MENT CORPORATION.
   2. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RELIEF TO  SMALL
 FARMS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.
   3.  FOR  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, SMALL FARM SHALL ONLY INCLUDE FARMS
 THAT SELL PRODUCE AND HAVE ANNUAL SALES OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND  DOLLARS
 OR LESS.
   4.  THE  OWNER OF ANY SMALL FARM MAY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT
 PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION TO THE DEPARTMENT. GRANTS AWARDED  PURSUANT  TO
 THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE  USED  SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING AND
 REPLANTING CROPS THAT HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY A NATURAL DISASTER.
   5. THE COMMISSIONER, UPON REVIEW  OF  AN  OWNER'S  APPLICATION,  SHALL
 DETERMINE IF THE OWNER IS ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
 THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE THE DETERMINATION AS TO THE AMOUNT OF GRANT
 THE SMALL FARM OWNER NEEDS TO REBUILD HIS OR  HER  CROP,  PROVIDED  THAT
 SUCH AMOUNT SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
   6.  THIS  PROGRAM SHALL BE FUNDED THROUGH ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS OF THE
 LEGISLATURE OR ANY OTHER FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE STATE FOR THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SECTION. GRANTS SHALL ONLY BE AWARDED BASED UPON  THE  AVAILABILITY
 OF FUNDS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD04930-01-9

 A. 1337                             2
 
   §  2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary
 for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.