S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1357

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 5, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY, KOLB, GIGLIO, BURLING, CORWIN, McDONOUGH,
  FINCH  --  Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M. of A. BARCLAY, CALHOUN, CROUCH,
  DUPREY, HAYES, McKEVITT, J. MILLER, OAKS,  THIELE  --  read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Agriculture

AN  ACT  to amend the agriculture and markets law and the New York state
  urban development corporation act, in relation to  assisting  agricul-
  ture  in  the  state  through  the agriculture assistance program; and
  providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

  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
article 21-D to read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 21-D
                     AGRICULTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SECTION 258-QQ. LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
        258-RR. AGRICULTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
  S 258-QQ. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE HEREBY FINDS THAT  AGRI-
CULTURE IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY ECONOMIC UNITS OF THE STATE AND THAT IT IS
TO  THE  BENEFIT  OF ALL RESIDENTS THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MAINTAIN
AND  EXPAND  AGRICULTURE  PRODUCTION  AND   AGRICULTURAL   SERVICES   IS
WARRANTED.  FURTHER, AGRICULTURE IN THOSE MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES
WHERE  AGRICULTURE  PRODUCTION  AND SERVICES HAVE BEEN HARMED BY NATURAL
DISASTER OR WHICH ARE IN DECLARED DISASTER AREAS SHOULD BE GIVEN PREFER-
ENCE IN RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
  S 258-RR.  AGRICULTURE  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL
DEVELOP  A  PROGRAM AND PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE
OF GIVING FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE  TO  MAINTAIN  AND  EXPAND  AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION  AND  AGRICULTURAL  SERVICES IN THE STATE. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL
PROVIDE FOR PREFERENCE TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AGRICULTURE  IN  THOSE
MUNICIPALITIES  AND  COMMUNITIES  WHICH HAVE HAD AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

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

                                                           LBD03331-01-1

A. 1357                             2

AND SERVICES HARMED BY NATURAL  DISASTER  OR  WHICH  ARE  LOCATED  IN  A
DECLARED DISASTER AREA. THE FUNDS FOR SUCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SHALL BE
RECEIVED  FROM  THE  NEW  YORK STATE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. ONLY
ENTITIES  AND  PERSONS  ENGAGED  IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND SERVICES
SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
  S 2. Section 16-h of section 1 of chapter 174 of  the  laws  of  1968,
constituting  the  New  York state urban development corporation act, is
amended by adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
  3-A. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS OF THIS  SECTION,  FUNDS
OF  THIS  PROGRAM, WITHIN AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS TOTALING UP TO THIRTY
MILLION DOLLARS, SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  FOR  THE  AGRICULTURE  ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 21-D OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW.
  S  3.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed December 31, 2012.