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

                                 333--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. HAWLEY, KOLB, GIGLIO, CORWIN, McDONOUGH, FINCH,
  PALMESANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY,  CROUCH,  DUPREY,
  McKEVITT,  McLAUGHLIN,  OAKS,  THIELE -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Agriculture -- recommitted to the Committee  on  Agricul-
  ture  in  accordance  with  Assembly  Rule  3,  sec.  2  --  committee
  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
  to said committee

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

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

                                                           LBD00138-03-4

A. 333--A                           2

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
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, 2015.