S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8258
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 11, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. LUPARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Agriculture
 
 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation  to  estab-
   lishing the climate and agriculture working group
 
   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-b to read as follows:
   §  309-B.  CLIMATE  AND  AGRICULTURE  WORKING GROUP. 1. THERE SHALL BE
 ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE CLIMATE  AND  AGRICULTURE  WORKING
 GROUP,  TO ADVISE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE AGENCIES AND THE
 LEGISLATURE ON STATE GOVERNMENT PLANS, POLICIES, AND  PROGRAMS  RELATING
 TO  CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE, AS OUTLINED BY THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT
 SHALL PROVIDE NECESSARY SECRETARIAT AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE  WORKING
 GROUP.
   2.  THE CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE WORKING GROUP SHALL CONSIST OF TWENTY-
 FIVE MEMBERS, TWENTY-TWO TO BE  APPOINTED  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  WITH  THE
 ADVICE  AND  CONSENT  OF  THE  SENATE, SELECTED FOR THEIR EXPERIENCE AND
 EXPERTISE RELATED TO AREAS OF WORKING GROUP RESPONSIBILITY.  THE WORKING
 GROUP SHALL BE COMPRISED OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS AS FOLLOWS:
   (A) OF THE TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE WORKING GROUP:
   (1) ONE SHALL BE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND
 MARKETS, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
   (2) ONE SHALL BE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
   (3)  ONE  SHALL BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH
 AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
   (4) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE NEW YORK FARM BUREAU;
   (5) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST;
   (6) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION;
   (7) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD13245-01-9

 A. 8258                             2
 
   (8) ONE SHALL BE FROM A REGIONAL LAND TRUST;
   (9) ONE SHALL BE FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY;
   (10) TWO SHALL BE FROM A SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT;
   (11)  FOUR  SHALL BE FROM ORGANIZATIONS WITH DIVERSE EXPERTISE RELATED
 TO THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WORKING GROUP;
   (12) THREE SHALL BE FARMERS WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF FORTY-FIVE  YEARS
 OLD  AT  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THEIR  TERM,  AND WHO DERIVE AT LEAST FIFTY
 PERCENT OF THEIR PERSONAL INCOME FROM  FARMING  OR  AGRICULTURAL  ACTIV-
 ITIES;
   (13)  FIVE SHALL BE FARMERS WHO DERIVE AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF THEIR
 PERSONAL INCOME FROM FARMING OR AGRICULTURAL  ACTIVITIES,  AND  OF  SUCH
 FARMERS  AND  TO  THE  EXTENT PRACTICABLE, AT LEAST ONE SHALL BE A DAIRY
 PRODUCER; AND
   (14) TWO SHALL BE NON-OPERATING LANDOWNERS WHO LEASE LAND TO A FARMER.
   (B) EACH MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS  AND  MAY
 SERVE  UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE CHOSEN; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT OF THE
 MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, EIGHT SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR, EIGHT
 SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS AND NINE 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.
   3. THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  OF  THE  CLIMATE  AND  AGRICULTURE
 WORKING GROUP SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  ANNUALLY  ELECTING  FROM ITS MEMBERS A CHAIRPERSON, A VICE CHAIR-
 PERSON, AND A SECRETARY OF THE WORKING GROUP AT THE GROUP'S FIRST  MEET-
 ING OF THE CALENDAR YEAR;
   (B)  MEETING  NO LESS THAN BIANNUALLY AND ALLOWING FOR VIRTUAL PARTIC-
 IPATION;
   (C) ESTABLISHING SUB-GROUPS AS NECESSARY; AND
   (D) DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ON THE FOLLOW-
 ING FIVE AREAS:
   (1) INCREASING ADOPTION OF PRACTICES ON NEW YORK FARMS THAT  SEQUESTER
 CARBON AND OTHER GREENHOUSE GASES AND BUILD SOIL HEALTH;
   (2) REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM NEW YORK FARMS IN WAYS THAT
 PROMOTE AND PROTECT FARM VIABILITY;
   (3)  INCREASING  RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION ON FARMLANDS IN WAYS THAT
 PROMOTE FARM VIABILITY AND PROTECT PRODUCTIVE  FARMLAND  FOR  COMMERCIAL
 AGRICULTURAL USE;
   (4)  PERMANENTLY  PROTECTING  FARMLANDS  TO  PROMOTE  SMART GROWTH AND
 REDUCE TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS; AND
   (5) OTHER AREAS OF CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE POLICY  AS  RECOMMENDED  BY
 THE WORKING GROUP.
   4.  THE  WORKING GROUP SHALL PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR,
 THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE MAJORITY LEADER OF  THE  SENATE  ON
 THE  POLICIES THAT THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDS BE ADOPTED, AND PROGRAMS
 THAT THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDS BE CREATED TO SUPPORT THE AREAS LISTED
 IN PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.