S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4210
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 13, 2023
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Introduced by M. of A. TAGUE, MANKTELOW, GALLAHAN, HAWLEY, BRABENEC,
DeSTEFANO, E. BROWN, MILLER, GUNTHER, LEMONDES, MIKULIN -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a veterans in agriculture assistance and outreach 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 29 to read as follows:
§ 29. VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH PROGRAM. 1. AS
USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEAN-
INGS:
(A) "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE
UNIFORMED SERVICES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
AIR NATIONAL GUARD, OR SERVICE AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICE, COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMO-
SPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES SERVICES ADMINIS-
TRATION, CADET AT A UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES SERVICE ACADEMY, AND WHO
HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH SERVICE UNDER OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE CONDI-
TIONS.
(B) "QUALIFIED VETERAN BUSINESS ENTITY" MEANS A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE,
INCLUDING A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
OR CORPORATION THAT IS:
(I) AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OWNED BY ONE OR MORE VETERANS;
(II) AN ENTERPRISE IN WHICH SUCH VETERAN OWNERSHIP IS REAL, SUBSTAN-
TIAL, AND CONTINUING;
(III) AN ENTERPRISE IN WHICH SUCH VETERAN OWNERSHIP HAS AND EXERCISES
THE AUTHORITY TO CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS DECISIONS
OF THE ENTERPRISE; AND
(IV) AN ENTERPRISE AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE AND IS
INDEPENDENTLY-OWNED AND OPERATED.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05806-01-3
A. 4210 2
2. THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO HELP INTEGRATE VETER-
ANS INTO THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE, AND SUPPORT VETERANS CURRENTLY WORK-
ING IN AGRICULTURE.
3. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
(A) RECRUITING AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR VETERANS TO FACILITATE ENTRY
INTO THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS' SERVICES, THE DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS AND THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
(B) IDENTIFYING AND MAKING ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO FORMERLY INCARCER-
ATED VETERANS TO FACILITATE ENTRY INTO THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE, IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPER-
VISION.
(C) PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS IN RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES BY
PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, MENTORSHIP, AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES.
(D) FACILITATING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH CORNELL UNIVERSITY
AND THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
(E) CONNECTING BETWEEN VETERANS AND APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDER-
AL RESOURCES.
(F) CREATING A WEBSITE RELATING TO PROVIDE VETERANS INFORMATION ON AND
EASY ACCESS TO PROGRAM RESOURCES.
(G) PROMOTING PARTICIPATION BY VETERANS AND QUALIFIED BUSINESS ENTI-
TIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE CONDUCT OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE PARTICIPATION.
(H) COORDINATING WITH MILITARY, GOVERNMENT, OR PRIVATE SECTOR MARKET-
ING EFFORTS THAT ALREADY IDENTIFY, EMPHASIZE, AND ENCOURAGE THE
PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF NEW YORK PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
BY VETERANS AND QUALIFIED BUSINESS ENTITIES.
(I) PARTNERING WITH THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND NY FARMNET TO DEVELOP A SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE
PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE.
(J) TRAINING AND SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS RESOURCES TO CONNECT
VETERANS AND THEIR PRODUCTS WITH LOCAL RETAILERS.
(K) ESTABLISHING MENTORSHIPS FOR VETERANS WITH FARMING ENDEAVORS.
(L) PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS TO APPLY FOR AVAILABLE GRANT
FUNDING.
(M) WITHIN FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PURPOSES, CONDUCTING AN
ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTIES AND MAKING SUCH PROPERTY AVAILABLE FOR AN
AFFORDABLE LEASE PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.
(N) WORKING WITH VETERANS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO ENSURE VETERANS WHO
WANT TO FARM HAVE A PLACE TO DO SO.
(O) IDENTIFYING CURRENT NEW YORK GROWN AND CERTIFIED PROGRAM PARTIC-
IPANTS WHO QUALIFY TO USE THE LOGOTYPE DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION AND ENCOURAGE APPLICATION
FOR THE USE OF SUCH LOGOTYPE.
(P) ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL VETERANS' CATEGORY IN NEW YORK GROWN AND
CERTIFIED DATABASE OF PRODUCTS.
(Q) REPORTING ON THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING REHABILITATION SITES TO
ASSIST WOUNDED AND DISABLED VETERANS TO READJUST AND HEAL TO ADDRESS
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ISSUES THROUGH
AGRICULTURE THERAPY PROGRAMS.
(R) CREATING AND BUILDING A BRAND FOR FARMER-VETERANS' PRODUCTS.
(S) DEVELOPMENT OF A VETERAN AGRICULTURE LOGOTYPE PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION.
4. (A) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOP-
MENT CORPORATION, SHALL DESIGN A LOGOTYPE THAT CLEARLY IDENTIFIES A
PRODUCT AS BOTH MEETING EXISTING NEW YORK STATE GROWN AND CERTIFIED
A. 4210 3
STANDARDS PURSUANT TO 1 NYCRR 161.3 AND BEING PRODUCED BY A VETERAN OR
QUALIFIED VETERAN BUSINESS ENTITY. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INCORPORATE THE
NEW YORK STATE GROWN AND CERTIFIED SEAL, AND MAY PARTNER WITH ORGANIZA-
TIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FARMER VETERAN COALITION HOMEG-
ROWN BY HEROES PROGRAM AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE VETER-
ANS TO FARM OR TO OTHERWISE BENEFIT FARMERS WHO ARE VETERANS, IF THE
DEPARTMENT ELECTS TO ADOPT SUCH ORGANIZATIONS' SEPARATE AND UNIQUE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
(B) SUCH LOGOTYPE SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO VETERANS OR QUALIFIED
VETERAN BUSINESS ENTITIES FOR DESCRIPTIVE LABELS, PACKAGING OR ADVER-
TISEMENT INFORMATION AT NO COST.
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE
FOR CIVIL PENALTIES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR IMPROPER USE OF THE LOGO-
TYPE DESIGNED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
5. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE THE PROGRAM DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION AVAILABLE TO:
(A) VETERANS;
(B) PERSONS WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES OF THE
UNITED STATES, OR IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, OR
SERVICE AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, COMMIS-
SIONED OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OR
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, CADET AT A UNITED STATES
ARMED FORCES SERVICE ACADEMY, AND WHO HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH
SERVICE UNDER OTHER A CONDITION OTHER THAN HONORABLE ON A CASE-BY-CASE
BASIS FOLLOWING REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE DEPARTMENT;
(C) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF A VETERAN KILLED WHILE SERVING ON
ACTIVE DUTY, A PRISONER OF WAR, OR DIED FROM A SERVICE-RELATED INJURY OR
EXPOSURE, WHERE SUCH IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER IS LICENSED UNDER THE NEW
YORK STATE GROWN AND CERTIFIED STANDARDS PURSUANT TO 1 NYCRR 161.3; AND
(D) QUALIFIED VETERAN BUSINESS ENTITIES.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.