Provides that nursery growers and dealers registrations shall be valid for two years from the date of issuance

BILL NUMBER:S4144

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to nursery growers and dealers registration

Purpose of bill

This bill would establish a rolling application schedule for nursery grower and dealer registrations.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of this bill would amend Agriculture and Markets Law (AML) 163-a to replace the current biennial application deadline of November 1 for nursery grower and dealer registrations with a rolling application schedule. The registration would continue to be effective for two years from the date it is issued.

Section 2 of this bill would make the bill effective thirty days after it becomes law.

Existing law

AML § 163-a requires nursery growers and dealers to register with the Department of Agriculture and Markets. All applications for such registration must be made on or before the first day of November for a registration period that begins in December. Subsequent applications must be made every other first day of November.

Prior legislative history

This is a new proposal.

Statement in support

Current law only allows nursery growers and dealers to register with DAM in an application filed on or before every other November 1. With the aid of computers, a rolling registration application schedule is more efficient to administer than a single deadline. The rolling application process will be easier for the Department to administer because it will be able to distribute the workload throughout the year. It will also benefit the nursery growers and dealers because they will be able to apply when it is convenient for them to do so.

Budget implications

The bill would enable the Department to modernize record keeping for nursery grower and dealer registrations, resulting in efficiency and modest cost savings to the agency.

Effective date

The bill would take effect thirty days after it is enacted.