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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 57
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 36–22
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.503
- Referred to agriculture
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.404
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Regulates farm pond dams
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2621
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law and the environmental conservation law, in relation to farm pond dams
Purpose of bill
To amend the agriculture and markets law, the environmental conservation law to remove farm pond dams from required monitoring by the DEC and give the responsibility by the state soil and water conservation committee for development of guidelines and best management Practices for the classification, operation and maintenance of farm pond dams.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends Section 15 of the agriculture and markets law by adding a new subdivision 45 to add farm pond dams to the oversight of the state soil and water conservation committee.
Section 2 amends section 15-0107 of the environmental conservation law by adding a new subdivision 7 to define "farm pond dam."
Section 3 amends subdivision 3 of section 15-0503 of the environmental conservation law by adding a new paragraph d to exclude farm pond dams from DEC oversight.
Section 4 amends the section 15-0507 of the environmental conservation law by adding a new subdivision 7 stating that the provision of this section shall not apply to farm pond dams as defined in section 15-0107 of this article.
Justification
Ponds play an important role on many New York State farms. They provide a source of water for farm crop and livestock needs in times of drought, as well as provide many conservation benefits, such as ecosystem enhancement, to New York's environment. These ponds (and the dams that contain them) pose little risk to public safety. In the very rare circumstance where they would experience an issue, the small amount of water and remote location of the ponds would limit any damage. Rather than require DEC to monitor these low risk farm ponds, the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee, which continually works with farmers, is much better suited to efficiently help farmers maintain farm ponds.
Legislative history
2011,2012: S.791/A.5865 Passed Senate 2009,2010: S.2429-A/A.976-A Referred to Agriculture/Passed Assembly 2008: S.7564/A.10542 Passed Senate/Reported from Assembly Agriculture Committee.
Budget implications
The bill shifts responsibility from one department to another. The net fiscal impact of the bill would be negligent.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.