What's happening
This bill amends education law to establish and promote a young farmer apprentice program with suggested apprenticeship standards in New York State.
Why it matters
Addresses the aging farmer population. by encouraging young people to enter agriculture, which is critical for the long-term stability and sustainability of New York’s farming sector.
Promotes hands-on agricultural training. through apprenticeships, potentially making farming careers more accessible and attractive to youth who might otherwise lack practical experience or mentorship.
Provides a framework for apprenticeship agreements. between young aspiring farmers and agricultural businesses, which could improve skill development, foster business relationships, and help match labor supply to agricultural workforce demand.
Signals state-level support for agriculture as a career path,. which may help attract funding, partnerships, or further policy attention to the needs of new and beginning farmers in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Support Young Farmer Apprenticeships
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
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.
Create Young Farmer Apprenticeships
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1906
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, BONACIC, DeFRANCISCO, GALLIVAN, LARKIN, MARCHIONE, O'MARA, ORTT, RANZENHOFER, SEWARD, YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a young farmer apprentice program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph gg of subdivision 4 of section 1950 of the education law, as amended by chapter 301 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
gg. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a board of cooperative educational services may provide training for employment to adults on a space available basis, with consideration given to occupations and industries in demand, and establish reduced adult tuition rates for such training. For the purposes of this section, training for employment for adults shall be offered through state approved sequences or parts thereof of secondary career education instruction. Adults may participate in such instruction and be awarded certificates of completion, but they may not earn credit based on their participation towards a high school diploma. Pursuant to section forty-six hundred two of this chapter, a board of cooperative educational services may establish such reduced rates for participation of adults provided that participation is limited to assigned instructional staff and currently used facilities in scheduled secondary career education programs, and provided further that such rates may not be less than fifty percent of the tuition rates charged to school districts for the participation of secondary students in the same programs, unless waived by the commissioner based on application of the board of cooperative educational services. This participation of adults at reduced tuition rates shall be in accordance with terms agreed upon by the board of cooperative educational services and the component
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07442-01-7
S. 1906 2
school districts receiving such services but in no case shall such rates result in extraordinary costs assigned to such component school districts. Boards of cooperative educational services which provide such training to adults shall submit to the commissioner annually a report which shall include but not be limited to the number of adults served, referral source, training sequences or parts thereof taken by adult participants, the tuition rates charged to them, and the gross revenues realized therefrom. For the purpose of this paragraph, "adult" shall mean any person under the age of twenty-one who has received a high school diploma or any person twenty-one years of age or older, whether or not they have received a high school diploma.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to supervise, encourage and promote a young farmer apprentice program within New York state and to establish suggested standards for apprenticeship agreements between prospective young farmers and New York state agricultural enterprises.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a young farmer apprentice program
Purpose
To establish a young farmer apprentice program.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 1950 of the education law, which encompasses the powers, duties and responsibilities of boards of cooperative educational services, to establish and encourage a young farmer apprentice program under the auspices of Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Section 2 provides the effective date.
Existing law
Current law does not specifically allow for a young farmer apprentice program. Such programs however, do exist in other states as a way to encourage people to consider farming and agricultural production as a career. By giving BOCES jurisdiction over such a program, this will encourage such programs to take root and give them authenticity.
Justification
Providing for a young farmer apprentice program under the auspices of BOCES, will encourage the creation of such programs. Taking steps to recruit young, new farmers to the agricultural profession is extremely important to New York.
Agriculture is the leading industry in New York yet, New York's farm community is aging and it has become increasingly difficult to attract young people to farming and to encourage younger generations to consider farming as a career. The average age of farm operators in New York is 59, and is expected to continue to increase unless steps are taken to reverse this trend. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has set a goal of recruiting 100,000 new farmers across the country to replace those who are retiring. By enacting legislation to create a young fanner apprentice program under the direction of BOCES, New York will help recruit young farmers to the profession, keep agricultural lands in production, and prevent the loss of agricultural businesses.
Farming is a difficult industry and there are many barriers to keeping current farm land in the hands of agricultural producers. As the current crop of farmers continues to age out of the business, we need to take steps to encourage new farmers to enter the profession. It is in the best interest of the state to ensure that enough producers are recruited and retained in agricultural production. Additionally, the recent increase in demand for quality fresh locally grown foods and beverages highlight the importance of assisting new farmers to enter the profession.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.1799 Referred to Education/ A.2410 Referred to Education 2013-2014: S.6881/ A.9289
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.