What's happening
The bill requires at least 10% additional funding for agricultural environmental management plans in watersheds critical to recreational fishing.
Why it matters
Prioritizes environmental protection in key recreational fishing areas. by directing more resources to watersheds that are especially important for fishing tourism and local economies.
Creates a financial incentive for farmers within these critical watersheds. to adopt or enhance environmental management practices, increasing the likelihood of cleaner water and reduced pollution where it has the most public value.
Empowers the Department of Environmental Conservation. to designate which watersheds are “critical,” giving state environmental experts a role in targeting funding where it may have the highest ecological and economic impact.
May influence how matching grant programs are structured and distributed. in the future, potentially setting a precedent for targeted enhancements in other environmentally sensitive or economically vital areas.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Boost Funding for Fishing Watersheds
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
7 Co-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1882
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY, KOLB, CROUCH, FINCH, PALMESANO -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, GIGLIO, GOODELL, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to funding of agricultural environmental management programs implemented in watersheds deemed critical to recreational fishing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 151 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 375 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 151. Agricultural environmental management program. There is hereby established within the department an agricultural environmental management program to assist farmers in maintaining the economic viability of their farm operations while addressing environmental impacts from those operations, including, but not limited to, soil, air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The program may also include assistance to farmers for the development of agriculturally-derived renewable energy sources. The program may consist of planner certification to qualify persons to prepare AEM plans; technical assistance to farmers participating in the program; financial assistance, within funds available, to soil and water conservation districts and farmers to prepare and implement plans provided that for plans implemented in watersheds deemed critical to recreational fishing, as determined by the commissioner of environmental conservation, shall receive not less than ten percent additional financial assistance when such assistance is distributed through a matching grant program; other incentives for program participation; and evaluation of program procedures and projects to assess effectiveness.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02276-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.