Fund Orange County Agriculture Programs

Section 1. Section 286 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 61 of the laws of 1954, the section heading and subdivision 1 as amended by and subdivisions 2, 3, 4, and 5 as added by chapter 683 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:

§ 286. Appropriation and apportionment of moneys for the promotion of agriculture and domestic arts. 1. There shall be appropriated annually for the department of agriculture and markets an amount of money sufficient to pay and satisfy the reimbursement moneys herein specified and which money shall be disbursed by the commissioner on behalf of the state for the promotion of agriculture and domestic arts, to duly incorporated agricultural or horticultural corporations as defined in section fourteen hundred nine of the not-for-profit corporation law, the county extension service association in the county of Orange, the American institute in the city of New York, the Goshen Historic Track, Inc., the Genesee Valley Breeders' Association, Inc. and county extension service associations in proportion to the actual premiums paid during the previous year including premiums paid for trials or tests of speed and endurance of harness horses.

2. Eligibility. (a) To qualify for premium reimbursement under this section, agricultural and horticultural corporations, the county extension service association in the county of Orange, the American institute in the city of New York, the Goshen Historic Track, Inc. and the Genesee Valley Breeders' Association, Inc. must have held, with the approval of the commissioner, an annual fair or exposition for the promotion of

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD01772-01-9

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agriculture and domestic arts during the previous calendar year, paid at least five thousand dollars in actual premiums and filed an annual report as required in paragraph (c) of this subdivision.

(b) To qualify for premium reimbursement under this section a county extension service association must have held, with the approval of the commissioner, a fair or exposition for the promotion of agriculture and domestic arts during the previous calendar year open to all youths in that county up to age twenty-one. [A] Except for the county extension service association in the county of Orange, a county extension service association may not receive reimbursement for a fair or exposition in a county where an agricultural or horticultural corporation or the American institute in the city of New York has held such a fair or exposition during the past two years. A county extension service association must have paid at least five hundred dollars in actual premiums and filed an annual report as required in paragraph (c) of this subdivision.

(c) All organizations eligible to receive moneys appropriated by the state pursuant to this section shall file with the Department an annual report on or before the fifteenth day of December. The report shall list all premiums awarded during the calendar year and the exhibits for which the premiums were awarded.

3. Reimbursement amounts. (a) Each organization eligible for premium reimbursement pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section shall receive seven thousand two hundred dollars or the amount actually paid out in premiums, whichever is less. Each organization that has paid out more than seven thousand two hundred dollars shall also be eligible to receive an additional reimbursement equal to the premiums paid in its youth department, not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars.

(b) Each eligible cooperative extension association shall receive five thousand dollars or the amount actually paid out in premiums, whichever is less.

(c) After reimbursements have been allocated pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subdivision, the remaining appropriation, if any, shall be distributed in equal shares to the agricultural or horticultural corporations, the county extension service association in the county of Orange, the American institute in the city of New York, the Goshen Historic Track, Inc. and the Genesee Valley Breeders' Association, Inc. if they have not been fully reimbursed as a result of the allocations set forth above. The American institute in the city of New York, if eligible, shall receive two shares of the pro-rated amount.

(d) In no event shall any agricultural or horticultural corporation, the county extension service association in the county of Orange, the American institute in the city of New York, the Goshen Historic Track, Inc. or the Genesee Valley Breeders' Association, Inc. receive more than the amount actually paid out in premiums or twelve thousand dollars, whichever is less.

4. Any organization that shall fail or neglect to hold an annual fair or exposition and file its annual report for two consecutive years, shall forfeit any privileges or money to which it may otherwise be entitled pursuant to the provisions of this article. In computing such period of two consecutive years, no year shall be counted in which such failure was deemed by the commissioner to be attributable to a cause or condition with respect to which the organization or its directors or officers had no control, or for any other reason which the commissioner deems justified.

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5. For the purposes of this article, Rockland County Future, Inc. shall be eligible for premium reimbursement, as provided in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section so long as such organization has held, with the approval of the commissioner, an annual fair or exposition for the promotion of agriculture and domestic arts in conjunction with a county extension service association during the previous calendar year; paid at least five thousand dollars in actual premiums; and filed an annual report as required in paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.