What's happening
This bill exempts most farm conservation practices from engineering, surveying, or architectural requirements, unless deemed necessary by state agencies.
Why it matters
Reduces regulatory burdens on farmers. by broadly exempting farm conservation practices (like installing grass waterways or terraces) from needing licensed engineers, architects, or surveyors—potentially lowering costs and speeding up implementation.
Creates flexibility for state oversight. , allowing the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee to require professional involvement only when they deem it necessary, rather than as a blanket rule.
May encourage more conservation efforts on farms. , since fewer bureaucratic hurdles and lower expenses could make it easier for farmers to adopt soil, water, and environmental protection measures.
Could raise concerns about safety or quality control. in certain complex projects, as the default exemption removes some professional review unless specifically required by the state agencies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Define Farm Conservation Practices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1000
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2019
Introduced by Sens. YOUNG, FUNKE, O'MARA, RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the education law, in relation to farm conservation practices
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 50 to read as follows:
50. Define and review on an on-going basis farm conservation practices in conjunction with the state soil and water conservation committee to determine the scope of engineering, land surveying or architecture necessary for such practices.
§ 2. Paragraph b of subdivision 7 of section 7209 of the education law, as added by chapter 987 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
b. To alterations to any building or structure costing ten thousand dollars or less which do not involve changes affecting the structural safety or public safety thereof nor to farm buildings, including barns, sheds, poultry houses and other buildings used directly and solely for agricultural purposes; nor to farm conservation practices, except as determined necessary by the department of agriculture and markets and the state soil and water conservation committee; nor to residence buildings of gross floor area of fifteen hundred square feet or less, not including garages, carports, porches, cellars, or uninhabitable basements or attics.
§ 3. Paragraph 1 of subdivision 5 of section 7307 of the education law, as amended by chapter 994 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
1. Farm buildings, including barns, sheds, poultry houses and other buildings used directly and solely for agricultural purposes; nor to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03854-01-9
S. 1000 2
farm conservation practices, except as determined necessary by the department of agriculture and markets and the state soil and water conservation committee; nor to residence buildings of gross area of fifteen hundred square feet or less, not including garages, carports, porches, cellars, or uninhabitable basements or attics; or
§ 4. 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 agriculture and markets law and the education law, in relation to farm conservation practices
Purpose
To clarify that the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets and the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee shall be the authorities that estab- lish the need for technical expertise on farm environmental and conser- vation best management practices.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends section 16 of the Agriculture and Markets Law is to give authority to the Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets, along with the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee to review farm conservation practices and determine the technical expertise needed to implement such practices. Section 2: Amends paragraph b of subdivision 7 of section 7209 of the Education Law. Section 3: Amends paragraph 1 of subdivision 5 of section 7307. Section 4: Sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Across the state, farms are working on implementing environmental best management practices. These efforts protect our natural resources and increase farm environmental sustainability. The experts that assist farmers in implementing these programs are local soil and water districts. The state committee that oversees the districts has a long standing history of working with farms and has a strong practical know- ledge of the technical resources needed to implement specific projects. Rather than have engineers that are unfamiliar with farm-specific projects determine necessary resources, this bill more appropriately assigns the responsibility for such determination.
Legislative history
2017,2018: S.852/A.5007 Passed Senate/referred to agriculture 2016: S.3024-A/A.2407-A Passed. Senate/referred to agriculture 2015: S.3024/A.2407 Passed Senate/referred to agriculture 2013,2014: S.2677/A.5742 Passed Senate 2012: S.850/A.2164 Advanced to Third Reading 2011: S.859/A.2164 Passed Senate 2009,2010: S.2470/A.5809 Referred to Agriculture 2007,2008: S.8004/A.10973 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
A cost savings would be actualized with technical resources being more efficiently used and, thereby, more farm environmental projects being accomplished with existing state funds.
Effective date
Effective immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.