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S3873Senate2019-2020 SessionSame asA7104

Start School Agriculture Programs

Official title

“Authorizes and directs boards of cooperative educational services to establish an agriculture program for students”

Sponsor Rachel MaySD-53+9 co-sponsorsAffects Education
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
4/10
Low
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

This bill authorizes BOCES to establish agriculture programs for students, including partnerships with farms for hands-on learning.

Why it matters

  1. Addresses workforce needs in agriculture. By allowing BOCES to launch agriculture programs, this bill aims to equip students with practical skills relevant to New York’s vital agricultural sector, potentially easing local labor shortages and supporting the industry’s sustainability.

  2. Expands experiential learning. The bill emphasizes hands-on experiences through partnerships with farms and agricultural businesses, offering students real-world exposure that could improve job readiness and engagement compared to classroom-only instruction.

  3. Promotes local input and flexibility. Programs would be established based on demonstrated local interest, ensuring that offerings are tailored to the unique needs and priorities of individual communities rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Start School Agriculture Programs

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Rachel May

Senator · Senate District 53

Chair, Aging

History

  1. Signed chap.298
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to senate
  4. Passed assembly
  5. Ordered to third reading rules cal.169
  6. Substituted for A7104A
  7. Referred to education
  8. Delivered to assembly
  9. Passed senateVote 61–0
  10. Advanced to third reading
  11. 2nd report cal.
  12. 1st report cal.468
Show 14 earlier actions
  1. Print number 3873a
  2. Amend (t) and recommit to finance
  3. Reported and committed to finance
  4. Referred to education
  5. Returned to senate
  6. Died in assembly
  7. Referred to education
  8. Delivered to assembly
  9. Passed senateVote 62–0
  10. Advanced to third reading
  11. 2nd report cal.
  12. 1st report cal.430
  13. Reported and committed to finance
  14. 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.

A7104Assembly

Start School Farm Programs

Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Marianne Buttenschon

Impact 4 · Low0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

3873--A

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

February 20, 2019

Introduced by Sens. MAY, RITCHIE, BIAGGI, GALLIVAN, HELMING, JORDAN, KRUEGER, MARTINEZ, METZGER, MONTGOMERY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing and directing boards of cooperative educational services to establish an agriculture program for students

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Paragraph h of subdivision 4 of section 1950 of the education law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 13 to read as follows:

(13) To establish, upon local interest from one or more component school districts and subject to approval by the BOCES board of education, an agriculture program that is designed to provide students with the skills required to work in, and help sustain New York's agriculture industry. Such program may include, but not be limited to, a partnership with farms and other agriculture entities in the state that provide students with hands-on experience combined with other educational opportunities.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD10066-02-0

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 authorizing and directing boards of cooperative educational services to establish an agriculture program for students

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill will allows BOCES to establish and encourage young farmer apprentice programs.

Summary of specific provisions

Adds a new subdivision 13 of paragraph h of subdivision 4 of section 1950 of the education law to allow BOCES to establish agriculture programs designed to encourage young farmers to enter New York's agri- culture industry.

** The amended legislation clarifies that BOCES may establish these programs based upon local interest and with approval of the BOCES board. **

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 farmer appren- tice 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 profes- sion.

Prior legislative history

2013-2014: S6881, A9289 2015-2016: S1799, A2410 2017-2018: S1906, A4385

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.