What's happening
This bill creates a temporary New York task force to study and recommend actions for agricultural investment and farm sustainability.
Why it matters
Brings together diverse expertise. The task force is composed of members with backgrounds in agriculture, economic development, environment, workforce, housing, and energy, ensuring a comprehensive approach to evaluating New York’s agricultural challenges and opportunities.
Focuses on actionable solutions. The group’s mandate is not just to study, but to specifically develop budgeting and other actionable recommendations for farm sustainability—potentially influencing future state policy and funding priorities.
Leverages government resources. The task force is empowered to access data and resources from any state or local government agency, which increases its ability to make informed, data-driven recommendations.
Time-sensitive, targeted impact. With a strict reporting deadline and a one-year lifespan, the task force is designed to deliver timely recommendations, which could accelerate legislative or executive action to support struggling farms and rural communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Farm Investment Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Vetoed memo.233
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.573
- Substituted for A8347
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1743
- Referred to rules
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 Farm Investment Task Force
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Donna Lupardo
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6553
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 16, 2019
Introduced by Sens. METZGER, MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT establishing the New York task force on agricultural investment; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and maybe cited as the "New York agricultural investment task force act".
§ 2. Legislative findings. The Legislature finds that it is in the public interest to have a viable agricultural sector in the state and to establish an agricultural investment task force that shall study, evaluate and develop budgeting and other recommendations relating to specific actionable measures to address farm sustainability in New York state.
§ 3. The New York task force on agricultural investment is hereby established to study and assess the future of agriculture in the state. Such task force shall consist of twelve members with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force. The members of the task force shall be appointed as follows:
(a) six members shall be appointed by the governor. Such members' expertise shall encompass, but not be limited to, the topic areas of agriculture, economic development, the environment, and workforce development. The six members appointed by the governor shall include: the commissioner of agriculture and markets, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the task force; the commissioner of labor, or his or her designee; the president of the New York state energy research and development authority, or his or her designee; the commissioner of environmental conservation, or his or her designee; the commissioner of housing and community renewal, or his or her designee; and the commissioner of economic development, or his or her designee;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13364-03-9
S. 6553 2
(b) two members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(c) two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
(d) one member shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; and
(e) one member shall be appointed by the assembly minority leader.
§ 4. All appointments shall be made no later than the fifteenth day after the effective date of this section. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner provided for by the original appointments. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who shall not be a member of the task force. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services.
§ 5. The task force shall study, evaluate and develop recommendations relating to the state of agriculture in the state and issues such as labor, workforce development, and economic conditions.
§ 6. The task force shall be entitled to request and receive, and shall utilize such facilities, resources and data of any court, department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to properly carry out its powers and duties.
§ 7. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on or before November 1, 2019.
§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act establishing the New York task force on agri- cultural investment; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will establish a task force on agricultural investment, allow- ing for the studying, evaluation, and development of budget and policy recommendations regarding farm sustainability in New York.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Provides for the legislation to be known as the "New York Agricultural Investment Task Force Act."
Section 2: Provides findings supporting a strong public interest in establishing the task force.
Section 3: Delegates the task force composition.
Section 4: Establishes appointment and vacancy rules and restrictions.
Section 5: Provides for the scope and main objectives of the task force.
Section 6: Establishes the task force's authority to call upon any State agencies or bodies which may provide assistance in the task force's mission.
Section 7: Establishes the procedure for the task force to report its findings.
Section 8: Provides for the effective date.
Justification
The New York State agricultural industry has an annual economic impact of over $42 million and is comprised of over 32,000 farms, which produce high quality products; supplying New York families with nutritious food every day. However, to encourage the growth of the agricultural indus- try, efforts must be made to identify statewide barriers to the sustain- able growth of New York farms. The recently released 2017 USDA Agricul- ture Census found that New York is experiencing a serious decrease in the number of farms, with a loss of 2,100 farms from 2012, the largest drop in more than 2 decades and triple the national average of a 3% loss.
The New York Task Force on Agricultural Investment will study, evaluate and develop policy and budget recommendations relating to the state of agriculture in the New York and focus on issues such as workforce devel- opment, economic conditions, environmental concerns and energy efficien- cy. By establishing this task force, New York is taking a step toward a more sustainable future for farming and developing policy and budget recommendations which will stimulate the agricultural industry in the state, and support its profitability.
Prior legislative history
This is new legislation.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
This legislation will have no fiscal implications for state and local governments.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.