S 2562: Enacts the New York agricultural investment task force act; establishes the New York task force on agricultural investment to study and assess the future of agriculture in the state.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2562 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture 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 Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and maybe cited as 2 the "New York agricultural investment task force act". 3 § 2. Legislative findings. The Legislature finds that it is in the 4 public interest to have a viable agricultural sector in the state and to 5 establish an agricultural investment task force that shall study, evalu- 6 ate and develop budgeting and other recommendations relating to specific 7 actionable measures to address farm sustainability in New York state. 8 § 3. The New York task force on agricultural investment is hereby 9 established to study and assess the future of agriculture in the state. 10 Such task force shall consist of twelve members with demonstrated exper- 11 tise in issues relating to the work of the task force. The members of 12 the task force shall be appointed as follows: 13 (a) six members shall be appointed by the governor. Such members' 14 expertise shall encompass, but not be limited to, the topic areas of 15 agriculture, economic development, the environment, and workforce devel- 16 opment. The six members appointed by the governor shall include: the 17 commissioner of agriculture and markets, or their designee, who shall 18 serve as the chair of the task force; the commissioner of labor, or 19 their designee; the president of the New York state energy research and 20 development authority, or their designee; the commissioner of environ- 21 mental conservation, or their designee; the commissioner of housing and 22 community renewal, or their designee; and the commissioner of economic 23 development, or their designee; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05033-01-5 
 S. 2562 2 1 (b) two members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the 2 senate; 3 (c) two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; 4 (d) one member shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; and 5 (e) one member shall be appointed by the assembly minority leader. 6 § 4. All appointments shall be made no later than the fifteenth day 7 after the effective date of this section. Vacancies in the membership of 8 the task force shall be filled in the same manner provided for by the 9 original appointments. The task force shall organize as soon as practi- 10 cable following the appointment of its members. The chairperson shall 11 appoint a secretary who shall not be a member of the task force. The 12 members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their 13 services. 14 § 5. The task force shall study, evaluate and develop recommendations 15 relating to the state of agriculture in the state and issues such as 16 labor, workforce development, and economic conditions. 17 § 6. The task force shall be entitled to request and receive, and 18 shall utilize such facilities, resources and data of any court, depart- 19 ment, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any 20 political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to properly 21 carry out its powers and duties. 22 § 7. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to 23 the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of 24 the assembly on or before November 1, 2025. 25 § 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 26 deemed repealed one year after such date.