Bill Text: CA AB552 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Farmer Equity Act of 2017: Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Pilot Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2024-01-25 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB552 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB552-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 552

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Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett

February 08, 2023

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An act to amend Section 10230.2 of the Public Resources Code, relating to agriculture, and making an appropriation therefor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 552, as introduced, Bennett. Agriculture: California Farmland Conservancy Program.

Existing law establishes the California Farmland Conservancy Program in the Department of Conservation, and authorizes the program to offer financial assistance, including grants or contracts, for projects and activities on agricultural lands that support agricultural conservation and sustainable land management, including, among other projects and activities, the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements or fee title to protect the land’s agricultural use or capacity, and technical assistance to develop projects, prepare applications, and implement projects. Existing law creates the California Farmland Conservancy Program Fund and continuously appropriates moneys in the fund from federal grants and gifts and donations for purposes of the California Farmland Conservancy Program.

This bill would authorize the California Farmland Conservancy Program to additionally offer financial assistance for regional farm tool lending programs. By expanding the purposes for which continuously appropriated moneys may be used, the bill would make an appropriation.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 10230.2 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

10230.2.

 (a) The California Farmland Conservancy Program is hereby established in the department.

(b) The program may offer financial assistance, including grants or contracts, for projects and activities on agricultural lands that support agricultural conservation and sustainable land management, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) Acquisition of agricultural conservation easements or fee title to protect the land’s agricultural use or capacity that meets the following requirements:

(A) The primary purpose for which the easement or fee title is being sought is consistent with continuing agricultural use of the property.

(B) The easement or fee title does not, and will not, substantially prevent agricultural uses on the property.

(C) Any nonagricultural qualities that will be protected by the easement or fee title, if applicable, are inherent to the property.

(2) Improvements to land protected by a conservation easement, deed restriction, or similar long-term agreement as determined by the director.

(3) Plans to protect and conserve agricultural lands and plans to protect, conserve, restore, or enhance resources or values located on, or adjacent to, agricultural lands or that were historically present on agricultural lands. These may include, but are not limited to, either of the following:

(A) An agricultural land component or element of a general plan developed pursuant to Section 65565 of the Government Code.

(B) Land conservation strategies and plans to identify and develop potential projects.

(4) Technical assistance to develop projects, prepare applications, and implement projects.

(5) Regional farm tool lending programs.

(5)

(6) Administrative costs incurred by the department to administer the program.

(6)

(7) Any other purposes approved by the Legislature in a funding appropriation for the program.