Bill Text: NY A09912 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to the manner state aid is distributed to districts for the conservation of soil and water resources; no longer requires distribution on a competitive basis.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-22 - referred to environmental conservation [A09912 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A09912-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          9912
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    February 22, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ZEBROWSKI  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Environmental Conservation
        AN ACT to amend the  soil  and  water  conservation  districts  law,  in
          relation  to  the manner state aid is distributed to districts for the
          conservation of soil and water resources
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 11-a of the soil
     2  and water conservation districts law, as amended by section 2 of part U1
     3  of chapter 109 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
     4    (c) Within amounts available, provide  financial  assistance  to  each
     5  soil  and  water  conservation  district,  in  addition  to  the amounts
     6  provided under paragraphs (a) and  (b)  of  this  subdivision,  for  the
     7  purposes  of  carrying out projects for the conservation of the soil and
     8  water resources of this state, and for the improvement of water quality,
     9  and for  the  control  and  prevention  of  soil  erosion  and  for  the
    10  prevention  of  floodwater  and sediment damages, and for furthering the
    11  conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water, and there-
    12  by to preserve natural resources, control and abate nonpoint sources  of
    13  water pollution, assist in the control of floods, assist in the drainage
    14  and  irrigation  of  agricultural  lands, prevent impairment of dams and
    15  reservoirs,  assist  in  maintaining  the  navigability  of  rivers  and
    16  harbors,  preserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public lands,
    17  and protect and promote the health, safety and general  welfare  of  the
    18  people  of  this  state. Any funds made available pursuant to this para-
    19  graph shall be available for financial assistance for  the  purposes  of
    20  carrying  out  such  activities  to  each  soil  and  water conservation
    21  district [on a competitive basis] pursuant to performance  standards  to
    22  be  established  by  the  soil  and water conservation committee and the
    23  commissioner of the department of agriculture and markets.  Such  stand-
    24  ards shall include, but not be limited to, the extent and sufficiency of
    25  district  board  activity;  district  reporting and outreach activities;
    26  delivery of state natural resource conservation programs; and the abili-
    27  ty of the district to use such funding to leverage additional funds from
    28  local, federal and private sources.
    29    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD14027-01-7