PA 07-162—sSB 872

Environment Committee

Government Administration and Elections Committee

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A FARMLAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD, A STATE BUILDING CODE FOR AGRICULTURE, AND ZONING REGULATION OF FARMING

SUMMARY: This act requires the State Bond Commission to vote on whether to issue, at certain times and when available, bonds that the legislature approved for agricultural land preservation programs but the commission has not allocated.

The act creates a 12-member Farmland Preservation Advisory Board to help the agriculture department with its purchase of development rights program and other efforts to preserve agricultural lands. It establishes the board's composition and duties, and places it within the department for administrative purposes only.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007

FUNDING AGRICULTURE PRESERVATION PROGRAMS

The act requires the bond commission to vote on whether to issue unallocated bonds that the General Assembly approved for agricultural land preservation programs when such funds are available. Specifically, it requires the commission to vote on whether to issue at least $5 million of such unallocated bonds, if available, at its regularly scheduled August and February meetings. If the commission does not meet in those months, it must vote on whether to issue the bonds at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The act specifies that when the balance of approved bonds is less than $5 million at the time of the commission's August or February meetings, the commission must vote on whether to issue the remaining bonds.

When there is a sufficient balance of approved, unallocated bonds and there are pending agricultural land preservation transactions in excess of $5 million, the act allows the commissioner to request, and requires the commission to vote on whether to issue, bonds of more than $5 million.

FARMLAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD

Board Membership, Appointing Powers, and Initial Terms

The 12-member advisory board consists of:

1. a University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Service representative appointed by the governor;

2. a Connecticut Farm Bureau representative, who may be an owner and operator of a Connecticut farm, appointed by the governor;

3. five Connecticut farm owners and operators appointed by the governor, Senate president pro tempore, House speaker, and Senate and House majority leaders;

4. a Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station representative appointed by the Senate minority leader;

5. a Connecticut Conference of Municipalities representative appointed by the House minority leader;

6. a representative of an organization whose mission includes farmland preservation, who may be an owner and operator of a Connecticut farm, appointed by the Senate president pro tempore;

7. a representative of an organization whose mission includes food security, appointed by the House speaker; and

8. a representative of a financial lending organization whose clients include Connecticut farm owners and operators, appointed by the governor.

The board members must select a chairperson from those members who own and operate Connecticut farms. The members, other than the Farm Bureau representative and the five farm owners and operators (who are each appointed for three years), are initially appointed to two-year terms. Once the initial terms expire, all members are appointed for three years. Members are eligible for reappointment. Anyone appointed to fill a vacancy serves for the rest of the unexpired term.

Duties

Once established, the board:

1. must meet publicly with the agriculture commissioner and the staff of the development rights purchase program by October 1, 2007 and at least quarterly thereafter to review ongoing program activities;

2. must evaluate and provide comments and recommendations on the purchase of development rights transaction process, including (a) methods (1) for streamlining the process and appropriate staffing and funding levels, (2) for increased participation by municipalities and farmers, (3) of planning for future acquisitions and identifying prime land for preservation and (b) agriculture department outreach strategies aimed at the state-wide farming community, geared at attracting more quality applications;

3. may recommend any other changes to the program that the board deems appropriate, including recommendations for future legislative action; and

4. must evaluate and comment on the efficacy of the method of bond funding the act establishes.

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