AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESERVATION OF STATE-OWNED AGRICULTURAL LAND.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section, "agricultural land" has the same meaning as in section 22-26bb of the general statutes. The Farmland Preservation Advisory Board shall conduct a review of any state-owned agricultural land, excluding any such land owned by the Department of Environmental Protection, to evaluate methods for permanently preserving each such parcel of land, and to make recommendations for further action to be taken to preserve each such parcel, including, but not limited to, recommendations for a conservation easement or possible transfer of the interest of such property and the identification of potential recipients of any such conservation easement. The board may consider methods of preservation that would result in an increase in revenue for the state. The board shall consult with the agency that exercises control over the applicable parcel when conducting a review of such parcel. The board may consult with (1) the office of the Attorney General to review legal options for permanently preserving each such parcel, or (2) the Department of Environmental Protection or federal agencies to assist in calculating the conservation values for each such parcel.
(b) No later than January 15, 2010, the board shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, such recommendations to the Commissioner of Agriculture and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to environment.
Approved June 18, 2009