Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator THOMAS H. KEAN, JR.
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Madden, Addiego, Cunningham and Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Farm Liaison in Department of Agriculture.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on January 31, 2019, with amendments.
An Act establishing a Farm Liaison in the Department of Agriculture and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Secretary of Agriculture, with the approval of the State Board of Agriculture, shall designate a current employee of the department as “Farm Liaison” who shall have the function, power, and duty to coordinate with individual farmers to encourage participation in department and State agricultural programs. The liaison shall 1: (1)1 encourage farmers to participate in State agriculture programs that may benefit 1[that farmer, including informing the farmer] those farmers; (2) inform farmers1 about potential taxation benefits 1[, and shall also] ; (3)1 disseminate information about pilot programs, food donation 1programs1, anti-hunger initiatives, and any other department programs that the liaison may deem relevant to 1[an] each1 individual farmer 1[. The liaison shall, as appropriate, also] ; and (4) serve as a coordinator between farmers and organizations that engage in gleaning activities. The liaison shall1 coordinate with the State Agricultural Development Committee and the county agriculture development boards 1, as deemed by the liaison to be appropriate1. 1[The liaison shall also serve as a coordinator between farmers and organizations engaging in gleaning activities.]1 The liaison shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and board.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.