Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S6182
Timestamp: 2019-12-12 03:52:49
Document Index: 347494329

Matched Legal Cases: ['§169', 'Art 15', '§173', '§301', '§483', '§ 2', '§ 173', '§ 173', '§ 173', '§  173', '§ 174', '§ 175', '§ 175', '§ 175', '§ 175', '§ 175', '§ 175', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§ 173', '§  173']

NY State Senate Bill S6182A
senate Bill S6182A
Get Status Alerts for S6182A
Jun 10, 2019 print number 6182a
Jun 10, 2019 amend (t) and recommit to agriculture
S6182 - Details
Rpld §169-d, amd Art 15 §§173 - 175-b, §301, Ag & Mkts L; amd §483, RPT L
S6182 - Summary
Establishes the apiary industry advisory committee; defines terms; requires the commissioner of agriculture and markets to give a beekeeper advanced notice of any inspection of an apiary; establishes the cooperative honeybee health improvement program… (view more) makes related provisions.
S6182 - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S6182
the real property tax law, in relation to bee health and the beekeeping
industry; and to repeal certain provisions of such laws relating thereto
The purpose of the bill is to modernize Article 15 of the Agriculture
and Markets Law (AML) Bee Diseases to reflect modern bee husbandry prac-
tices and create a Cooperative Honey Bee Health Improvement Program. The
bill would also amend the Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) to clarify the
farm buildings property tax exemption for bee industry buildings.
Section 1 of the bill would repeal AML section 169-d, which concerns the
Apiary Industry Advisory Committee.
Section 2 Of the bill would add the provisions concerning the Apiary
Industry Advisory Committee as a new AML section 173, and would desig-
nate the commissioner as the chairperson of the committee. This section
of the bill would also amend several provisions of AML article 15 to:
add relevant definitions; include a provision that would require the
commissioner to provide beekeepers with advance notice of apiary
inspections; and, would establish a cooperative honeybee health improve-
ment program. The program would require the registration of apiaries and
the submission of limited information about their operations and provide
for an annual inspection of apiaries selling nucleus colonies.
Section 3 of the bill would amend AML section 301 (9) to include more
Section 4 of the bill would amend the RPTL section 483 to clarify the
Section 5 of the bill would make the act effective 180 days after it
Honeybees are critically important to the agricultural industry for'the
Working cooperatively with beekeepers to share information on the inci-
dence of parasites and diseases at the county level will enhance the
The bill would take effect 180 days after it becomes a law.
S6182 - Bill Text download pdf
tax law, in relation to bee health and the beekeeping industry; and to
repeal certain provisions of such laws relating thereto
Section  1.  Section  169-d  of  the  agriculture  and  markets law is
§ 2. Article 15 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by  chap-
ter 166 of the laws of 1925, sections 173, 174, 175 and 175-b as amended
by  chapter  430  of  the  laws of 1985, subdivision 9 of section 174 as
added by chapter 276 of the laws of 2000, section 175-c  as  amended  by
chapter  310  of  the laws of 1962 and section 175-d as added by chapter
398 of the laws of 1938, is amended to read as follows:
Section 173.   APIARY INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
173-A. DEFINITIONS.
173-B. Eradication of bee diseases and certain insects affecting
173-C. COOPERATIVE HONEYBEE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
174.   Keeping of diseased and banned bees prohibited; existence
of disease to be reported.
175.   [Transportation of bees and bee material.
175-b.] Rules and regulations.
[175-c] 175-A. Review by court.
[175-d] 175-B. Violations  remedies.
LBD09084-01-9
§ 173. APIARY INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 1. THERE IS  HEREBY  ESTAB-
LISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AN APIARY INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH
SHALL  CONSIST  OF  NO  MORE THAN FIFTEEN MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE
COMMISSIONER BASED ON THEIR  EXPERIENCE  AND  EXPERTISE  IN  THE  APIARY
INDUSTRY. OF THE MEMBERS SO APPOINTED, AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS SHALL REPRE-
SENT  EACH OF THE THREE SECTORS OF THE APIARY INDUSTRY, COMMERCIAL BEEK-
EEPERS, PART-TIME BEEKEEPERS  AND  HOBBYIST  BEEKEEPERS;  AT  LEAST  ONE
MEMBER  SHALL  REPRESENT  THE HORTICULTURE OR VEGETABLE INDUSTRY AND ONE
MEMBER SHALL BE AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTEN-
SION SERVICE. MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF THREE  YEARS  AND
MAY  SERVE  UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE CHOSEN PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT OF
THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, FIVE SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM  OF  ONE  YEAR,
FIVE  SHALL  SERVE  FOR  A TERM OF TWO YEARS, AND FIVE SHALL SERVE FOR A
TERM OF THREE YEARS. MEMBERS SHALL SERVE WITHOUT SALARY. THE COMMISSION-
ER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL BE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE.
2. THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF  THE  APIARY  INDUSTRY  ADVISORY
COMMITTEE  SHALL  INCLUDE PROVIDING ADVICE, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE COMMISSIONER  REGARDING  STATE  GOVERNMENT  PLANS,  POLICIES  AND
PROGRAMS  AFFECTING  THE  APIARY  INDUSTRY AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS THE
COMMISSIONER MAY REQUEST IN RELATION TO THIS ARTICLE.
3. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY, AT  TIMES
AND PLACES SET BY THE COMMISSIONER.
4.  THE  COMMISSIONER  MAY ASK OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO ATTEND THE COMMIT-
TEE'S MEETINGS OR WORK WITH IT AS NEEDED.
§ 173-A. DEFINITIONS. WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
1. "APIARY" SHALL MEAN ANY LOCATION  USED  FOR  RAISING  HONEYBEES  OR
PRODUCING HONEY OR OTHER BEE RELATED PRODUCTS.
2. "COLONY" SHALL MEAN ANY PRODUCTION UNIT OF BEES.
3.  "NUCLEUS  COLONY"  SHALL  MEAN  A  STARTER COLONY, CONSISTING OF A
LAYING QUEEN AND UP TO FIVE FRAMES OF BROOD AND BEES.
§ 173-B. Eradication of bee diseases  and  certain  insects  affecting
bees.   The commissioner may cause inspections to be made of apiaries in
the state for the discovery of infectious,  contagious  or  communicable
diseases  and  for  the  discovery  of  insects  and parasitic organisms
adversely affecting bees, and for the discovery of species or subspecies
of bees which have been determined by him to cause injury,  directly  or
indirectly,  to  this  state's  useful  bee  population, crops, or other
plants. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE A BEEKEEPER OR HIS OR HER  DESIG-
NATED  AGENT  WITH  ADVANCE NOTICE OF ANY INSPECTION OF AN APIARY. He OR
SHE may also cause investigations to be made as to the best  method  for
the  eradication  of  diseases  of  bees, insects or parasitic organisms
adversely affecting bees, or for the eradication of species  or  subspe-
cies  of  bees which have been determined by him OR HER to cause injury,
directly or indirectly, to this state's [useful] MANAGED bee population,
crops, or other plants and he OR SHE may plan  and  execute  appropriate
methods for such eradication.
The commissioner shall have access to all apiaries, structures, appli-
ances  or  premises where bees or honey or comb used in apiaries may be.
He OR SHE may open any hive, colony, package or receptacle of  any  kind
containing  or  which he OR SHE has reason to believe contains any bees,
comb, bee products, used beekeeping appliances, or anything  else  which
is  capable of transmitting contagious or infectious diseases of bees or
which is capable of harboring insects or parasitic  organisms  adversely
affecting  bees, or species or subspecies of bees which have been deter-
mined by him OR HER to cause injury, directly  or  indirectly,  to  this
state's [useful] MANAGED bee population, crops, or other plants.
S. 6182                             3
§  173-C.  COOPERATIVE  HONEYBEE  HEALTH  IMPROVEMENT  PROGRAM.  1. IN
SUPPORT OF THE DUTIES OUTLINED IN THIS ARTICLE, AS WELL AS THE GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES SET FORTH IN THE NEW YORK STATE  POLLINATOR  PROTECTION  PLAN
(JUNE,  2016)  AND ANY SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS OF THE PLAN; THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL  CREATE  A  COOPERATIVE  HONEYBEE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WHICH
(A) ALL BEEKEEPERS SHALL PROVIDE TO THE  COMMISSIONER  THE  NUMBER  OF
MANAGED  COLONIES  AND  THE  COUNTY  IN  WHICH EACH OF THESE COLONIES IS
LOCATED; AND CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL  OR  INDIVID-
UALS  RESPONSIBLE  FOR THE CARE OF THESE BEES. ALL BEEKEEPERS SHALL ALSO
INDICATE WHETHER THEY INTEND TO SELL  NUCLEUS  COLONIES  ("NUCS").  THIS
INFORMATION  SHALL  BE  UPDATED  AND  PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSIONER ON AN
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL USE THIS INFORMATION TO COMMUNICATE THE INCI-
DENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND PARASITES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO  BEEK-
EEPERS AND BEE CLUBS.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ALSO USE THIS INFORMATION TO
ESTABLISH  THE  BOUNDARIES  OF  DISEASE AND PARASITE INFESTATIONS IN THE
AREA SURROUNDING A CONFIRMED DISEASE OR PARASITE INFESTATION.
(C) ANY INDIVIDUAL OR BUSINESS THAT INTENDS TO SELL  NUCLEUS  COLONIES
("NUCS")  PRODUCED  WITHIN  AND OFFERED FOR SALE TO OTHER PERSONS IN NEW
YORK MUST FIRST HAVE AN INSPECTION OF THE OPERATION  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT
WHICH  INSPECTIONS  SHALL CONTINUE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, SO LONG AS "NUCS"
ARE OFFERED FOR SALE. THESE  INSPECTIONS  SHALL  ASCERTAIN  WHETHER  THE
OPERATION  IS  FREE  FROM AMERICAN FOULBROOD AND WHETHER LEVELS OF OTHER
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND PARASITES IN THE  OPERATION  RENDER  THE  "NUCS"
UNFIT  FOR SALE. OPERATIONS FOUND TO BE INFESTED WITH AMERICAN FOULBROOD
SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM SELLING "NUCS" FOR A PERIOD  OF  ONE  YEAR,  OR
UNTIL  THE  OPERATION  IS  INSPECTED  AND FOUND TO BE FREE FROM AMERICAN
(D) NO PERSON SHALL TRANSPORT, MOVE, BUY, SELL, POSSESS, BARTER, OFFER
FOR SALE OR BARTER, DELIVER, OR OFFER FOR TRANSPORTATION ANY SPECIES  OR
SUBSPECIES  OF  BEES  WHICH  HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO
CAUSE INJURY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY  OR  TO  THIS
STATE'S MANAGED BEE POPULATION, CROPS, OR OTHER PLANTS; PROVIDED, HOWEV-
ER,  THAT  THE  COMMISSIONER  MAY,  AT HIS OR HER DISCRETION, EXEMPT THE
TRANSPORTATION, SALE, POSSESSION, MOVEMENT, OR  DELIVERY  OF  SUCH  BEES
USED  FOR SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES UNDER SUCH SAFEGUARDS AS HE
OR SHE MAY DEEM NECESSARY.
(E) EVERY SHIPMENT OF LIVE BEES IN CAGES OR PACKAGES WITHOUT COMB INTO
THIS STATE FROM ANOTHER STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY, SHALL  BE  ACCOMPANIED
BY  A  PERMIT ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER, OR BY A CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM
FROM DISEASE EXECUTED BY AN OFFICIAL OF SUCH STATE  OR  FOREIGN  COUNTRY
RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
(F)  EVERY  SHIPMENT  OF  A COLONY OF BEES, USED COMB, USED BEEKEEPING
EQUIPMENT, OR LIVE BEES ON COMB INTO THIS STATE FROM  ANOTHER  STATE  OR
FOREIGN  COUNTRY, SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PERMIT ISSUED BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER OR BY A CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM FROM DISEASES AND PARASITIC ORGAN-
ISMS ADVERSELY AFFECTING BEES AND FROM SPECIES  OR  SUBSPECIES  OF  BEES
WHICH  HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO CAUSE INJURY DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY, TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR TO THE STATE'S MANAGED BEE  POPU-
LATION,  CROPS, OR OTHER PLANTS; AND CERTIFYING THAT A PROPER INSPECTION
WAS MADE NOT EARLIER THAN SIXTY DAYS PRECEDING  THE  DATE  OF  SHIPMENT.
SUCH  CERTIFICATE  SHALL  BE EXECUTED BY THE CERTIFYING OFFICIAL OF SUCH
STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY.  A  DUPLICATE  OF  SUCH  CERTIFICATE  MUST  BE
RECEIVED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT BEFORE ANY SUCH SHIPMENT ENTERS THE STATE.
EVERY TRANSPORTATION COMPANY UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH SHIPMENT  SHALL  IMME-
S. 6182                             4
DIATELY  NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER THEREOF, GIVING THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF
THE CONSIGNOR OR CONSIGNEE.
2.  THE  GOALS  OF THE COOPERATIVE HONEYBEE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
(A) DOCUMENT THE HEALTH OF THE STATE'S MANAGED POLLINATOR  POPULATION,
INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF PARASITES, DISEASES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS
TO THE STATE'S POPULATION OF MANAGED POLLINATORS;
(B) PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HONEYBEE HEALTH TO BEEKEEPERS, STAKEHOLDERS
AND ACADEMIA TO INFORM RESEARCH AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES RELATED TO
POLLINATOR HEALTH;
(C)  DOCUMENT  THE  ANNUAL  POPULATION  OF MANAGED POLLINATORS IN EACH
COUNTY WITHIN NEW YORK STATE; AND
(D) COLLECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR EACH BEEKEEPER TO ALLOW FOR BETTER
COMMUNICATION AMONG THE DEPARTMENT AND BEEKEEPERS RELATING TO THE  INCI-
DENCE OF PARASITES, DISEASE AND OTHER HEALTH THREATS THAT COULD BE TRAN-
SMITTED WITHIN THE FLIGHT RANGE OF MANAGED POLLINATORS.
3.  THERE SHALL BE NO FEE OR OTHER REGISTRATION COST FOR ENROLLMENT IN
THE COOPERATIVE HONEYBEE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
4. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSIONER AS REQUIRED  BY  PARA-
GRAPH  (A) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED CONFI-
DENTIAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE,  EXCEPT  SUCH  INFORMATION
SHALL  NOT BE CONSIDERED CONFIDENTIAL AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER TO IMPLEMENT THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE.   IF THE  COMMISSIONER
DEEMS  IT NECESSARY TO RELEASE SUCH INFORMATION, HE OR SHE SHALL PROVIDE
WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE BEEKEEPER AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE DAYS BEFORE  RELEAS-
ING SUCH INFORMATION.
§ 174. Keeping  of  diseased  and banned bees prohibited; existence of
disease to be reported.
1. No person shall keep in his OR HER possession or under his  OR  HER
care any colony of bees affected with a contagious or infectious disease
or  infested  by  [insects]  DISEASE  or  parasitic  organisms adversely
affecting bees, or by species or subspecies  of  bees  which  have  been
determined  by the commissioner to cause injury, directly or indirectly,
to THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR TO this state's [useful] MANAGED bee population,
crops, or other plants. Any person who [knows that  any  bees  owned  or
controlled by him are affected with, or have been exposed to, any conta-
gious  or  infectious  disease, insects or parasitic organisms adversely
to this state's useful bee population, crops,  or  other  plants,]:  (A)
KNOWS  THAT ANY BEES OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY HIM OR HER EXCEED DISEASE OR
PARASITE TOLERANCES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED IN REGULATION  BY  THE  COMMIS-
SIONER; OR (B) KNOWS THAT ANY BEES OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY HIM OR HER ARE
A SPECIES OR SUBSPECIES OF BEES THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER  TO CAUSE INJURY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR
TO THIS STATE'S MANAGED BEE POPULATION, CROPS, OR OTHER PLANTS, shall at
once report such fact to the commissioner, stating all  facts  known  to
him OR HER with reference to said contagion, infection, or exposure.
2.  No person shall hide or conceal any bees or used beekeeping equip-
ment from [the inspector] DEPARTMENT  EMPLOYEES  OR  OFFICIALS  or  give
false  information  in  any manner pertaining to this article. No person
shall resist, impede or hinder the  commissioner  or  his  OR  HER  duly
authorized  representatives  in  the  discharge  of  his OR HER or their
3. Whenever the commissioner or his OR HER duly  authorized  represen-
tatives  shall  determine  that any colony of bees, bee material, struc-
S. 6182                             5
tures or appliances is infected with, or has been exposed to, contagious
or infectious diseases of bees, or is infested with or has been  exposed
to  insects  or  parasitic  organisms  adversely  affecting  bees, or to
species  or subspecies of bees which have been determined by the commis-
sioner to cause injury, directly or indirectly, to this  state's  useful
bee  population, crops, or other plants, said colonies of bees and mate-
rial, structures or appliances shall be immediately placed under quaran-
tine and a written notice thereof shall be served on the owner or  care-
taker.   No person shall move, tamper with, handle, or otherwise disturb
or molest or cause to be moved, tampered  with,  handled,  or  otherwise
disturbed  or molested any colonies, materials, or appliances so quaran-
tined without a written permit from the commissioner or his OR HER  duly
4.  All  species  and subspecies of bees which have been determined by
the commissioner to cause injury, directly or indirectly, to THE  PUBLIC
SAFETY  OR  TO  this  state's [useful] MANAGED bee population, crops, or
other plants and all  bees,  beehives,  bee  fixtures  or  appurtenances
infected with, or exposed to, contagious or infectious diseases of bees,
or infested with, or exposed to, insects or parasitic organisms adverse-
ly  affecting  bees,  or  with or to species or subspecies of bees which
have been determined by him to cause injury, directly or indirectly,  to
this  state's  [useful]  MANAGED bee population, crops, or other plants,
are hereby  declared  to  be  nuisances  to  be  abated  as  hereinafter
5.  If  any  inspection  made  by  the commissioner or his OR HER duly
authorized representative discloses that any apiary, appliances,  struc-
tures, colonies or comb constitute a nuisance within the meaning of this
section,  the commissioner or his OR HER duly authorized representatives
may with the co-operation and consent of the owner or person  in  charge
immediately proceed to abate the nuisance by destroying or treating such
colonies and equipment, or he may order the owner or person in charge to
destroy  or treat such colonies or equipment as may be deemed advisable.
In case the owner or person in charge will not consent to the  abatement
of  the nuisance by immediate destruction or treatment, the commissioner
or his OR HER duly authorized representative shall notify  [in  writing]
the  owner, occupant or person in charge of the premises IN WRITING that
such nuisance exists and order that the same be abated within five  days
after  a  date  which shall be specified in said order. Such order shall
contain directions setting forth the method or methods  which  shall  be
taken to abate the nuisance and shall be served upon the owner, occupant
or  person  in charge of the premises either personally or by registered
or certified mail.
6. If the order directs the destruction of any bees,  hives,  fixtures
or  appurtenances  and the owner thereof considers himself OR HERSELF to
be aggrieved thereby, he OR SHE may, within five days from  the  receipt
of  the order, present to the commissioner a request for a review. Writ-
ten notice of such request must be served by mail upon the commissioner.
Upon receipt of such notice, the commissioner shall  cause  an  investi-
gation  to  be  made.    The  request for a review shall act to stay all
proceedings until the matter has been investigated and a final  determi-
nation  rendered  by  the commissioner. During the time specified in the
order and during any extended time permitted by reason  of  such  review
the quarantined colonies and equipment shall not be removed, molested or
tampered with except by written permission of the commissioner or his OR
HER  duly  authorized  representative. No damage shall be awarded to the
owner for the loss of any apiary, bees, hives, apiary appliance, or  bee
S. 6182                             6
product destroyed under the provisions of this section or any regulation
or order made in pursuance thereof.
7.  Persons keeping bees shall keep them in hives of such construction
that the frames and combs may be easily removed  without  damaging  them
for  examination  of  the  brood  for the purpose of determining whether
disease exists in the brood.
8. No person shall expose in any place to which bees have  access  any
bee  product,  hive or other apiary appliance in such manner that conta-
gious or infectious diseases of bees may be disseminated therefrom.
9. The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations to  establish
appropriate  tolerance levels for [insects] DISEASES or parasitic organ-
isms adversely affecting bees  within  hives,  fixtures,  structures  or
appurtenances.  Beehives  conforming  with  such  established  tolerance
levels shall not be considered nuisances under  this  section.  If  upon
inspection  a hive is found to exceed such tolerance levels, the commis-
sioner may consider such apiary to be  a  nuisance  and  may  order  the
destruction  or  treatment  of  the  apiary as set forth in subdivisions
§ 175. [Transportation of bees and bee material.  1. No  person  shall
transport,  move,  sell,  barter,  offer for sale or barter, deliver, or
offer for transportation any colony of bees, used comb, used  beekeeping
material,  or live bees unless it be within the beekeeper's own premises
without a permit from the commissioner, except that colonies of bees and
used beekeeping equipment which are not infected with or have  not  been
exposed  to  bee  disease,  and which are not infested with and have not
been exposed to insects or parasitic organisms adversely affecting bees,
or to species or subspecies of bees which have been  determined  by  the
commissioner  to  cause  injury, directly or indirectly, to this state's
useful bee population, crops, or other plants may  be  moved  or  trans-
ported without a permit provided that the commissioner has been notified
in  writing of such intention not less than ten days before the bees and
equipment are moved.
2. No person shall transport, move, buy, sell, possess, barter,  offer
for  sale or barter, deliver, or offer for transportation any species or
subspecies of bees which have been determined  by  the  commissioner  to
cause  injury,  directly or indirectly, to this state's useful bee popu-
lation, crops, or other plants, provided, that the commissioner  may  at
his discretion exempt the transportation, sale, possession, movement, or
delivery  of such bees for scientific or educational purposes under such
safeguards as he may deem necessary.
3. Every shipment of live bees in cages or packages without comb  into
this  state  from another state or foreign country, shall be accompanied
by a permit issued by the commissioner, or by a certificate  of  freedom
from  disease  executed  by an official of such state or foreign country
4. Every shipment of a colony of  bees,  used  comb,  used  beekeeping
equipment,  or  live  bees on comb into this state from another state or
foreign country, shall be accompanied by a permit issued by the  commis-
sioner  or  by  a  certificate of freedom from disease, from insects and
parasitic organisms adversely affecting bees and from species or subspe-
cies of bees which have been determined by  the  commissioner  to  cause
injury  directly  or  indirectly, to this state's useful bee population,
crops or other plants and certifying that a proper inspection  was  made
not earlier than sixty days preceding the date of shipment. Such certif-
icate  shall be executed by an official of such state or foreign country
recognized by the commissioner. A duplicate of such certificate shall be
S. 6182                             7
mailed to the commissioner before any such shipment enters  this  state.
Every  transportation  company upon receipt of such shipment shall imme-
diately notify the commissioner thereof, giving the name and address  of
the consignor and consignee.
§ 175-b.] Rules  and regulations.   The commissioner is hereby author-
ized, after public hearing, to adopt, promulgate and  issue  such  rules
and  regulations  as  he  may  deem necessary to carry out and give full
force and effect to the provisions of this article, including,  but  not
limited  to, the designation of species or subspecies of bees determined
by him to cause injury, directly or indirectly, to THE PUBLIC SAFETY  OR
TO this state's [useful] MANAGED bee population, crops, or other plants.
Such rules and regulations shall be filed and open for public inspection
at  the  principal office of the department and shall have the force and
[§ 175-c.] § 175-A. Review by court.  The action of  the  commissioner
on  a  request for review as authorized by section one hundred [seventy-
five herein] SEVENTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE may be reviewed in the  manner
provided  by  article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules,
provided, however, that a stay shall not be granted by the  court  or  a
justice  thereof  pending  final  determination  of the matter except on
notice to the commissioner. The decision of the  commissioner  shall  be
final unless within thirty days from the receipt of written notice ther-
eof a proceeding is instituted to review the same.
[§ 175-d.] § 175-B. Violations; remedies.  The commissioner may insti-
tute  such  action  at  law  or in equity as may be necessary to enforce
compliance with any provision of this article or of any  rule  or  regu-
lation  promulgated  thereunder  and  in  addition  to  any other remedy
prescribed in article three of this chapter or otherwise may  apply  for
relief  by  injunction  if  necessary  to protect the public interest or
abate a nuisance as defined in this article without alleging or  proving
that  an  adequate remedy at law does not exist. Such application may be
made to the supreme court in any district or county as provided  by  the
civil  practice  act  and  the rules of practice of the court, or to the
supreme court in the third judicial district.
§ 3. The subdivision heading and  paragraph  c  of  subdivision  9  of
section  301 of the agriculture and markets law, the subdivision heading
as amended by chapter 440 of the laws of 1993 and paragraph c as amended
by chapter 536 of the laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
"Gross sales [value]" means the proceeds from the sale of:
c. Honey, ROYAL JELLY, BEE POLLEN, PROPOLIS and  beeswax  produced  by
bees  in  hives  located  on  [an otherwise qualified farm operation but
which does not independently satisfy the gross sales  requirement]  LAND
USED  IN  AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTION  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH THE SAME OR AN
OTHERWISE QUALIFIED FARM OPERATION;
§ 4. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 2 of section 483 of the real proper-
ty tax law, as amended by chapter 35 of the laws of 2016, is amended  to
(e)  structures  and  buildings used in the production of honey, ROYAL
JELLY, BEE POLLEN, PROPOLIS and beeswax including those  structures  and
buildings  used  for the storage of bees. [For purposes of this section,
this shall not include those structures or buildings and portions there-
of used for the sale of maple syrup or sale of honey and  beeswax.]  The
term "structures and buildings" shall not include silos, bulk milk tanks
or coolers, or manure storage, handling and treatment facilities as such
terms are used in section four hundred eighty-three-a of this title.
S. 6182                             8
S6182A (ACTIVE) - Details
S6182A (ACTIVE) - Summary
S6182A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S6182A
industry; and to repeal certain provisions of the agriculture and
PURPOSE:  The purpose of the bill is to modernize Article 15 of the
Agriculture and Markets Law (AML) Bee Diseases to reflect modern bee
husbandry practices and create a Cooperative Honey Bee Health Improve-
ment Program. The bill would also amend the Real Property Tax Law (RPTL)
to clarify the farm buildings property tax exemption for bee industry
Industry Advisory Committee as, a new AML section 173, and would desig-
S6182A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
6182--A
Introduced  by  Sens.  METZGER,  MAY -- (at request of the Department of
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and  the  real  property
repeal  certain provisions of the agriculture and markets law relating
LBD09084-03-9
S. 6182--A                          2
§ 173. APIARY  INDUSTRY  ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTAB-
SHALL CONSIST OF NO MORE THAN FIFTEEN MEMBERS TO  BE  APPOINTED  BY  THE
COMMISSIONER  BASED  ON  THEIR  EXPERIENCE  AND  EXPERTISE IN THE APIARY
SENT EACH OF THE THREE SECTORS OF THE APIARY INDUSTRY, COMMERCIAL  BEEK-
EEPERS,  PART-TIME  BEEKEEPERS  AND  HOBBYIST  BEEKEEPERS;  AT LEAST ONE
MEMBER SHALL REPRESENT THE HORTICULTURE OR VEGETABLE  INDUSTRY  AND  ONE
SION  SERVICE.  MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS AND
MAY SERVE UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE CHOSEN PROVIDED, HOWEVER,  THAT  OF
THE  MEMBERS  FIRST  APPOINTED, FIVE SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR,
FIVE SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS, AND FIVE  SHALL  SERVE  FOR  A
2.  THE  DUTIES  AND  RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE APIARY INDUSTRY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE PROVIDING ADVICE, COMMENTS  AND  RECOMMENDATIONS
TO  THE  COMMISSIONER  REGARDING  STATE  GOVERNMENT  PLANS, POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS AFFECTING THE APIARY INDUSTRY AND SUCH  OTHER  MATTERS  AS  THE
3.  THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY, AT TIMES
4. THE COMMISSIONER MAY ASK OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO  ATTEND  THE  COMMIT-
1.  "APIARY"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  LOCATION USED FOR RAISING HONEYBEES OR
3. "NUCLEUS COLONY" SHALL MEAN  A  STARTER  COLONY,  CONSISTING  OF  A
4.  "BEEKEEPER"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY THAT MAINTAINS
MANAGED HONEYBEES FOR PROFIT,  RESEARCH,  RECREATIONAL,  OR  EDUCATIONAL
§  173-B.  Eradication  of  bee diseases and certain insects affecting
bees.  The commissioner may cause inspections to be made of apiaries  in
the  state  for  the discovery of infectious, contagious or communicable
diseases and for  the  discovery  of  insects  and  parasitic  organisms
of  bees  which have been determined by him to cause injury, directly or
indirectly, to this state's [useful] MANAGED bee population,  crops,  or
other  plants.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE A BEEKEEPER OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNATED AGENT WITH ADVANCE NOTICE OF ANY INSPECTION OF AN APIARY.  He
OR  SHE  may  also cause investigations to be made as to the best method
for the eradication of diseases of bees, insects or parasitic  organisms
adversely  affecting  bees, or for the eradication of species or subspe-
cies of bees which have been determined by him OR HER to  cause  injury,
crops,  or  other  plants and he OR SHE may plan and execute appropriate
ances or premises where bees or honey or comb used in apiaries  may  be.
He  OR  SHE may open any hive, colony, package or receptacle of any kind
containing or which he OR SHE has reason to believe contains  any  bees,
S. 6182--A                          3
comb,  bee  products, used beekeeping appliances, or anything else which
is capable of transmitting contagious or infectious diseases of bees  or
which  is  capable of harboring insects or parasitic organisms adversely
SHALL CREATE A COOPERATIVE HONEYBEE  HEALTH  IMPROVEMENT  PROGRAM  WHICH
(A)  ALL  BEEKEEPERS  SHALL  PROVIDE TO THE COMMISSIONER THE NUMBER OF
MANAGED COLONIES AND THE COUNTY IN  WHICH  EACH  OF  THESE  COLONIES  IS
LOCATED;  AND  CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVID-
UALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF THESE BEES. ALL BEEKEEPERS  SHALL  ALSO
INDICATE  WHETHER  THEY  INTEND  TO SELL NUCLEUS COLONIES ("NUCS"). THIS
INFORMATION SHALL BE UPDATED AND PROVIDED  TO  THE  COMMISSIONER  ON  AN
DENCE  OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND PARASITES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO BEEK-
ESTABLISH THE BOUNDARIES OF DISEASE AND  PARASITE  INFESTATIONS  IN  THE
(C)  ANY  INDIVIDUAL OR BUSINESS THAT INTENDS TO SELL NUCLEUS COLONIES
("NUCS") PRODUCED WITHIN AND OFFERED FOR SALE TO OTHER  PERSONS  IN  NEW
YORK  MUST  FIRST  HAVE AN INSPECTION OF THE OPERATION BY THE DEPARTMENT
WHICH INSPECTIONS SHALL CONTINUE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, SO LONG  AS  "NUCS"
ARE  OFFERED  FOR  SALE.  THESE  INSPECTIONS SHALL ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE
OPERATION IS FREE FROM AMERICAN FOULBROOD AND WHETHER  LEVELS  OF  OTHER
INFECTIOUS  DISEASES  AND  PARASITES  IN THE OPERATION RENDER THE "NUCS"
UNFIT FOR SALE. OPERATIONS FOUND TO BE INFESTED WITH AMERICAN  FOULBROOD
SHALL  BE  PROHIBITED  FROM  SELLING "NUCS" FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, OR
UNTIL THE OPERATION IS INSPECTED AND FOUND  TO  BE  FREE  FROM  AMERICAN
CAUSE  INJURY,  DIRECTLY  OR INDIRECTLY, TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR TO THIS
ER, THAT THE COMMISSIONER MAY, AT HIS  OR  HER  DISCRETION,  EXEMPT  THE
TRANSPORTATION,  SALE,  POSSESSION,  MOVEMENT,  OR DELIVERY OF SUCH BEES
USED FOR SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES UNDER SUCH SAFEGUARDS AS  HE
(F) EVERY SHIPMENT OF A COLONY OF BEES,  USED  COMB,  USED  BEEKEEPING
ISMS  ADVERSELY  AFFECTING  BEES  AND FROM SPECIES OR SUBSPECIES OF BEES
WHICH HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO CAUSE INJURY  DIRECTLY
OR  INDIRECTLY, TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR TO THE STATE'S MANAGED BEE POPU-
S. 6182--A                          4
LATION, CROPS, OR OTHER PLANTS; AND CERTIFYING THAT A PROPER  INSPECTION
WAS  MADE  NOT  EARLIER  THAN SIXTY DAYS PRECEDING THE DATE OF SHIPMENT.
SUCH CERTIFICATE SHALL BE EXECUTED BY THE CERTIFYING  OFFICIAL  OF  SUCH
STATE  OR  FOREIGN  COUNTRY.  A  DUPLICATE  OF  SUCH CERTIFICATE MUST BE
RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE ANY SUCH SHIPMENT  ENTERS  THE  STATE.
S. 6182--A                          5
3.  Whenever  the commissioner or his OR HER duly authorized represen-
tatives shall determine that any colony of bees,  bee  material,  struc-
or  infectious diseases of bees, or is infested with or has been exposed
to insects or  parasitic  organisms  adversely  affecting  bees,  or  to
sioner to cause injury, directly or indirectly, to this state's [useful]
MANAGED bee population, crops, or other plants, said  colonies  of  bees
and material, structures or appliances shall be immediately placed under
quarantine  and a written notice thereof shall be served on the owner or
caretaker.   No person shall move, tamper  with,  handle,  or  otherwise
disturb  or  molest  or  cause  to  be moved, tampered with, handled, or
otherwise disturbed or molested any colonies, materials,  or  appliances
so  quarantined without a written permit from the commissioner or his OR
HER duly authorized representatives.
4. All species and subspecies of bees which have  been  determined  by
the  commissioner to cause injury, directly or indirectly, to THE PUBLIC
SAFETY OR TO this state's [useful] MANAGED  bee  population,  crops,  or
other  plants  and  all  bees,  beehives,  bee fixtures or appurtenances
ly affecting bees, or with or to species or  subspecies  of  bees  which
have  been determined by him to cause injury, directly or indirectly, to
this state's [useful] MANAGED bee population, crops,  or  other  plants,
are  hereby  declared  to  be  nuisances  to  be  abated  as hereinafter
5. If any inspection made by the  commissioner  or  his  OR  HER  duly
authorized  representative discloses that any apiary, appliances, struc-
section, the commissioner or his OR HER duly authorized  representatives
may  with  the co-operation and consent of the owner or person in charge
colonies and equipment, or he OR SHE may order the owner  or  person  in
charge  to  destroy or treat such colonies or equipment as may be deemed
advisable.  In case the owner or person in charge will  not  consent  to
the abatement of the nuisance by immediate destruction or treatment, the
commissioner  or  his OR HER duly authorized representative shall notify
[in writing] the owner, occupant or person in charge of the premises  IN
WRITING  that  such  nuisance  exists  and order that the same be abated
within five days after a date which shall be specified  in  said  order.
Such  order shall contain directions setting forth the method or methods
which shall be taken to abate the nuisance and shall be served upon  the
owner, occupant or person in charge of the premises either personally or
6.  If  the order directs the destruction of any bees, hives, fixtures
or appurtenances and the owner thereof considers himself OR  HERSELF  to
be  aggrieved  thereby, he OR SHE may, within five days from the receipt
of the order, present to the commissioner a request for a review.  Writ-
Upon  receipt  of  such notice, the commissioner shall cause an investi-
gation to be made.   The request for a review  shall  act  to  stay  all
proceedings  until the matter has been investigated and a final determi-
S. 6182--A                          6
nation rendered by the commissioner. During the time  specified  in  the
order  and  during  any extended time permitted by reason of such review
S. 6182--A                          7
by him OR HER to cause injury, directly or  indirectly,  to  THE  PUBLIC
other plants.  Such rules and regulations shall be filed  and  open  for
public  inspection  at  the principal office of the department and shall
buildings  used  for  the storage of bees. For purposes of this section,
S. 6182--A                          8
of used for the sale of maple syrup or sale of honey  and  beeswax.  The