NY Soil & Wat Cons Dists L § 11-A (2021)
2021 New York Laws SWC - Soil and Water Conservation Districts Article 2 - State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Other Functions 11-A - State Aid to Districts.

§  11-a.  State aid to districts. (1) To aid districts in carrying out the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited  to,  providing technical  assistance  to  landowners,  the  state,  within  the  amount appropriated therefor, shall:  (a) Reimburse each soil and water conservation district to the  extent of  fifty  percent  of the amount expended by the district for the items specified in this paragraph, up to sixty thousand dollars  per  district in  any  fiscal  year. Reimbursement pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited  to  expenditures  for  the  employment  of  conservation  field technicians  or  district  managers,  and  the  purchase of supplies and equipment related to these positions, for the purpose of supervising  or providing  technical assistance for the establishment and implementation of soil and water conservation practices  in  accordance  with  programs undertaken  by  the district. At the end of each calendar year, verified and detailed claims for such reimbursement shall  be  submitted  to  the state  soil and water conservation committee in such form and manner and containing such information as the state  soil  and  water  conservation committee,  the  commissioner  of  agriculture and markets and the state comptroller may require. Notwithstanding any  other  provision  of  this chapter, the soil and water conservation district of New York city shall be  considered  the  equivalent  of  five  districts  when reimbursed in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.  (b) Within amounts available, provide  financial  assistance  to  each soil  and water conservation district in an amount of up to six thousand dollars, in addition to the reimbursement provided under  paragraph  (a) of  this  subdivision,  for  the purposes of carrying out projects which conserve, restore and enhance the  soil  and  water  resources  of  this state;  assist  in  the  implementation  of agricultural best management practices;  prevent  and  reduce   agricultural   and   non-agricultural nonpoint-source  water  pollution;  assist  in the control of floods and mitigate flood damage; protect and restore streams and wetlands; protect and restore wildlife and aquatic habitat;  assist  in  the  drainage  of agricultural  lands;  prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs; control stormwater  run-off,  including  from  construction  sites;  assist   in maintaining   the   navigability   of   rivers   and   harbors;   reduce agriculturally-generated  air   pollution;   assist   the   agricultural production  of  green energy; protect open space; collect and dispose of pesticides; manage public lands; and protect and manage rural and  urban forests. For purposes of this paragraph, the soil and water conservation of New York city shall be considered the equivalent of five districts.  (c)  Within  amounts  available, financial assistance to each soil and water conservation district, in addition to the amounts  provided  under paragraphs  (a) and (b) of this subdivision shall be distributed equally to districts that  qualify  pursuant  to  performance  standards  to  be established  by  the  soil  and  water  conservation  committee  and the commissioner of the department of agriculture and markets in  rules  and regulations.  Such  standards  shall include, but not be limited to, (i) demonstrating the extent and  sufficiency  of  district  board  activity including  board  operations,  financial  oversight  and  training; (ii) district reporting requirements, including annual reports and responding to the state committee, and public outreach  and  education  activities; (iii) the quality of the delivery of state natural resource conservation programs   including   appropriate   certifications,   training,  timely completion of projects, and compliance with reporting; (iv) the  ability of  the  district  to use such funding to leverage additional funds from local, federal and private sources;  and  (v)  the  ability  to  promote partnerships   and   assist   local   governments  and  non-governmental organizations.  (2) Reimbursement and funding pursuant to this section, when  approved by  the state soil and water conservation committee and the commissioner of agriculture and markets, shall be paid out of the state treasury from funds appropriated and made available for the purposes of  this  section upon audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certified by the  state soil and water conservation committee and the commissioner of agriculture and markets in the manner provided by law.  (3) The commissioner of agriculture and markets and the state soil and water conservation committee are each empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations and to prescribe such forms as each shall deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.