| 9 | | - | Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Agriculture may place a conservation or a preservation restriction, as defined in section 47-42a of the general statutes, on the property known as the "Savin Farm" and located in the town of Lebanon. Any such conservation or preservation restriction: (1) May provide for the conservation of said farm for agricultural use, (2) may allow for the lease, permit or license by the commissioner of any portion of said farm to one or more persons or entities for the purpose of engaging in agriculture, as defined in section 1-1 of the general statutes, and (3) shall allow for the continuance of any activities that historically took place on said farm, in accordance with the draft memorandum of understanding between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Protection, dated October 23, 1995. |
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| 16 | + | Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the property that is known as the "Savin Farm" and located in the town of Lebanon shall be preserved. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall acquire a property survey of said property conforming to a Class A-2 horizontal survey. |
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| 18 | + | (b) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall grant to a nonprofit organization, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding Internal Revenue Code of the United States, as amended from time to time, a permanent conservation easement on the Savin Farm based upon such Class A-2 survey. The primary mission of any such nonprofit organization shall be the protection of agricultural lands for agricultural use. Such permanent conservation easement shall provide for the conservation of said farm for agricultural use and shall allow for the lease, permit or license by the Commissioner of Agriculture of any portion of said farm to one or more persons or entities for the purpose of engaging in agriculture, as defined in section 1-1 of the general statutes. Such permanent conservation easement shall be subject to the review and approval of the State Properties Review Board. The State Properties Review Board shall complete a review of such permanent conservation easement not later than thirty days after receipt of a proposed permanent conservation easement from the Commissioner of Agriculture. |
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| 20 | + | (c) The Commissioner of Agriculture may lease, permit or license all or part of said property to one or more persons for the purpose of engaging in agriculture, as defined in section 1-1 of the general statutes. Any such lease, permit or license shall be for a period not to exceed fifteen years and shall contain, as a condition thereof, compliance with the provisions of the permanent conservation easement granted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Any such lease, permit or license may be renewed for a period not to exceed fifteen years. Any property leased, permitted or licensed pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from taxation by the municipality in which said property is located. The assessed valuation of said property shall be included in the assessed valuation of state-owned land and buildings for purposes of determining the state's grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to the provisions of section 12-19a of the general statutes. Any such lease, permit or license shall be subject to the review and approval of the State Properties Review Board. The State Properties Review Board shall complete a review of each lease, permit or license not later than thirty days after receipt of a proposed lease, permit or license from the Commissioner of Agriculture. |
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| 22 | + | (d) Any permanent conservation easement pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall provide that all agricultural activities conducted on said property shall be conducted in accordance with a conservation plan prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Such conservation plan shall be updated periodically and whenever the nature of any agricultural operation on said property changes. Such plan shall provide for management of said farm in a manner that: (1) Is consistent with generally accepted agricultural practices, including, but not limited to, practices identified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide, and (2) is consistent with the protection of the agricultural and conservation values of said property. |
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| 27 | + | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: |
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| 28 | + | Section 1 from passage New section |
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| 30 | + | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: |
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| 32 | + | Section 1 |
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| 34 | + | from passage |
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| 36 | + | New section |
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| 39 | + | |
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| 40 | + | ENV Joint Favorable Subst. |
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| 41 | + | GAE Joint Favorable |
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| 42 | + | |
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| 43 | + | ENV |
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| 44 | + | |
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| 45 | + | Joint Favorable Subst. |
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| 46 | + | |
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| 47 | + | GAE |
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| 48 | + | |
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| 49 | + | Joint Favorable |
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