Allows Right to Farm Act complaints to be filed with county agriculture development board in adjacent county under certain circumstances and creates alternate voting members on such boards.
Impact
The proposed changes will lead to significant shifts in how agricultural disputes are managed within the state. By permitting complaints to be filed with an adjacent CADB when quorum issues arise, the bill aims to enhance accessibility to justice for those affected by agricultural practices. Additionally, the bill introduces the concept of alternate voting members within CADBs, allowing these individuals to step in when regular voting members cannot participate, thereby reducing the potential for delays in resolving disputes.
Summary
Assembly Bill A4766 seeks to amend the existing Right to Farm Act in New Jersey by allowing complaints regarding agricultural operations to be filed with county agriculture development boards (CADBs) in adjacent counties when the original board lacks a quorum due to conflicts of interest. This adjustment is intended to streamline the complaint process for individuals or municipalities aggrieved by the operations of commercial farms, ensuring that grievances can be heard in a timely manner even when local board members are disqualified from voting.
Contention
Some points of contention surrounding A4766 involve concerns regarding the effectiveness and fairness of the proposed mechanisms for dispute resolution. Critics might argue that allowing complaints to be resolved in an adjacent county could result in challenges, particularly in terms of familiarity with local agricultural issues and practices. Furthermore, introducing alternate voting members raises questions about the qualifications and selection process for these members, which could impact the impartiality of decisions made by CADBs. Advocacy groups may also scrutinize the potential for conflicts of interest to persist if not adequately addressed.
Same As
Allows Right to Farm Act complaints to be filed with county agriculture development board in adjacent county under certain circumstances and creates alternate voting members on such boards.
Allows Right to Farm Act complaints to be filed with county agriculture development board in adjacent county under certain circumstances and creates alternate voting members on such boards.
Allows Right to Farm Act complaints to be filed with county agriculture development board in adjacent county under certain circumstances and creates alternate voting members on such boards.
Exempts members of State Board of Agriculture and county boards of agriculture from personal liability and allows such boards to hire outside counsel and consultants.
Authorizes counties and certain boards to acquire unpreserved lands in agricultural development areas for use by agricultural support businesses, and to sell or lease county-owned lands in such areas to such businesses at reduced price.
Authorizes counties and certain boards to acquire unpreserved lands in agricultural development areas for use by agricultural support businesses, and to sell or lease county-owned lands in such areas to such businesses at reduced price.
Allows Right to Farm Act complaints to be filed with county agriculture development board in adjacent county under certain circumstances and creates alternate voting members on such boards.
Allows Right to Farm Act complaints to be filed with county agriculture development board in adjacent county under certain circumstances and creates alternate voting members on such boards.