Bill > A4766

Introduced Session

This bill amends current law concerning membership of county agriculture development boards (CADBs) and the process for the filing of complaints under the "Right to Farm Act," P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C-1 et al.). Specifically, this bill would provide a mechanism for how Right to Farm disputes may be resolved if a CADB does not have quorum due to members with conflicts of interest. Under current law, in the event of a dispute, an individual or municipality aggrieved by the operation of a commercial farm is required to file a formal complaint with the appropriate CADB, or the State Agriculture Development Committee in counties where no CADB exists, prior to filing action in court. Under this bill, if a CADB is unable to convene a quorum due to members having conflicts of interest related to the filed complaint, the complaint may be filed with the CADB located in the adjacent county located closest to the commercial farm that is the subject of the complaint. In addition, this bill amends the "Agriculture Retention and Development Act," P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-11 et seq.), by creating alternate members on CADBs who would are able to vote in the absence or disqualification of a voting member. This bill would require each CADB to have two alternate members. The alternate members would be required to be actively engaged in farming and either be a resident of the county or a member of the CADB in an adjacent county. These alternate members would each serve for a term of four years and may vote in place of an appointed voting member who is actively engaged in farming should a voting member be absent or disqualified. The alternate voting member may participate in discussions of the proceedings when not voting. The alternate members would be appointed in the same manner as the four members actively engaged in farming.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Joe Danielsen (D)*,  Roy Freiman (D)*,  Robert Karabinchak (D)*,  Alex Sauickie (R),  Parker Space (R), 

Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Hearing (13:00 10/17/2022 Committee Room 12, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ) (on 10/17/2022)

Official Document