Page 192
House Bill No. 5506
Public Act No. 22-118 192 of 739
Sec. 145. Section 22-6c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): (a) The Commissioner of Agriculture may pay, not more than fifty per cent of the cost in advance, or reimburse any farmer for part of the cost of compliance with a comprehensive farm nutrient management plan, farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan or a farm resources management plan, provided such plan has been approved by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. The Commissioner of Agriculture, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, may certify for payment or reimbursement comprehensive farm nutrient management or farm resources management plan practices that have been approved by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to this section. The total federal and state grant available to a farmer shall not be more than ninety per cent of such cost. In making grants under this subsection, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall give priority to capital improvements made in accordance with a comprehensive farm nutrient management plan, a farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan or a farm resources management plan prepared pursuant to section 22a-354m. (b) The Commissioner of Agriculture may pay, not more than fifty per cent of the cost in advance, or reimburse any farmer for part of the cost to develop, implement and comply with a farm resources management plan or a farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan, [intended to restore farmland] including for the costs of farm equipment purchases, provided such plan has been approved by the commissioner. Such reimbursement or payment shall not exceed fifty per cent of the cost of such plan or twenty thousand dollars, whichever is less, except any such reimbursement or payment for such a [management or restoration] plan on any state-owned land or any municipally owned land with an agricultural lease of five years or longer shall not exceed