SECTION 1. SECTION__. Section 23 of chapter 20 of the general laws is hereby amended by striking out, in 35, the following “a maximum of 5 years duration” and replacing it with the following:- no less than 5 years duration.
SECTION__. Section 23 of chapter 20 of the general laws, as most recently amended by section 17 of chapter 154 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following new subsection:-
(c) Any applicant aggrieved by a decision of the department denying a request for a certificate of approval for agricultural activities or structures or any landowner of land subject to an agricultural preservation restriction who is subject to and aggrieved by a decision of the department to relative to a special permit authorized in subsection (b), including the length or renewal of the permit, or any landowner of land subject to an agricultural preservation restriction who is subject to and aggrieved by a decision of the department to exercise or assign a right to acquire an interest in land through an option to purchase at fair market agricultural value, a right of first refusal or other similar right for land subject to an agricultural preservation restriction as held by the commonwealth on their land may request an adjudicatory hearing under chapter 30A before the agricultural lands preservation committee. The determination of the department shall contain a notice of a right to request a hearing and may specify a time limit, not to exceed 21 days, within which the applicant may request a hearing before the committee under said chapter 30A. If a timely request is received, the committee shall, within a reasonable time, hold a hearing in compliance with said chapter 30A. The committee shall designate a hearing officer to preside over the hearing, to assemble an official record of the hearing and to render a written decision which shall be submitted to the committee. The committee shall make the final decision.