S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6598--A
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 6, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. COOK, ORTIZ, GREENE, ROBINSON, SCHROEDER --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ALFANO, BARRA, BOYLAND, CHRISTENSEN,
COLTON, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, JACOBS, JOHN, MARKEY, McENENY, PHEFFER,
J. RIVERA, SCARBOROUGH, TITONE, TOWNS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Health -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to creating a food
security, empowerment and economic development program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds there is a need
for community economic development to improve the food system in areas
where there is an inadequate food supply and many residents who rely on
fluctuating government and private food assistance. There is a need to
develop food resources and businesses in these communities that provide
higher quality, more accessible food. The legislature also finds that
local farmers and food producers can and should benefit from these
efforts.
The legislature further finds that as the federal government and New
York state attempt to reduce dependency on government, there is a need
to support families leaving public assistance for work. One approach to
increasing work opportunities and addressing the food needs in these
communities is through the development of "community food security",
which is defined as people successfully obtaining an acceptable, nutri-
tious diet using local non-emergency sources.
Community food security projects are designed to meet the food needs
of low income people, increase the self-reliance of communities in
providing for their own food needs, and promote comprehensive responses
to local food, farm and nutrition issues. For example, these projects
provide training in urban gardening and sales, assist entrepreneurs
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00160-02-9
A. 6598--A 2
starting micro-enterprises, support farmers' markets in distressed
neighborhoods and provide food-based educational opportunities for
schools.
The legislature supports the goals of self-reliance, community-based
economic development, profitable local agriculture, improved nutrition
and helping families and individuals help themselves. Therefore, the
legislature finds that the creation of a community food security program
for New York state will benefit struggling working families and their
communities, provide new markets for family farmers, create food-based
jobs and small businesses, and ensure healthier citizens and neighbor-
hoods.
S 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 27-FF to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 27-FF
COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY,
EMPOWERMENT AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
SECTION 2790. COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY, EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM.
2791. GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS.
2792. ADVISORY COUNCIL.
S 2790. COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY, EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM. THE COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY, EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. SUCH PROGRAM IS
ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS
DESIGNED TO MEET THE FOOD NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, INCREASE THE
SELF-RELIANCE OF COMMUNITIES IN PROVIDING FOR THEIR OWN FOOD NEEDS AND
PROMOTE COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO LOCAL FOOD, FARM AND NUTRITION
ISSUES. THESE PROJECTS WILL ATTEMPT TO: INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY, IN
THE TARGETED COMMUNITIES, OF CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE, AFFORDABLE, NUTRI-
TIONALLY ADEQUATE FOOD, FROM LOCAL SOURCES WHENEVER POSSIBLE; DEVELOP
LINKAGES BETWEEN LOCAL FARMERS AND COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE PROJECT;
SUPPORT JOB DEVELOPMENT AND JOB TRAINING, INCLUDING WORK EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED BY WELFARE REFORM; SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL
ENTERPRISES; PROMOTE GOOD NUTRITION; ENCOURAGE LONG-TERM PLANNING AND
MULTI-AGENCY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT; AND, INCLUDE COMMUNITY RESI-
DENTS IN DECISION-MAKING.
S 2791. GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE GRANTS
FOR PROGRAM PROJECTS, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING, TO COMMU-
NITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. IN ORDER TO
MEET THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM, APPLICANTS MAY CREATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
OTHER ENTITIES, INCLUDING LIMITED PARTICIPATION BY FOR-PROFIT ENTER-
PRISES.
PREFERENCE FOR THESE GRANTS SHALL BE GIVEN TO PROJECTS LOCATED IN
COMMUNITIES WITH A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION PARTICIPAT-
ING IN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
PROJECTS FUNDED BY THESE GRANTS SHALL BE DESIGNED TO BECOME SELF-SUS-
TAINING, NOT DEPENDENT ON CONTINUAL GRANTS FROM THIS PROGRAM.
S 2792. ADVISORY COUNCIL. AN ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL BE ESTABLISHED TO
ASSIST THE COMMISSIONER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GRANT PROGRAM AND IN
REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH GRANTS. THE COUNCIL SHALL BE COMPOSED OF
TWELVE MEMBERS WITH EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY. SIX MEMBERS
SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY
THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINOR-
ITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINOR-
A. 6598--A 3
ITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY. THESE MEMBERS SHALL SERVE AT THE WILL OF THE
APPOINTING AUTHORITY. THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE, AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OR THEIR DESIGNEES SHALL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.