S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9756
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 5, 2016
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the economic devel-
opment law, in relation to annual awards recognizing certain New York
farms, businesses and institutions
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 309 of the agriculture and markets law is amended
by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. A. THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AGRICULTURE SHALL ADVISE THE COMMISSION-
ER IN ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR MAKING ANNUAL AWARDS RECOGNIZING NEW
YORK FARMS, AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD BUSINESSES, AND INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL IN PRODUCING, PROCESSING, MARKETING, AND/OR PROMOTING NEW
YORK FARM AND FOOD PRODUCTS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE
COMMISSIONER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO DETERMINE WHICH DEPARTMENT SHALL
MAKE AWARDS IN CATEGORIES THAT MAY BE SIMILAR TO THOSE LISTED IN SUBDI-
VISION EIGHTEEN-C OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
LAW. THESE AWARDS SHALL BE GIVEN IN RECOGNITION OF EXCEPTIONAL PERFORM-
ANCE AND SUPPORT FOR NEW YORK AGRICULTURE BY PERSONS, FIRMS AND ORGAN-
IZATIONS THAT ARE PRINCIPALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND
ENGAGED IN THE OPERATION OF NEW YORK STATE FARMS, BUSINESSES AND INSTI-
TUTIONS.
B. THE COUNCIL MAY ANNUALLY NOMINATE AND FORWARD SUCH NOMINATIONS FOR
AWARDS TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR HIS OR HER CONSIDERATION IN THE FOLLOWING
CATEGORIES:
(I) INNOVATIVE AND UNIQUE FARM PRODUCTS DEVELOPED FOR FOOD, BEVERAGES,
OR HORTICULTURE;
(II) AGRI-TOURISM;
(III) FOODS OR BEVERAGES PROCESSED OR MANUFACTURED FROM NEW YORK FARM
PRODUCTS;
(IV) RETAIL FOOD STORES;
(V) RESTAURANTS AND OTHER FOOD SERVICE BUSINESSES; AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14900-01-6
A. 9756 2
(VI) EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FOOD SERVICE IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, HOSPITALS, NURS-
ING HOMES, DAY CARE AND SENIOR CENTERS.
C. THE COUNCIL MAY ALSO RECOMMEND TO THE COMMISSIONER NOMINATIONS FOR
AWARDS GIVEN PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION EIGHTEEN-C OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED
OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW.
D. THE COMMISSIONER MAY DESIGNATE AWARD WINNERS FROM THESE NOMINEES AT
HIS OR HER DISCRETION. CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THEIR
BUSINESSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AS NOMINEES.
S 2. Subdivision 18-c of section 100 of the economic development law,
as added by chapter 212 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as
follows:
18-c. to establish, in cooperation with the commissioner of agricul-
ture and markets, procedures for proposing nominations, INCLUDING PROCE-
DURES TO COORDINATE WITH SUCH COMMISSIONER TO DETERMINE WHICH DEPARTMENT
SHALL MAKE NOMINATIONS FOR AWARDS IN CATEGORIES THAT MAY BE SIMILAR TO
THOSE LISTED IN SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINE OF THE
AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW to the governor for three annual, non-mone-
tary awards to be known as: (a) New York State Direct Farm Marketing
Award; (b) New York State Agri-Tourism Award; and (c) New York State
Specialty Food Product Award. These awards shall be given in recognition
of unusual efforts by farmers, food processors and food retailers for
the marketing of New York state grown agricultural commodities or foods
processed from or primarily containing New York state agricultural
commodities and for promoting New York state farms that are also tourist
destinations.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.