Senate Bill S8504

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8504      Revised 7/16/2020

SPONSOR: METZGER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act relating to funding for food banks, emergency food providers, or
other participating entities to purchase food products from New York
farmers and processors for distribution to New Yorkers experiencing
hunger or food insecurity

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 - Allocates $25 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, or any future federal
stimulus funding, that has not otherwise been allocated, to be allocated
to a state program or initiative that provides funding to food banks,
emergency food providers, or other participating entities within the
state to purchase food products from New York farmers and processors for
distribution to New Yorkers experiencing hunger or food insecurity. Such
program or initiative shall, to the extent practicable, prioritize the
sourcing of food products from producers, processors, and regional food
hubs within the same geographic region as the food banks, emergency food
              

providers, and other entities participating in such program or initi-
ative.

Section 2 - Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As a result of the disruptions and financial hardships caused by the
COVID-19 outbreak, many more New Yorkers are experiencing real food
insecurity. At the same time, many farmers and processors throughout the
state are struggling to sell their food products, forcing many to dump
or destroy excess goods.

Recently, the Governor, through the Departments of Agriculture & Markets
and Health, announced the Nourish New York Initiative. This initiative
provides $25 million in funding to various food banks, emergency food
providers, and other entities throughout the state to purchase food from
New York farmers and processors for distribution to those in need. This
initiative is extremely important to address both the growing problem of
food insecurity and the economic challenges facing farms during this
pandemic. To encourage an expansion of this program, this bill doubles
the funding by allocating an additional $25 million of federal stimulus
monies to the program. Such an expansion could both help to bolster the
existing program and provide the means for food banks and emergency food
providers to enter into contracts to purchase food from New York farmers
and processors beyond the period of the pandemic, ensuring a continued
market and local sourcing of products across the state.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately