NY State Senate Bill 2021-S1907A

Senate Bill S1907A

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Relates to establishing a farm-to-school task force and requiring all public schools to provide fresh foods to students in a manner that supports local agriculture

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to agriculture
Mar 11, 2021	print number 1907a
Mar 11, 2021	amend (t) and recommit to agriculture
Jan 16, 2021	referred to agriculture

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2021-S1907 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5462
Current Committee:: Senate Agriculture
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §16, Ag & Mkts L; amd §305, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S7925
2023-2024: S337

2021-S1907 - Summary

Establishes a farm-to-school task force; directs the commissioner of education to develop a program to require all public schools to provide fresh foods to students in a manner that supports local agriculture and increases market opportunities for farmers from under-represented communities.

2021-S1907 - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S1907

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a farm-to-school task force; and to amend the education law, in
relation to requiring all public schools to provide fresh foods to
students in a manner that supports local agriculture

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to create a task force for urban and
rural agricultural regions to work with school food providers and farm-
ers to develop recommendations that will provide fresh foods in all New
York State public schools while supporting local agriculture.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new paragraph (d) to Subdivision 5-B of Section 16 of
the Agriculture and Markets Law that establishes a task force that will

study and make recommendations on how to provide fresh foods in all
school districts in New York while supporting local agriculture.  The
task force will consist of 9 members who shall possess expertise in
issues relating to the work of the task force. The task force members
shall be appointed as follows: 2 members by the governor, 2 members by
the speaker of the assembly, 2 members by the temporary president of the
senate, 1 member by the minority leader of the assembly, 1 member by the
minority leader of the senate, and the commissioner, or their designee,
of the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The commissioner, or their
designee, shall serve as the chairperson of the task force.

Section 2 amends Subdivision of Section 305 of the Education Law by
requiring the commissioner of the State Education Department to develop
a program based on the findings of the task force to require all school
districts to provide fresh foods to students in a manner that supports
local agriculture.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill will build a bridge between our state's schools and the bounty
of New York's farms. It will help us accomplish three major goals:
first, provide the best quality fruits and vegetables available to
schools in every school district in our state; second, help establish
healthy eating habits for children in their formative years; and third,
help guarantee the future of farming in New York.  This will be a
win/win situation for students, educators, school districts, and the
state's agricultural community.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-2020: S.7925 - Referred to Agriculture

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.

2021-S1907 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1907
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. JACKSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
 
 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation  to  estab-
   lishing  a  farm-to-school task force; and to amend the education law,
   in relation to requiring all public schools to provide fresh foods  to
   students in a manner that supports local agriculture
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 5-b  of  section  16  of  the  agriculture  and
 markets law is amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   (D) ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO
 PROVIDE  FRESH FOODS IN ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WHILE SUPPORT-
 ING NEW YORK LOCAL AGRICULTURE. SUCH TASK FORCE  SHALL  BE  COMPOSED  OF
 NINE  MEMBERS WHO SHALL POSSESS EXPERTISE IN ISSUES RELATING TO THE WORK
 OF THE TASK FORCE. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE  GOVERNOR,  TWO
 MEMBERS  SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, TWO MEMBERS
 SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, ONE  MEMBER
 SHALL  BE  APPOINTED  BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ONE MEMBER
 SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND  ONE  MEMBER
 SHALL  BE  THE  COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE. THE COMMISSIONER OR
 HIS OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL  SERVE  AS  CHAIRPERSON  OF  THE  TASK  FORCE.
 MEMBERS  OF  THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE APPOINTED NO LATER THAN ONE HUNDRED
 TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH. VACANCIES  SHALL
 BE  FILLED  WITHIN  THIRTY DAYS IN THE SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR ORIGINAL
 APPOINTMENTS. NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER ALL INITIAL APPOINTMENTS HAVE
 BEEN MADE THE TASK FORCE SHALL MAKE A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGIS-
 LATURE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF  ITS  FINDINGS,  CONCLUSIONS
 AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
   §  2.  Subdivision 31 of section 305 of the education law, as added by
 chapter 2 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02315-01-1

 S. 1907                             2
 
   31. The commissioner shall cooperate with the commissioner of agricul-
 ture and markets in establishing a farm-to-school program and coordinat-
 ing New York Harvest For New York Kids Week as described in  subdivision
 five-b  of  section  sixteen  of  the  agriculture  and markets law. The
 commissioner's  responsibilities  shall  include, but not be limited to,
 DEVELOPING A PROGRAM BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION FIVE-B OF  SECTION  SIXTEEN  OF
 THE  AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW, TO REQUIRE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE
 STATE TO PROVIDE FRESH FOODS TO STUDENTS IN A MANNER THAT  SUPPORTS  NEW
 YORK  LOCAL  AGRICULTURE,  compiling  information  for the department of
 agriculture and markets from  school  districts  and  other  educational
 institutions  under the department's jurisdiction interested in purchas-
 ing New York farm products and  disseminating  to  those  districts  and
 institutions  information from the department of agriculture and markets
 about the availability of New York farm products, and  contact  informa-
 tion  for  farmers  and  other  businesses  marketing such products. The
 commissioner shall report to the legislature about the need for  changes
 in  law to facilitate the purchase of such products by schools and other
 institutions.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

co-Sponsors

2021-S1907A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5462
Current Committee:: Senate Agriculture
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §16, Ag & Mkts L; amd §305, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S7925
2023-2024: S337

2021-S1907A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S1907A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S1907A

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a farm-to-school task force; and to amend the education law, in
relation to requiring all public schools to provide fresh foods to
students in a manner that supports local agriculture and increases
market opportunities for farmers from under-represented communities

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to create a task force for urban and
rural agricultural regions to work with school food providers and farm-
ers to develop recommendations that will provide fresh foods in all New
York State public schools in a manner that supports local agriculture
while providing market opportunities for under-represented farmers.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new paragraph (d) to Subdivision 5-B of Section 16 of
the Agriculture and Markets Law that establishes a task force that will
study and make recommendations on how to provide fresh foods in all
school districts in New York in a manner that supports local agriculture
while providing market opportunities for under-represented farmers. The
task force will consist of 9 members who shall possess expertise in
issues relating to the work of the task force. The task force members
shall be appointed as follows: 2 members by the governor, 2 members by
the speaker of the assembly, 2 members by the temporary president of the
senate, 1 member by the minority leader of the assembly, 1 member by the
minority leader of the senate, and the commissioner, or their designee,
of the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The commissioner, or their
designee, shall serve as the chairperson of the task force.

Section 2 amends Subdivision of Section 305 of the Education Law by
requiring the commissioner of the State Education Department to develop
a program based on the findings of the task force to require all school
districts to provide fresh foods to students in a manner that supports
local agriculture and provides market opportunities for under-represent-
ed farmers.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill will build a bridge between our state's schools and the bounty
of New York's farms. It will help us accomplish three major goals:
first, provide the best quality fruits and vegetables available to
schools in every school district in our state; second, help establish
healthy eating habits for children in their formative years; and third,
help guarantee the future of farming in New York by promoting local
agriculture and market opportunities for under-represented farmers. This
will be a win/win situation for students, educators, school districts,
and the state's agricultural community.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-2020: S.7925 - Referred to Agriculture
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.

2021-S1907A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1907--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. JACKSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
   lishing a farm-to-school task force; and to amend the  education  law,
   in  relation to requiring all public schools to provide fresh foods to
   students in a manner that supports  local  agriculture  and  increases
   market opportunities for farmers from under-represented communities
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 5-b  of  section  16  of  the  agriculture  and
 markets law is amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   (D) ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO
 PROVIDE FRESH FOODS IN ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, WHILE SUPPORT-
 ING  NEW YORK LOCAL AGRICULTURE, AND INCREASING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR
 FARMERS FROM UNDER-REPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
 FARMERS WHO ARE BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. SUCH TASK  FORCE
 SHALL  BE COMPOSED OF NINE MEMBERS WHO SHALL POSSESS EXPERTISE IN ISSUES
 RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE. TWO MEMBERS SHALL  BE  APPOINTED
 BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY, TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF
 THE  SENATE, ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY, ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY  LEADER  OF  THE
 SENATE  AND ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE.
 THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL SERVE  AS  CHAIRPERSON  OF
 THE  TASK FORCE.   MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE APPOINTED NO LATER
 THAN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
 VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS IN THE SAME MANNER PROVIDED
 FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS. NO LATER THAN  ONE  YEAR  AFTER  ALL  INITIAL
 APPOINTMENTS  HAVE  BEEN  MADE THE TASK FORCE SHALL MAKE A REPORT TO THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD02315-09-1

 S. 1907--A                          2
 
 GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF ITS FIND-
 INGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
   §  2.  Subdivision 31 of section 305 of the education law, as added by
 chapter 2 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
   31. The commissioner shall cooperate with the commissioner of agricul-
 ture and markets in establishing a farm-to-school program and coordinat-
 ing New York Harvest For New York Kids Week as described in  subdivision
 five-b  of  section  sixteen  of  the  agriculture  and markets law. The
 commissioner's responsibilities shall include, but not  be  limited  to,
 DEVELOPING A PROGRAM BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  (D) OF SUBDIVISION FIVE-B OF SECTION SIXTEEN OF
 THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW, TO REQUIRE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN  THE
 STATE  TO  PROVIDE FRESH FOODS TO STUDENTS IN A MANNER THAT SUPPORTS NEW
 YORK LOCAL AGRICULTURE WHILE INCREASING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS
 FROM  UNDER-REPRESENTED  COMMUNITIES,  compiling  information  for   the
 department  of  agriculture  and markets from school districts and other
 educational institutions under the department's jurisdiction  interested
 in  purchasing  New  York  farm  products  and  disseminating  to  those
 districts and institutions information from the department  of  agricul-
 ture  and  markets about the availability of New York farm products, and
 contact information for farmers  and  other  businesses  marketing  such
 products.  The  commissioner  shall  report to the legislature about the
 need for changes in law to facilitate the purchase of such  products  by
 schools and other institutions.
   §  3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

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