Assembly Bill A8901

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8901
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 16, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. TORRES -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Agriculture
 
 AN  ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to provid-
   ing additional duties of the community gardens task force
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1. Section 31-j of the agriculture and markets law is amended
 by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
   6. (A) THE TASK FORCE SHALL CONDUCT AN  ASSESSMENT  OF  ALL  COMMUNITY
 GARDENS  LOCATED  ON PUBLICLY OWNED LAND IN THE STATE TO FACILITATE EACH
 ELIGIBLE GARDEN'S DESIGNATION AS A  CRITICAL  ENVIRONMENTAL  AREA  (CEA)
 PURSUANT  TO PARAGRAPH ONE OF SUBDIVISION (G) OF SECTION 617.14 OF TITLE
 SIX OF THE OFFICIAL COMPILATION OF CODES, RULES AND REGULATIONS  OF  THE
 STATE  OF  NEW YORK. THE TASK FORCE SHALL PROVIDE A STATUS REPORT ON THE
 ASSESSMENT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE  LEGISLATURE  ON  OR  BEFORE  JANUARY
 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, AND SHALL COMPLETE SUCH ASSESSMENT ON OR
 BEFORE  JANUARY  FIRST,  TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN. THE TASK FORCE SHALL
 CONDUCT ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS OF ANY NEW COMMUNITY GARDENS ON  PUBLICLY
 OWNED LAND ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTY-ONE AND ON OR
 BEFORE  JANUARY  FIRST  OF EACH FIFTH YEAR THEREAFTER. IN CONDUCTING THE
 ASSESSMENT, THE TASK FORCE SHALL:
   (I) CONSULT, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT  POSSIBLE,  WITH  MEMBERS  OF  EACH
 COMMUNITY GARDEN REGARDING THE GARDEN'S CHARACTERISTICS;
   (II)  CONSULT,  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION REGARDING THE  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  CEA  DESIG-
 NATION; AND
   (III)  PREPARE A WRITTEN SUMMARY OF ITS FINDINGS REGARDING EACH COMMU-
 NITY GARDEN THAT SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE GARDEN;
   (B) THE NAME OF THE STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY THAT HAS  JURISDICTION  OVER
 THE GARDEN;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06082-01-5
              

 A. 8901                             2
 
   (C)  A DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GARDEN THAT COVER
 THE FACTORS IN PARAGRAPH ONE OF SUBDIVISION (G)  OF  SECTION  617.14  OF
 TITLE SIX OF THE OFFICIAL COMPILATION OF CODES, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF
 THE STATE OF NEW YORK;
   (D)  THE  TASK FORCE'S CONCLUSION AS TO WHETHER THE CURRENTLY UNDESIG-
 NATED GARDEN MEETS THE REQUIREMENT FOR CEA DESIGNATION; AND
   (E) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE TASK FORCE DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
   (B) UPON COMPLETION OF THE ASSESSMENT, THE TASK FORCE  SHALL,  TO  THE
 EXTENT  POSSIBLE,  PROVIDE  THE  WRITTEN  SUMMARIES OF ITS FINDINGS TO A
 MEMBER OF EACH GARDEN'S LEADERSHIP AND, FOR THE COMMUNITY  GARDENS  THAT
 ARE  CURRENTLY UNDESIGNATED AND THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR CEA DESIG-
 NATION, PROVIDE THE WRITTEN SUMMARIES OF ITS FINDINGS  TO  THE  AGENCIES
 WITH JURISDICTION OVER THE GARDENS, ALONG WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
 AGENCIES DESIGNATE THE GARDENS AS CEAS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.