S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6234
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 7, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
ment Operations
AN ACT to amend the cannabis law and the financial services law, in
relation to establishing the Cannabis Community Reinvestment Act
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and cited as the "Cannabis Communi-
ty Reinvestment Act".
§ 2. Section 3 of the cannabis law is amended by adding a new subdivi-
sion 37-a to read as follows:
37-A. "OPERATOR" MEANS A LICENSEE THAT ACTS AS A CANNABIS PRODUCER FOR
THE CULTIVATION OF CANNABIS, A CANNABIS PROCESSOR, A CANNABIS DISTRIBU-
TOR AND/OR A CANNABIS RETAILER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH BUSINESS HAS OPERATED
FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS.
§ 3. The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 62-a to read
as follows:
§ 62-A. APPLICATIONS BY OPERATORS. ANY APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY AN
OPERATOR SHALL INCLUDE A PLAN TO REINVEST IN COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTION-
ATELY IMPACTED BY CANNABIS PROHIBITION INCLUDING, IF APPLICABLE, THE
COMMUNITY SUCH OPERATOR IS LOCATED IN. THE OPERATOR SHALL CONTRIBUTE AT
LEAST TWO PERCENT OF THEIR ANNUAL PROFITS TO COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTION-
ATELY IMPACTED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (G) OF SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION
EIGHTY-SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE. THE BOARD SHALL DETERMINE THE NECESSARY
CRITERIA FOR SUCH PLAN AND SHALL ESTABLISH A SCORING SYSTEM TO DETERMINE
IF SUCH OPERATORS HAVE FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THIS SECTION.
§ 4. The financial services law is amended by adding a new section 312
to read as follows:
§ 312. EVALUATION OF REINVESTMENT PLANS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EVALUATE
THE PLANS BY OPERATORS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION THREE OF THE CANNABIS LAW,
TO REINVEST IN SPECIFIED COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06013-01-5
S. 6234 2
THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT, PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-TWO-A
OF THE CANNABIS LAW, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD. IF THE DEPARTMENT
DETERMINES THAT AN OPERATOR IS FAILING TO PROPERLY SERVE DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY THE COMMUNITY THEY ARE SERVING, IF APPLICABLE,
OR DOES NOT POSSESS AND/OR PROPERLY EXECUTE A SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAM
WITHIN THEIR BUSINESS MODEL, SUCH OPERATOR SHALL BE NOTIFIED AND THEIR
LICENSE SHALL BE MARKED FOR FURTHER REVIEW. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETER-
MINE WHAT NECESSARY STEPS SUCH OPERATOR SHALL TAKE TO FULFILL THE OBLI-
GATIONS UNDER THIS SECTION AND PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION TO THE OPERATOR
WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF MARKING SUCH OPERATOR FOR FURTHER REVIEW. SUCH
OPERATOR WILL THEN HAVE SIXTY DAYS TO TAKE SUCH STEPS. NOTWITHSTANDING
ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT
SUCH STEPS OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR STEPS, AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD,
WERE NOT TAKEN, THE DEPARTMENT MAY REVOKE SUCH OPERATOR'S LICENSE OR
LICENSES. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH AN APPEALS PROCESS FOR OPERA-
TORS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR LICENSES REVOKED. IF SUCH REVOCATION OCCURS,
SUCH LICENSE OR LICENSES SHALL BE AUCTIONED OFF TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR
BUSINESS THAT QUALIFIES UNDER SECTION EIGHTY-SEVEN OF THE CANNABIS LAW.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.