S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3086

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 22, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. COOK, ORTIZ, ROBINSON, JAFFEE -- Multi-Sponsored
  by -- M. of A.  COLTON, GOTTFRIED, MARKEY, RIVERA, SCARBOROUGH, TITONE
  -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health

AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to  creating  a  food
  security, empowerment and economic development program

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds there is  a  need
for  community  economic development to improve the food system in areas
where there is an inadequate food supply and many residents who rely  on
fluctuating  government  and private food assistance. There is a need to
develop food resources and businesses in these communities that  provide
higher  quality,  more  accessible food. The legislature also finds that
local farmers and food producers  can  and  should  benefit  from  these
efforts.
  The  legislature  further finds that as the federal government and New
York state attempt to reduce dependency on government, there is  a  need
to  support families leaving public assistance for work. One approach to
increasing work opportunities and addressing the  food  needs  in  these
communities  is  through  the  development of "community food security",
which is defined as people successfully obtaining an acceptable,  nutri-
tious diet using local non-emergency sources.
  Community  food  security projects are designed to meet the food needs
of low income people,  increase  the  self-reliance  of  communities  in
providing  for their own food needs, and promote comprehensive responses
to local food, farm and nutrition issues. For  example,  these  projects
provide  training  in  urban  gardening  and sales, assist entrepreneurs
starting  micro-enterprises,  support  farmers'  markets  in  distressed
neighborhoods  and  provide  food-based  educational  opportunities  for
schools.
  The legislature supports the goals of  self-reliance,  community-based
economic  development,  profitable local agriculture, improved nutrition
and helping families and individuals  help  themselves.  Therefore,  the
legislature finds that the creation of a community food security program

              

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06979-01-5

A. 3086                             2

for  New  York  state will benefit struggling working families and their
communities, provide new markets for family farmers,  create  food-based
jobs  and  small businesses, and ensure healthier citizens and neighbor-
hoods.
  S 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 27-FF to
read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 27-FF
                        COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY,
                             EMPOWERMENT AND
                      ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
SECTION 2790. COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY, EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
                MENT PROGRAM.
        2791. GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS.
        2792. ADVISORY COUNCIL.
  S  2790. COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY, EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.  THE COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY, EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE  DEPARTMENT.  SUCH  PROGRAM  IS
ESTABLISHED  TO  SUPPORT  THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  COMMUNITY  FOOD PROJECTS
DESIGNED TO MEET THE FOOD  NEEDS  OF  LOW-INCOME  PEOPLE,  INCREASE  THE
SELF-RELIANCE  OF  COMMUNITIES IN PROVIDING FOR THEIR OWN FOOD NEEDS AND
PROMOTE COMPREHENSIVE  RESPONSES  TO  LOCAL  FOOD,  FARM  AND  NUTRITION
ISSUES.  THESE  PROJECTS  WILL ATTEMPT TO: INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY, IN
THE TARGETED COMMUNITIES, OF CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE,  AFFORDABLE,  NUTRI-
TIONALLY  ADEQUATE  FOOD,  FROM LOCAL SOURCES WHENEVER POSSIBLE; DEVELOP
LINKAGES BETWEEN LOCAL FARMERS AND COMMUNITIES SERVED  BY  THE  PROJECT;
SUPPORT  JOB  DEVELOPMENT  AND  JOB  TRAINING, INCLUDING WORK EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED BY WELFARE REFORM; SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT  OF  ENTREPRENEURIAL
ENTERPRISES;  PROMOTE  GOOD  NUTRITION; ENCOURAGE LONG-TERM PLANNING AND
MULTI-AGENCY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT; AND,  INCLUDE  COMMUNITY  RESI-
DENTS IN DECISION-MAKING.
  S  2791.  GRANTS  TO ORGANIZATIONS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE GRANTS
FOR PROGRAM PROJECTS, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING, TO  COMMU-
NITY-BASED  NONPROFIT  ORGANIZATIONS  AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. IN ORDER TO
MEET THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM, APPLICANTS MAY CREATE  PARTNERSHIPS  WITH
OTHER  ENTITIES,  INCLUDING  LIMITED  PARTICIPATION BY FOR-PROFIT ENTER-
PRISES.
  PREFERENCE FOR THESE GRANTS SHALL BE  GIVEN  TO  PROJECTS  LOCATED  IN
COMMUNITIES  WITH A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION PARTICIPAT-
ING IN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
  PROJECTS FUNDED BY THESE GRANTS SHALL BE DESIGNED TO BECOME  SELF-SUS-
TAINING, NOT DEPENDENT ON CONTINUAL GRANTS FROM THIS PROGRAM.
  S  2792. ADVISORY COUNCIL. AN ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL BE ESTABLISHED TO
ASSIST THE COMMISSIONER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GRANT PROGRAM  AND  IN
REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH GRANTS. THE COUNCIL SHALL BE COMPOSED OF
TWELVE  MEMBERS  WITH EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY.  SIX MEMBERS
SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, TWO MEMBERS SHALL  BE  APPOINTED  BY
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY
THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINOR-
ITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINOR-
ITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY. THESE MEMBERS SHALL SERVE AT THE WILL OF THE
APPOINTING  AUTHORITY.  THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE, AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS AND ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT
OR THEIR DESIGNEES SHALL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.