S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8937
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 8, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Economic Development
 
 AN ACT to repeal article 23 of the economic development law, in relation
   to  the  establishment  of a New York seafood marketing task force and
   relating to state agencies having seafood marketing  roundtable  meet-
   ings  with  relevant  stakeholders;  and  providing  for the repeal of
   certain provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Article 23 of the economic development law, as proposed in
 legislative bill numbers S. 5385-A and A. 6893-A, relating to the estab-
 lishment of a New York seafood marketing task force, is REPEALED.
   § 2. For the purposes of this act, the following terms shall have  the
 following meanings:
   1.  "State  agencies"  shall  mean  state entities responsible for the
 implementation of New York's fishery management and economic development
 roundtables, which shall include, but not be limited to:
   (a) the department of agriculture and markets;
   (b) the department of environmental conservation;
   (c) the department of economic development; and
   (d) the department of state.
   2. The term "relevant stakeholders" may include representatives from:
   (a) a college or university with a specialization in marine and  atmo-
 spheric sciences;
   (b) the New York sea grant program;
   (c) the Cornell Cooperative Extension;
   (d) a trade organization for seafood issues;
   (e)  dealers, wholesalers or processors who purchase and sell finfish,
 shellfish, and/or crustaceans;
   (f) aquaculturists;
   (g) a New York-based retailer of seafood products  associated  with  a
 restaurant or restaurant organization;
   (h)  a  New York-based retailer of seafood products associated with an
 independent or franchised store;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10464-05-8

 A. 8937                             2
 
   (i) a commercial fisherman licensed to  harvest  and/or  land  in  New
 York;
   (j)  a member of an independent organization or association represent-
 ing the New York hospitality industry; and/or
   (k) an economist with expertise in seafood marketing.
   § 3. On or before September 1, 2018, the state agencies shall meet and
 convene a series of roundtable meetings with  relevant  stakeholders  at
 which time a chair or co-chairs may be designated. At least one roundta-
 ble  meeting  shall  be held in the regions of the state with a relevant
 seafood industry stakeholder, specifically Long Island, New  York  City,
 and  the  lower Hudson Valley. At least two roundtable meetings shall be
 held on Long Island. The agenda and  meeting  place  of  any  roundtable
 meetings  shall  be  made  available  to  the  public in advance of such
 roundtable meetings and all roundtable meetings shall  be  open  to  the
 public.  The  meetings may include, among other things, consideration of
 the following issues:
   1. Methods to increase the  resources  and  information  available  to
 support  New  York's  local  fishermen, aquaculturists and related small
 businesses to  ensure  the  best  possible  economic  and  environmental
 outcomes  for  the  continued  growth  of  the  seafood industry and the
 creation of more locally produced sustainable food systems in the  state
 of New York;
   2.  Methods  to  promote  the marketing and sustainability of New York
 seafood, such as:
   (a) Identifying barriers that prevent  and/or  inhibit  local  seafood
 marketing initiatives and growth;
   (b)  Identifying  and  facilitating opportunities to increase consumer
 demand for local seafood;
   (c) Identifying and facilitating opportunities to establish agreements
 with local fishermen and seafood dealers for potential  seafood  market-
 place expansion;
   (d) Identifying and working with federal and state entities to prevent
 seafood  mislabeling  and  keep  illegally caught fish out of New York's
 seafood markets, while providing more  information  to  consumers  about
 their seafood purchases;
   3.  Review of existing studies, pilot programs and initiatives of this
 state and other states regarding best seafood marketing practices; and
   4. Potential  educational  opportunities  that  may  be  provided  for
 consumers and the seafood and aquaculture community regarding the impor-
 tance of New York's seafood industry and seafood issues and initiatives.
   §  4.  All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish reason-
 able advice and provide information and documentation to facilitate  the
 purposes of this act.
   §  5. The state agencies shall provide a written report of their find-
 ings identifying any proposed recommendations that may address research,
 marketing and expansion opportunities for  local  seafood.  Such  report
 shall  be  provided to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the
 temporary president of the senate by September 30, 2019.
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately; provided,  however,  that
 section  one  of  this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
 same manner as a chapter of the laws  of  2017,  amending  the  economic
 development  law  relating  to  the  establishment of a New York seafood
 marketing task force, as proposed in legislative bill  numbers  S.5385-A
 and  A.6893-A,  takes  effect;  provided further, however, that sections
 two, three, four and five of this act shall expire October 1, 2019  when
 upon such date the provisions of such sections shall be deemed repealed.