S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    730
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. D. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Agriculture
 
 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation  to  annual
   reporting requirements for farmers markets

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 263 of the agriculture and markets
 law, as amended by chapter 524 of the laws of 2005, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   1.  The  commissioner  shall quinquennially report to the governor and
 the legislature on or before January first, two thousand seven and on or
 before January first of each fifth year thereafter on the status of  the
 state  farmers'  markets  program,  as provided under this article. Such
 report shall include:
   (A) THE NUMBER, NATURE AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS OF FARMERS MARKETS  IN
 THE STATE OF NEW YORK;
   [(a)]  (B)  the  number and nature of proposals made to the department
 for state assistance;
   [(b)] (C) the number, nature and geographic location of approved farm-
 ers' markets development or improvement projects,  and  the  amounts  of
 each award made thereto;
   [(c)]  (D)  an  assessment  of  the effectiveness of existing farmers'
 markets to facilitate New York producers to direct market their farm and
 food products to retail and wholesale consumers; [and]
   (E) THE NUMBER, NATURE AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF FOOD DESERTS IN  THE
 STATE  OF  NEW  YORK; SUCH ASSESSMENT SHALL PROVIDE DETAILED DEMOGRAPHIC
 INFORMATION, THE NUMBER AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE  FOOD  SOURCES  IN  FOOD
 DESERTS,  AND  ANY  OTHER INFORMATION THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS APPROPRIATE
 FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF FOOD DESERTS;

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

                                                            LBD04963-01-1

 A. 730                              2
 
   (F) AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SUCCESSES, FAILURES AND  BARRIERS  IN  ESTAB-
 LISHING FARMERS MARKETS IN FOOD DESERTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OVERCOM-
 ING  THE  FAILURES  AND BARRIERS IN ESTABLISHING FARMERS MARKETS IN FOOD
 DESERTS;
   (G)  A  LIST  OF  THE  FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE FOR EXPANDING FARMERS
 MARKETS INTO FOOD DESERTS; AND
   [(d)](H) any recommendations for [program] improvement OF THE FARMERS'
 MARKETS PROGRAM.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.