S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5933
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 24, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced   by  M.  of  A.  GONZALEZ-ROJAS,  MITAYNES,  RAGA,  EPSTEIN,
   BICHOTTE HERMELYN, KELLES,  GIBBS,  TAPIA,  MAMDANI,  ARDILA,  SIMONE,
   DE LOS SANTOS,  ROZIC,  GALLAGHER  --  read  once  and referred to the
   Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT in relation to establishing a task force to study the feasibility
   of  a  state-funded  SNAP;  and  providing  for  the  repeal  of  such
   provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. a. A task force is hereby established to examine,  evaluate
 and  determine the feasibility of establishing a state-funded version of
 SNAP. The task force shall:
   (i) gather and assess what quantitative data already exists on undocu-
 mented families in New York and collect  any  additional  data  that  is
 needed, in order to understand the scope, impact and cost of operating a
 statewide food for all program, including, but not limited to:
   (1)  the  number  of undocumented families in the state, including the
 status of such families  (i.e.  DACA,  asylum  seekers,  refugees),  the
 number  of such families that are experiencing hunger, and the number of
 such families that are currently excluded from SNAP due to  their  immi-
 gration status or other requirements from SNAP;
   (2)  the demographics of the population of undocumented individuals by
 age, income levels, unemployment levels, languages spoken, and location;
   (3) an estimate of the amount of tax revenue undocumented New  Yorkers
 contribute to the state;
   (4)  the  number  of  children in the state who live with at least one
 undocumented parent;
   (5) the annual healthcare savings as a result  of  being  enrolled  in
 SNAP; and
   (6)  the number of New Yorkers who have been lifted out of poverty due
 to SNAP;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10100-01-3
              

 A. 5933                             2
 
   (ii) convene relevant stakeholders to ensure all components of a  food
 for  all  New  York  program  are considered and on-the-ground community
 voices are heard, including, but not limited to:
   (1) local and national immigrant rights groups;
   (2) anti-hunger organizations, with an emphasis on those organizations
 that enroll people in nutrition benefit programs;
   (3) food security advocates;
   (4) groups with experience operating similar programs across the coun-
 try;
   (5)  research  experts from state universities with expertise on immi-
 gration and public health who could help with data collection;
   (6) local government entities and social services divisions;
   (7) representatives from the governor's office, the office  of  tempo-
 rary  and  disability assistance, the division of budget, the department
 of agriculture and markets, the department of health, the department  of
 labor, and the office of emergency management;
   (iii) analyze the viability of different program models;
   (iv)  estimate  the cost of administering the program in the state and
 show the projected impact on the state's economy based on SNAP return on
 investment;
   (v) create an implementation outreach plan to reach  qualifying  fami-
 lies,  including  costs,  outreach  tactics, and consideration of how to
 meet language needs, what additional data is needed, and how to  address
 any privacy or data concerns; and
   (vi)  use  the findings and stakeholder input to develop and release a
 policy brief which shall include policy and programmatic recommendations
 for how to create, administer, and sustain a Food for All NY program  in
 New York.
   b.  No  later  than one year after the effective date of this act, the
 task force shall report its findings and submit the policy brief to  the
 governor  and  the  legislature,  as  described in subdivision a of this
 section.
   § 2. a. The task force shall be comprised of:
   (i) one member appointed by the governor;
   (ii) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
   (iii) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
   (iv) two members appointed by the office of temporary  and  disability
 assistance;
   (v) one member from the department of state;
   (vi) one member from the department of health; and
   (vii) one member from the department of agriculture and markets.
   b.  The member appointed by the governor shall serve as chairperson of
 the task force.
   c. The members appointed from the department of state,  department  of
 health, and the department of agriculture and markets shall serve ex-of-
 ficio and shall be non-voting members.
   d.  The  members  of  the task force shall receive no compensation for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their services.
   e. All departments,  divisions,  bureaus,  commissions,  districts  or
 agencies  of  the  state or any political subdivisions thereof shall, at
 the request of the chairperson, provide the task force with such facili-
 ties, assistance and data as will enable the task force to carry out its
 powers and duties.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.