S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5968
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 24, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  COOK, AUBRY, GLICK, DICKENS, SAYEGH, JOYNER,
   TAYLOR, SIMON, WILLIAMS, BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
   of A. COLTON -- 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.
                                                            LBD04399-01-3
 A. 5968                             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.
   § 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.
   §  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.
   § 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.
   § 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.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.