NY State Senate Bill 2023-S6453

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to agriculture
Apr 20, 2023	referred to agriculture

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4996
Current Committee:: Senate Agriculture
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:: Add §31-k, Ag & Mkts L

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the food chain resiliency through community gardening grant program to expand, establish, or maintain community gardens for the purpose of strengthening the resiliency of local food supply chains.

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6453

SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a community gardening grant program to strengthen local food
chain resiliency

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Promote the creation of community garden projects in order to strengthen
local food chain resiliency

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 - defines "eligible entity"

2 - creates community gardening grant program to increase food chain
resiliency

3 - defines what constitutes an eligible project

4 - defines what is considered an eligible cost

5 - defines the application requirements

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the realities of food insecurity.
Regional food banks and local food pantries experienced a significant
demand which has yet to subside. Coupled with record high inflation that
has impacted every aspect of our society we need to find innovative
programs that can support these important community partners.

Communities have invested in creating community gardens for the purpose
of cultivating needed vegetables that are donated to local food
pantries. In some places, such as the Town of Yorktown in Westchester
County, the local community garden has produced nearly two tons of fresh
vegetables which have gone to supporting more than 50 food insecure
families.  This model can be achieved in other parts of New York State
as part of a collective effort to tackle food insecurity as we continue
to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing
inflation crisis.

Furthermore, community gardens are beneficial to the environment and the
health and wellbeing of our local communities. Community gardens can
also reduce the severity of food deserts in low-income neighborhoods, as
well as providing those residents improved access to nutritious food
necessary for a well-balanced diet. Additionally, these gardens may help
foster a sense of community, which studies have shown, lead to decreased
crime rates and increased property values.

Community gardens will help reduce negative impacts on the environment,
by reducing food transportation costs, and water runoff.  Furthermore,
they can help promote sustainable agricultural practices, and improve
the ecology of the area by creating habitats for plants and animals
necessary for a healthy ecosystem, which will lead to improved air and
soil quality.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Set in the annual budget

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6453
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 20, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
 
 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation  to  estab-
   lishing  a  community gardening grant program to strengthen local food
   chain resiliency

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
 section 31-k to read as follows:
   § 31-K.  FOOD  CHAIN  RESILIENCY  THROUGH  COMMUNITY  GARDENING  GRANT
 PROGRAM. 1.  DEFINITION. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ELIGIBLE ENTITY"
 MEANS  A  NONPROFIT  ORGANIZATION  AND ANY CITY, COUNTY, TOWN, TOWNSHIP,
 VILLAGE, OR OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION  OF  THE  STATE,
 EXCLUDING CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE.
   2.  FOOD  CHAIN  RESILIENCY THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING GRANT PROGRAM.
 THERE IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE FOOD CHAIN  RESILIENCY
 THROUGH  COMMUNITY  GARDENING GRANT PROGRAM. SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY
 OF FUNDS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AWARD  GRANTS  TO  ELIGIBLE  ENTITIES  TO
 EXPAND,  ESTABLISH,  OR  MAINTAIN  COMMUNITY  GARDENS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
 STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCY OF LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS.
   3. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.  PROJECTS  ELIGIBLE  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL
 INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  COMMUNITY GARDEN, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH
 SHALL BE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES;
   (B) A COMMUNITY GARDEN ESTABLISHED ON LAND OWNED BY AN ELIGIBLE  ENTI-
 TY;
   (C) RE-GRANTING TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT STARTUPS AND CAPACI-
 TY BUILDING;
   (D) PLANNING AND CONSULTING; AND
   (E)  IMPROVEMENTS  TO  INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO FOOD PRODUCTION, FOOD
 STORAGE, AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION AREAS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08552-02-3

 S. 6453                             2
 
   4. ELIGIBLE COSTS. (A) FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE
 PROCESS  TO  SUPPORT  PROJECTS  THAT  FOCUS  ON  INCREASED  LOCAL   FOOD
 PRODUCTION  AND  IMPROVED LOCAL FOOD RESILIENCY. ELIGIBLE GRANT EXPENSES
 SHALL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
   (I)  EQUIPMENT FOR FOOD STORAGE, INCLUDING REFRIGERATORS, FOOD STORAGE
 BINS, AND SHELVES;
   (II) EQUIPMENT FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND GARDENING, INCLUDING COSTS  FOR
 THE RENTAL OR PURCHASE OF GARDEN EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS;
   (III)  OPERATING  EXPENSES INCLUDING SEEDS, PLANTS, POLLINATOR PLANTS,
 FENCING, IRRIGATION  SUPPLIES,  GARDEN  MAINTENANCE  AND  BEAUTIFICATION
 PROJECTS;
   (IV) OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS; AND
   (V) COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PREPARING AN APPLICATION.
   (B)  ELIGIBLE  ENTITIES  SHALL PROVIDE TEN PERCENT FUNDING, LEVERAGING
 NINETY PERCENT IN STATE FUNDS.  GRANTS  TO  ELIGIBLE  ENTITIES  MAY  NOT
 EXCEED  THIRTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS, TO BE DISBURSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME
 NOT TO EXCEED THREE  YEARS,  AFTER  WHICH  ELIGIBLE  ENTITIES  WOULD  BE
 REQUIRED TO RE-APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING.
   5.  APPLICATION.  IN  ORDER  TO RECEIVE A GRANT UNDER THIS SECTION, AN
 ELIGIBLE ENTITY SHALL SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT AN  APPLICATION  AT  SUCH
 TIME,  IN SUCH MANNER, AND CONTAINING SUCH INFORMATION AS THE DEPARTMENT
 MAY REQUIRE, INCLUDING:
   (A) AN ASSURANCE THAT PRIORITY FOR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED  FOR  THE  EXPAN-
 SION,  ESTABLISHMENT, OR MAINTENANCE OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN FUNDED WITH A
 GRANT RECEIVED UNDER THIS SECTION  WILL  BE  GIVEN  TO  INDIVIDUALS  WHO
 RESIDE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE GARDEN IS LOCATED; AND
   (B) A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE ELIGIBLE ENTITY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING
 FINANCIAL  OR  IN-KIND  SUPPORT  FOR  THE COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR WHICH THE
 ENTITY RECEIVES FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

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Senate Bill S6453

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S6453

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Sponsored By

Joseph A. Griffo

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S6453 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments