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A04996 Summary:

BILL NOA04996
 
SAME ASSAME AS S06453
 
SPONSORSlater
 
COSPNSRBeephan, Bendett, Brown E, DeStefano, Gallahan, Hawley, Maher, Miller, Tague, Angelino, Gray, Durso, Morinello, Brabenec, Lemondes, Flood, Brown K
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add 31-k, Ag & Mkts L
 
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.
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A04996 Actions:

BILL NOA04996
 
02/27/2023referred to agriculture
05/23/2023held for consideration in agriculture
01/03/2024referred to agriculture
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A04996 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4996
 
SPONSOR: Slater
  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 auality.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New Bill   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: Set in the annual budget   EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately
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A04996 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          4996
 
                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 27, 2023
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of A. SLATER, BEEPHAN, BENDETT, E. BROWN, DeSTEFANO,
          GALLAHAN, HAWLEY, MAHER, MILLER, TAGUE -- read once  and  referred  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:
 
     1    Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a  new
     2  section 31-k to read as follows:
     3    §  31-k.  Food  chain  resiliency  through  community  gardening grant
     4  program. 1.  Definition. For purposes of this section, "eligible entity"
     5  means a nonprofit organization and any  city,  county,  town,  township,
     6  village,  or  other  general purpose political subdivision of the state,
     7  excluding cities with a population of one million or more.
     8    2. Food chain resiliency through community  gardening  grant  program.
     9  There  is hereby created within the department the food chain resiliency
    10  through community gardening grant program. Subject to  the  availability
    11  of  funds,  the  department  shall  award grants to eligible entities to
    12  expand, establish, or maintain community  gardens  for  the  purpose  of
    13  strengthening the resiliency of local food supply chains.
    14    3.  Eligible  projects.  Projects  eligible  under  this section shall
    15  include, but not be limited to:
    16    (a) the establishment of a community  garden,  the  purpose  of  which
    17  shall be to support the needs of local food banks and food pantries;
    18    (b)  a community garden established on land owned by an eligible enti-
    19  ty;
    20    (c) re-granting to other organizations to support startups and capaci-
    21  ty building;
    22    (d) planning and consulting; and
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08552-02-3

        A. 4996                             2
 
     1    (e) improvements to infrastructure related to  food  production,  food
     2  storage, and food distribution areas.
     3    4. Eligible costs. (a) Funding will be available through a competitive
     4  process   to  support  projects  that  focus  on  increased  local  food
     5  production and improved local food resiliency. Eligible  grant  expenses
     6  shall include, but are not limited to:
     7    (i)  equipment for food storage, including refrigerators, food storage
     8  bins, and shelves;
     9    (ii) equipment for food production and gardening, including costs  for
    10  the rental or purchase of garden equipment and tools;
    11    (iii)  operating  expenses including seeds, plants, pollinator plants,
    12  fencing, irrigation  supplies,  garden  maintenance  and  beautification
    13  projects;
    14    (iv) other capital improvements; and
    15    (v) costs associated with preparing an application.
    16    (b)  Eligible  entities  shall provide ten percent funding, leveraging
    17  ninety percent in state funds.  Grants  to  eligible  entities  may  not
    18  exceed  thirty  thousand  dollars, to be disbursed over a period of time
    19  not to exceed three  years,  after  which  eligible  entities  would  be
    20  required to re-apply for grant funding.
    21    5.  Application.  In  order  to receive a grant under this section, an
    22  eligible entity shall submit to the department an  application  at  such
    23  time,  in such manner, and containing such information as the department
    24  may require, including:
    25    (a) an assurance that priority for volunteers needed  for  the  expan-
    26  sion,  establishment, or maintenance of a community garden funded with a
    27  grant received under this section  will  be  given  to  individuals  who
    28  reside in the community where the garden is located; and
    29    (b) a demonstration that the eligible entity is committed to providing
    30  financial  or  in-kind  support  for  the community garden for which the
    31  entity receives funds under this section.
    32    § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
    33  have become a law.
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