STATE OF NEW YORK
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9536
IN SENATE
March 20, 2026
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Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- 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 and the education law,
in relation to establishing a community garden grant program for all
state university of New York and city university of New York campuses
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. Community gardens on SUNY and CUNY campuses. The office shall
4 establish a community garden grant program for all state university of
5 New York and city university of New York campuses, utilizing funds
6 appropriated therefor. For the purpose of growing fresh farm products
7 and providing healthy food options, state university of New York and
8 city university of New York campuses shall have the ability to apply
9 directly to the grant program through the office. Upon the request and
10 application of state university of New York and city university of New
11 York campuses, the office shall administer the grant money to campuses
12 based on an eligibility criterion, including but not limited to state
13 university of New York and city university of New York accreditation,
14 sustainable plan for operation and maintenance, and projected community
15 impact. Participating campuses in this program shall submit a biannual
16 report to the office including details of how funds are utilized. Under
17 such program, the office shall distribute money to each eligible insti-
18 tution based upon the financial need requested from the institution.
19 § 2. Section 237 of the education law is amended by adding a new
20 subdivision 8 to read as follows:
21 8. The regents shall authorize all state university of New York and
22 city university of New York campuses to apply for the community garden
23 grant program through the office of community gardens pursuant to
24 section thirty-one-k of the agriculture and markets law, for the purpose
25 of growing and maintaining garden infrastructure.
26 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15319-01-6
