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A04515 Summary:

BILL NOA04515
 
SAME ASSAME AS S04162
 
SPONSORHyndman
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
 
Expands the FreshConnect program, which provides rebates for the purchase of local produce to certain people, to include local produce sold in supermarkets and grocery stores.
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A04515 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4515
 
SPONSOR: Hyndman
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to incentivize the purchase of local produce in supermarkets and grocery stores through the FreshConnect program   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To expand the reach of the FreshConnect program across the state and increase access to affordable fruits and vegetables to New Yorkers in need.   SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This bill establishes definitions for local produce and producer, as well as requiring that the commissioner of agriculture and markets expand the FreshConnect program to include local produce sold in super- markets.   JUSTIFICATION: According to the USDA's "Choose My Plate" recommendations, eating fruits and vegetables provides health benefits - people who eat more vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of the body. In 2011, Governor Cuomo introduced the FreshConnect program to create new farmers' markets and support existing markets that provide outlets for fresh food in underserved neighborhoods, as well as providing a $2 incentive for every $2 of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit used at partic- ipating markets, thereby increasing the purchasing power of SNAP consum- ers by 40 percent while supporting local farmers. The program expanded to include Veterans, service members, and their immediate family members in 2014. This program has been incredibly successful at increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables to the almost 1.5 million New Yorkers who live in areas with limited supermarket access. This bill seeks to expand the program to include supermarkets and grocery stores as well, this way helping people bring home more healthy fruits and vegetables while still supporting local farmers. The wins are three-fold: low-income consumers eat more healthy food, local farmers gain new customers and make more money, and more food dollars stay in the local economy. Similar programs have been implemented in other states like the Double Up Food Bucks program in Michigan, where farmers markets, supermarkets, and grocery stores participate.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2019-20: Referred to Agriculture 2021-22: Referred to Agriculture 2023-24: Vetoed   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.   EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
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A04515 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          4515
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 4, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Agriculture
 
        AN ACT to incentivize the purchase of local produce in supermarkets  and
          grocery stores through the FreshConnect program
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this act the following terms  shall
     2  have the following meanings:
     3    (i)  "local  produce" means produce grown by a producer with the pride
     4  of New York symbol of the business claiming the local produce tax credit
     5  within the state of New York, from  seed  or  conception  through  final
     6  product.
     7    (ii)  "producer"  means  an individual, whether acting individually or
     8  through a cooperative, corporation, partnership,  business  association,
     9  or  educational institution, who is a farmer, student farmer or manufac-
    10  turer of foods or goods in  New  York  state.  It  shall  not,  however,
    11  include a wholesaler or distributor.
    12    (iii) "supermarket" or "grocery store" means a retail store at a given
    13  location  devoted  to  the  sale of foods, food stuffs and groceries for
    14  human consumption regularly and customarily sold in a bona  fide  manner
    15  for  consumption off of the premises. The following shall not be consid-
    16  ered supermarkets or grocery  stores  for  the  purposes  of  this  act:
    17  hotels,  motels, restaurants, cafeterias, bakeries, caterers, hospitals,
    18  assisted  living  facilities,  independent  living  facilities,  nursing
    19  homes,  hospices,  group  homes,  drug stores, educational institutions,
    20  food courts in shopping malls,  food  retailers  at  airports  or  other
    21  transportation  facilities,  gas stations, sports arenas, movie theaters
    22  or any other similar establishments.
    23    (b) The commissioner of  agriculture  and  markets  shall  expand  the
    24  FreshConnect  program, which improves access to local produce by provid-
    25  ing certain people with two dollar rebates to be used for  the  purchase
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08421-01-5

        A. 4515                             2
 
     1  of  further  local  produce  for  every  two  dollars  of  local produce
     2  purchased, to include local produce sold  in  supermarkets  and  grocery
     3  stores.
     4    § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
     5  it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
     6  ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
     7  tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or
     8  before such date.
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