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A06812 Summary:

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A06812 Floor Votes:

A06812 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          6812
 
                               2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     March 31, 2011
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. COOK, ORTIZ, PHEFFER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
          of A. BOYLAND, COLTON, DINOWITZ, GLICK,  GOTTFRIED,  GUNTHER,  HIKIND,
          HOOPER,  JACOBS, MARKEY, McENENY, NOLAN, J. RIVERA, TOWNS -- read once
          and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
 
        AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to creating

          an advisory board on food safety protection and inspection programs in
          the department of agriculture and markets
 
          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 26-a to read as follows:
     3    § 26-a. Advisory  board  on  department  food  safety  protection  and
     4  inspection  programs.  1.  There is hereby established in the department
     5  an advisory board on food safety protection and inspection  which  shall
     6  consist  of  thirteen members.   Seven members shall be appointed by the
     7  governor, including at least two representatives, with expertise in food
     8  safety, from New York state research universities, one representative of

     9  the retail food industry, one representative of the  food  manufacturing
    10  or processing industry, and one farmer.  The speaker of the assembly and
    11  the  temporary president of the senate shall each have two appointments.
    12  Each shall appoint a member who  is  a  consumer  or  representative  of
    13  consumer  interests and each will appoint a member representing the food
    14  industry.  The minority leaders of the assembly  and  the  senate  shall
    15  each  have one appointment.  In addition, representatives of the follow-
    16  ing agencies shall be invited to attend and participate in all  meetings
    17  of the advisory board and, at their option, shall be ex officio members:
    18    (a) a county or municipal health department;
    19    (b) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;

    20    (c) the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service;
    21  and
    22    (d) the New York State Department of Health.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02487-01-1
        A. 6812                             2
 
     1    2.  It  shall  be the duty of the advisory board hereby established to
     2  advise, counsel and confer with the commissioner on matters of policy in
     3  connection with the administration and enforcement  of  laws  and  regu-
     4  lations  relating to food safety.  The advisory board shall specifically

     5  examine  the  adequacy  of  food safety protection and inspection by the
     6  department and recommend necessary changes in administration and  staff-
     7  ing   levels  of  food  safety  enforcement  activities  to  ensure  the
     8  protection of the public's health.   The  advisory  board  shall  review
     9  existing  and proposed state food safety laws and regulations and recom-
    10  mend to the commissioner, and the assembly and senate  chairmen  of  the
    11  agriculture  and  health  committees,  necessary changes or additions to
    12  laws, regulations and department programs to improve food safety and the
    13  effectiveness of the department's food safety inspection and enforcement
    14  activities.
    15    3. The commissioner may detail from time to time to the assistance  of

    16  the  advisory board such employees of the department as the commissioner
    17  deems necessary and shall provide necessary information  and  space  for
    18  meetings  of  the advisory board.   The advisory board shall adopt rules
    19  and regulations to govern its proceedings and keep a record of its meet-
    20  ings and recommendations.
    21    4. The advisory board shall meet at the call of the  commissioner  and
    22  at  such  other times as it may deem necessary and at such places as may
    23  be convenient.   An initial meeting shall be  held  within  thirty  days
    24  after all appointments to such board are completed.
    25    §  2.  This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that
    26  the appointments to the advisory board on the department of  agriculture

    27  and markets food safety protection and inspection programs authorized by
    28  section 26-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by section one
    29  of  this  act,  shall  be completed within 180 days after this act shall
    30  have become a law.