Relates to authorizing the use of funds from state or local sources for the provision or sale of New York milk in New York schools; requires the milk advisory council to participate in certain reporting requirements relating to consumption and availability of New York milk in New York schools; directs the department of agriculture and markets to undertake a study to increase processing of milk in New York state.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6359
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 18, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to provision or sale of
New York milk in New York schools; to amend the agriculture and
markets law, in relation to duties of the milk marketing advisory
council; and directing the department of agriculture and markets to
conduct a study to increase processing of milk in New York state; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "whole milk in New York schools act".
3 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 915-a to
4 read as follows:
5 § 915-a. Provision or sale of New York milk in New York schools. 1.
6 Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall
7 have the following meanings:
8 (a) "New York milk" means raw milk produced by the milking of cows
9 physically located within the geographic boundaries of this state,
10 transported to a dairy processing facility located within the geographic
11 boundaries of this state and processed as fluid milk into containers
12 intended for distribution to consumers.
13 (b) "New York school" means any school district, charter school,
14 regional charter school, area career and technical school or intermedi-
15 ate unit located within this state.
16 (c) "Reduced fat New York milk" means New York milk containing two
17 percent milk fat. The term "reduced fat New York milk" shall include New
18 York milk that has been flavored.
19 (d) "Whole New York milk" means New York milk containing at least
20 three percent milk fat. The term "whole New York milk" shall include New
21 York milk that has been flavored.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10743-02-3
S. 6359 2
1 2. Milk deemed in the stream of intrastate commerce. New York milk
2 that is offered for sale to a New York school shall be deemed to be in
3 the stream of intrastate commerce.
4 3. Provision or sale of New York milk in New York schools. Notwith-
5 standing any other provision of law, rule or regulation, the school
6 board or other governing entity of a New York school may elect to
7 utilize funds from state or local sources to obtain whole New York milk
8 or reduced fat New York milk to provide or sell at such New York school.
9 4. Duties of the commissioner. The commissioner shall notify the
10 superintendent or chief administrator of each New York school of the
11 provisions of this section.
12 5. Right of civil action. The attorney general may, on behalf of a New
13 York school, bring a civil action against the federal government or any
14 other entity to recover funds withheld or revoked as a result of an
15 action taken by the school board or other governing entity of such New
16 York school under subdivision three of this section. Provided, however,
17 that in lieu of such civil action, the state of New York may pursue
18 other appropriate remedies to ensure the continued provision or sale of
19 New York milk in New York schools.
20 6. Alternative to civil action. If any federal law, rule, or regu-
21 lation is enacted that would prevent a New York school from providing or
22 selling whole New York milk or reduced fat New York milk, flavored or
23 unflavored, then the commissioner shall issue a report to the governor
24 and the legislature recommending alternative methods to encourage and
25 promote the availability of whole New York milk and reduced fat New York
26 milk in New York schools.
27 7. Reporting. No later than two years after the effective date of this
28 section, the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of
29 agriculture and markets and the milk marketing advisory council estab-
30 lished pursuant to section two hundred fifty-four-a of the agriculture
31 and markets law, shall issue a report to the chairperson and minority
32 chairperson of the senate agriculture committee and the chairperson and
33 minority chairperson of the assembly agriculture committee. Such report
34 shall include all of the following information:
35 (a) A list of New York schools that have elected to provide or sell
36 New York milk under subdivision three of this section;
37 (b) The approximate increase or decrease in the consumption of fluid
38 milk at New York schools since the effective date of this section;
39 (c) Actions taken by the state of New York to promote New York whole
40 milk and New York reduced fat milk availability in New York schools; and
41 (d) Any other information deemed relevant by the commissioner, the
42 commissioner of agriculture and markets or the milk marketing advisory
43 council established pursuant to section two hundred fifty-four-a of the
44 agriculture and markets law for the purposes of this section.
45 § 3. Section 254-a of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
46 adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
47 4. The advisory council shall participate in the preparation and issu-
48 ance of the report regarding consumption and availability of New York
49 milk in New York schools as required pursuant to subdivision seven of
50 section nine hundred fifteen-a of the education law.
51 § 4. Study to increase processing of milk in New York state. 1. The
52 department of agriculture and markets shall undertake a comprehensive
53 study to assess ways to increase the processing of milk within the state
54 of New York for intrastate distribution and consumption, including
55 expanding processing facilities.
56 2. The study shall:
S. 6359 3
1 (a) Identify potential incentives for dairy processors to expand their
2 operations and increase milk processing;
3 (b) Identify areas of the state with the greatest potential for
4 expanding milk processing, taking into consideration existing infras-
5 tructure and resources;
6 (c) Identify potential funding sources to support the expansion of
7 milk processing, including federal and state grants, loans and other
8 programs; and
9 (d) Identify steps the state can take to improve access to distrib-
10 ution and processing networks for small dairies.
11 3. The department of agriculture and markets shall submit a report of
12 its findings and recommendations pursuant to the study to the governor,
13 the speaker of the assembly, and the majority leader of the senate no
14 later than one year after the effective date of this section.
15 4. The study and report required by this section shall be funded by
16 existing appropriations to the department of agriculture and markets.
17 5. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
18 the following meanings:
19 (a) "Study" shall mean the study required pursuant to subdivision one
20 of this section; and
21 (b) "Small dairies" shall mean dairies with 200 or fewer milk cows.
22 § 5. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
23 have become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed upon the
24 occurrence of either of the following:
25 1. The amendment or repeal of section 9(a)(2)(A) of the National
26 School Lunch Act (60 Stat. 230, 42 U.S.C. § 1758(a)(2)(A)), which
27 results in the availability of whole milk or reduced fat milk, flavored
28 or unflavored, in elementary and secondary schools in the state.
29 2. An update to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published under
30 section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research
31 Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-445, 7 U.S.C. § 5341), which permits the
32 availability of whole milk or reduced fat milk, flavored or unflavored,
33 in elementary and secondary schools in the state.
34 Provided, that the commissioner of education shall notify the legisla-
35 tive bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of either event
36 described in subdivisions one or two of this section in order that the
37 commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of
38 the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of
39 effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and
40 section 70-b of the public officers law.