What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Enacts provisions imposing a moratorium on the planting and growing of genetically modified crops in New York state
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor John McEneny
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to genetically modified crops
Purpose
The bill imposes a moratorium on the planting and growing of genetically modified crops for a period of five years from the enactment of the bill.
Summary of provisions
This legislation adds a new Article 27 to the agriculture and markets law which would call for a moratorium on the planting of genetically modified crops for a period of five years after the effective date of this article.
An exemption for planting and growing genetically modified crops has been made solely for research purposes. Crops grown for this purpose are limited to indoor facilities or to outdoor plots of land that are less than five acres. No one location shall exceed a combined total often acres of land.
This legislation also requires the department of agriculture and markets to prepare a marketing plan that uses the moratorium as a promotional tool for New York State agricultural products.
Justification
Recently questions are accumulating about the safety of genetically modified crops for human health and for the environment. More and more, consumers and food companies are rejecting products containing genetically modified organisms. Even farmers who grow traditional crop varieties face the threat of contamination from rogue genes, due to pollen drift or after harvest. A positive test for GMO's may render a crop unmarketable.
New York State agricultural products have the highest reputation for wholesomeness. This bill would protect our environment from possible ill effects of genetically modified crops, such as the killing of beneficial insects by artificially introduced toxins. The legislation would give New York State consumers the confidence that local agricultural products are free of genetically modified organisms.
Legislative history
S.1397-A, (2003-04); S.3016 (2001-02); S.6899 (1999-00)
Fiscal implications
None to state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.