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
18 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.533
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.509
- Substituted for A5102
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.1269
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to finance
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.
Relates to solicitation of available New York food products
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Crystal Peoples-Stokes
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4061 REVISED 6/5/13
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to solicitation of available New York food products
Purpose
To establish guidelines that will assist state agencies with the procurement of New York food products.
Summary of provisions
Subdivision four of section 165 of the State Finance Law would be amended as follows: Paragraph (a) would add a new subparagraph (i) to require that all solicitations for purchases of food by state agencies include the list of New York food products developed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets pursuant to paragraph (b) and a notice that such New York State food products are available in sufficient quantities for competitive purchasing.
Paragraph (d) would be amended to authorize the Commissioners of General Services and Agriculture and Markets to develop regulations to: estab- lish guidelines to increase purchases of New York food products; publish the guidelines on the Office of General Services (OGS) website; and, provide for monitoring and implementation of subdivision four.
Paragraph (f) would be amended to require that successful bidders review the list of New York State food products and report to the procuring agency their total food products and processed food products procured under such contracts, by specific type with the dollar value, identify- ing New York State food products, and, those products procured from outside of New York State that were listed as available from New York by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets.
Paragraph (g) is amended to require that the Commissioner of General Services report to the governor and legislature on the implementation of subdivision four by December first of each year. The report must include the aggregate of the information reported to agencies in paragraph (f).
Justification
Current law authorizes OGS to require that all or some of the food purchased by the State is grown, produced, harvested or proc- essed in New York State and requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to provide a listing of available, competitively-priced food products grown, produced or harvested in New York. Although this law has been in effect for more than two decades it is unclear as to how effec- tively it is used by State agencies to purchase local foods. There is little to no reporting, or evidence, that agencies or successful bidders are making an effort to buy locally grown foods, even when they are available at a competitive price.
The citizens of New York actively support local agriculture by using their purchasing power at farmers' markets, restaurants, other food retailers and increasingly at institutions such as schools and universi- ties. The State Legislature has also clearly expressed its intention that the power of State purchasing be used to support the State's farm- ers and food producers and small food businesses. This bill would make
clear to procurement officials, vendors seeking to sell food to the State, farmers and business owners that New York intends to make this law work. Tracking State agencies' purchases would be beneficial to help the State and food vendors to identify how food dollars are being spent now, opportunities for additional purchases of local foods by the State, and opportunities for producers to begin, or expand, production of foods that are being procured elsewhere.
Legislative history
A.10206 of 2012
Fiscal implications
Pursuant to a cost analysis provided by the Depart- ment of Agriculture and Markets dated May 31, 2013 the Department esti- mates that developing and maintaining this list will cost $45,000.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.