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S4945Senate2015-2016 SessionSame asA8137

Relates to annual reporting requirements for farmers markets

Sponsor Leroy ComrieSD-14+3 co-sponsorsAffects Economy
Status
In Assembly Committee
Agriculture
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 5 of 7

In Assembly · Agriculture

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Leroy Comrie

Senator · Senate District 14

History

  1. Referred to agriculture
  2. Delivered to assembly
  3. Passed senateVote 60–0
  4. Advanced to third reading
  5. 2nd report cal.
  6. 1st report cal.372
  7. Referred to agriculture
  8. Returned to senate
  9. Died in assembly
  10. Referred to agriculture
  11. Delivered to assembly
  12. Passed senateVote 61–1
Show 4 earlier actions
  1. Advanced to third reading
  2. 2nd report cal.
  3. 1st report cal.1183
  4. 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.

A8137Assembly

Relates to annual reporting requirements for farmers markets

In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Michael Simanowitz

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

BILL NUMBER:S4945

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to annual reporting requirements for farmers markets

Purpose

To amend the reporting requirement for the farmer's market program to report to include a discussion of food deserts and the efforts to develop and expand farmer's markets in food deserts

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends section 263 of the agriculture and markets law to require reports under this provision to include the number, nature and geographic location of all farmers, markets; a description of food deserts in New York; an assessment of successes and failures in establishing farmers markets in food deserts; recommendations for expanding access to farmers markets in food deserts; and a list of funding sources for farmers markets in food deserts.

Section 2 sets forth the effective date.

Justification

Many areas throughout New York lack supermarkets, farm stands or other sources of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other foods with high nutritious values. These areas that lack access, typically are low income neighborhoods that have become known as "food deserts." People who live in food deserts typically survive on low cost, fast food products with high calorie and fat content and little nutritional value. Individuals in food deserts have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease when compared to those who do not live in food deserts. In a state with one of the largest agriculture industries in the nation this should not be the case.

This bill would gather the information needed for policy makers to implement policies to overcome the barriers that are standing in the way of access to fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nutritious foods in food deserts.

Eradicating these food deserts would not only have positive social impacts but efforts in this area could lead to significant decrease in Medicare and Medicaid costs by reducing diet related illness in low-income communities.

Legislative history

This is a new bill

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.