STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6028 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 26, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. TITUS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health AN ACT to create a special task force to investigate the impact of consuming genetically modified organisms 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 "genetically modified organism act of 2019." 3 § 2. Legislative intent. The legislature takes notice of the growing 4 number of consumers, worldwide, who are concerned with the use of genet- 5 ically modified organisms in our food supply, especially food and infant 6 formula manufactured for children. 7 Genetically modified foods are a by product of the compounding of 8 plant and animal DNA to create a product which fosters a greater gross 9 product for manufacturing. Medical experts have cited genetically modi- 10 fied foods as a key inducer of chronic food allergies and antibody immu- 11 nity. Genetically modified organisms have also been shown to foster 12 developmental delays in children who consume products containing such 13 organisms. 14 Despite these concerns, there is a shortage of information regarding 15 the true impact, on our health, of consuming foods which contain genet- 16 ically modified organisms. The quality and safety of the foods that we 17 consume, especially food and infant formula manufactured for children, 18 depend on clear and conspicuous labeling so the impact of genetically 19 modified organisms on our health can be effectively monitored. 20 The impact of using genetically modified organisms in our food supply 21 warrants further research and analysis. The creation of a special task 22 force to investigate the full effects, both harmful and beneficial, of 23 the use of genetically modified organisms will help protect some of our 24 most vulnerable citizens of this state, the children. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07723-01-9

A. 6028 2 1 § 3. Definitions. As used in this act, the following terms shall have 2 the following meanings: 3 (a) "Food" means (i) articles used for food or drink for humans or 4 other animals, (ii) chewing gum, (iii) infant formula, and (iv) articles 5 used for components of any such article. 6 (b) "Genetically modified organism (GMO)" means an organism whose 7 genetic characteristics have been altered by the insertion of a modified 8 gene or a gene from another organism using the techniques of genetic 9 engineering. 10 (c) "Genetic engineering" means a process by which a food or food 11 ingredient that is produced from an organism or organisms in which the 12 genetic material has been changed through the application of: (i) in 13 vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant DNA techniques and 14 the direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles; or (ii) 15 fusion of cells, including protoplast fusion, or hybridization tech- 16 niques that overcome natural physiological, reproductive or recombina- 17 tion barriers, where the donor cells or protoplasts do not fall within 18 the same taxonomic group, in a way that does not occur by natural multi- 19 plication or natural recombination. 20 (d) "Infant formula" means a milk-based or soy-based powder, concen- 21 trated liquid or ready-to-feed substitute for human breast milk that is 22 intended for infant consumption and is commercially available. 23 § 4. Genetically modified organism task force. (a) There is hereby 24 created the genetically modified organism task force administered by the 25 department of health. The task force shall be chaired by the commission- 26 er of health. The chair may appoint other state administrative agencies 27 which may prove beneficial to the work of the task force as ad hoc 28 members. The chair may also appoint individuals and representatives of 29 organizations other than state administrative agencies to an advisory 30 committee to advise on any aspect of its functions, powers, and duties. 31 The governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of 32 the assembly shall each appoint a liaison to the genetically modified 33 organism task force. 34 (b) The task force shall: 35 (i) monitor the effects of genetic engineering and the use of genet- 36 ically modified organisms in our food supply, including infant formula; 37 and 38 (ii) identify and recommend means to improve the quality of the foods 39 we consume. 40 § 5. Report. The genetically modified organism task force shall, with- 41 in eighteen months of its implementation, report to the governor and the 42 legislature its findings and recommendations. Such report shall be bound 43 and made available to the public. 44 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

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