New York S 6957: Relates to the implementation of a food security, empowerment and economic development program

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
S06957 Summary:

BILL NOS06957 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A07459

&nbsp

SPONSORCOMRIE

&nbsp

COSPNSRMAY

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add Art 27-FF §§2790 - 2792, Pub Health L

&nbsp

Authorizes the department of health to implement a community food security, empowerment and economic development program (SEED) to help meet the food needs of low-income people and promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues; provides grants for the cost of program projects which will be available to non-profit organizations and local governments, with limited partnership with for-profit enterprises; makes related provisions.

Go to top S06957 Actions:

BILL NOS06957 

&nbsp

03/27/2025REFERRED TO HEALTH

01/07/2026REFERRED TO HEALTH

Go to topS06957 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS06957 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS06957 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 6957

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 March 27, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and
 when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health

 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to creating a food
 security, empowerment and economic development program

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds there is a need
 2 for community economic development to improve the food system in areas
 3 where there is an inadequate food supply and many residents who rely on
 4 fluctuating government and private food assistance. There is a need to
 5 develop food resources and businesses in these communities that provide
 6 higher quality, more accessible food. The legislature also finds that
 7 local farmers and food producers can and should benefit from these
 8 efforts.
 9 The legislature further finds that as the federal government and New
 10 York state attempt to reduce dependency on government, there is a need
 11 to support families leaving public assistance for work. One approach to
 12 increasing work opportunities and addressing the food needs in these
 13 communities is through the development of "community food security",
 14 which is defined as people successfully obtaining an acceptable, nutri-
 15 tious diet using local non-emergency sources.
 16 Community food security projects are designed to meet the food needs
 17 of low income people, increase the self-reliance of communities in
 18 providing for their own food needs, and promote comprehensive responses
 19 to local food, farm and nutrition issues. For example, these projects
 20 provide training in urban gardening and sales, assist entrepreneurs
 21 starting micro-enterprises, support farmers' markets in distressed
 22 neighborhoods and provide food-based educational opportunities for
 23 schools.
 24 The legislature supports the goals of self-reliance, community-based
 25 economic development, profitable local agriculture, improved nutrition
 26 and helping families and individuals help themselves. Therefore, the
 27 legislature finds that the creation of a community food security program
 28 for New York state will benefit struggling working families and their

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD09345-01-5

 S. 6957 2

 1 communities, provide new markets for family farmers, create food-based
 2 jobs and small businesses, and ensure healthier citizens and neighbor-
 3 hoods.
 4 § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 27-FF to
 5 read as follows:
 6 ARTICLE 27-FF
 7 COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY,
 8 EMPOWERMENT AND
 9 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
 10 Section 2790. Community food security, empowerment and economic develop-
 11 ment program.
 12 2791. Grants to organizations.
 13 2792. Advisory council.
 14 § 2790. Community food security, empowerment and economic development
 15 program. The community food security, empowerment and economic develop-
 16 ment program is established within the department. Such program is
 17 established to support the development of community food projects
 18 designed to meet the food needs of low-income peo