New York Assembly Bill A09408 Latest Draft

   
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9408  IN ASSEMBLY March 13, 2024 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. LUPARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to provid- ing additional duties of the community gardens task force The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 31-j of the agriculture and markets law is amended 2 by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows: 3 6. (a) The task force shall conduct an assessment of all community 4 gardens located on publicly owned land in the state to facilitate each 5 eligible garden's designation as a critical environmental area (CEA) 6 pursuant to paragraph one of subdivision (g) of section 617.14 of title 7 six of the official compilation of codes, rules and regulations of the 8 state of New York. The task force shall provide a status report on the 9 assessment to the governor and the legislature on or before January 10 first, two thousand twenty-five, and shall complete such assessment on 11 or before January first, two thousand twenty-six. The task force shall 12 conduct additional assessments of any new community gardens on publicly 13 owned land on or before January first, two thousand thirty and on or 14 before January first of each fifth year thereafter. In conducting the 15 assessment, the task force shall: 16 (i) consult, to the fullest extent possible, with members of each 17 community garden regarding the garden's characteristics; 18 (ii) consult, to the fullest extent possible, with the department of 19 environmental conservation regarding the requirements for CEA desig- 20 nation; and 21 (iii) prepare a written summary of its findings regarding each commu- 22 nity garden that shall include: 23 (A) the name and address of the garden; 24 (B) the name of the state or local agency that has jurisdiction over 25 the garden; 26 (C) a description of all the characteristics of the garden that cover 27 the factors in paragraph one of subdivision (g) of section 617.14 of EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD02740-04-4 
 A. 9408 2 1 title six of the official compilation of codes, rules and regulations of 2 the state of New York; 3 (D) the task force's conclusion as to whether the currently undesig- 4 nated garden meets the requirement for CEA designation; and 5 (E) any other information the task force deems appropriate. 6 (b) Upon completion of the assessment, the task force shall, to the 7 extent possible, provide the written summaries of its findings to a 8 member of each garden's leadership and, for the community gardens that 9 are currently undesignated and that meet the requirement for CEA desig- 10 nation, provide the written summaries of its findings to the agencies 11 with jurisdiction over the gardens, along with a recommendation that the 12 agencies designate the gardens as CEAs. 13 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.