STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8138--A
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 10, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. SIMANOWITZ -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Agriculture -- recommitted to the Committee on Agricul-
ture in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to a commu-
nity 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, as added
2 by chapter 528 of the laws of 2013, paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 as
3 amended by chapter 154 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as
4 follows:
5 § 31-j. Community gardens task force. 1. The commissioner [may] shall
6 convene a community gardens task force to identify and develop ways to
7 encourage state agencies, municipalities and private parties to estab-
8 lish and expand community gardens and the activities conducted by such
9 gardens.
10 2. The task force shall be chaired by the commissioner, or by such
11 officer or employee of the department as shall be designated by the
12 commissioner. The membership of the task force may include represen-
13 tation from appropriate state agencies and members that represent exist-
14 ing community gardens, counties, cities, towns, villages, school
15 districts, other special use districts, public authorities and cooper-
16 ative extension services. Membership of the task force shall include at
17 least two representatives from organizations dedicated to the promotion,
18 expansion or protection of community gardens.
19 3. The commissioner, may request the assistance of state agencies to
20 carry out the work of the task force.
21 4. (a) The goals of the task force may include, but are not limited
22 to, the study, evaluation and development of recommendations: (i) to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10619-06-6