Bill Text: NY S07837 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires the creation of a thirteen member advisory board within the department of agriculture and markets on food safety and inspection programs; such board is to advise, counsel and confer with the commissioner of agriculture and markets on matters dealing with enforcement of laws and regulations regarding food safety and protection and shall make recommendations regarding any necessary statutory or regulatory changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-25 - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE [S07837 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-S07837-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          7837

                    IN SENATE

                                    February 25, 2020
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture

        AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to creating
          an advisory board on food safety protection and inspection programs in
          the department of agriculture and markets

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

     1    Section  1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
     2  section 26-a to read as follows:
     3    § 26-a. Advisory  board  on  department  food  safety  protection  and
     4  inspection  programs.  1.  There is hereby established in the department
     5  an advisory board on food safety protection and inspection  which  shall
     6  consist  of  thirteen members.   Seven members shall be appointed by the
     7  governor, including at least two representatives, with expertise in food
     8  safety, from New York state research universities, one representative of
     9  the retail food industry, one representative of the  food  manufacturing
    10  or processing industry, and one farmer.  The speaker of the assembly and
    11  the  temporary president of the senate shall each have two appointments.
    12  Each shall appoint a member who  is  a  consumer  or  representative  of
    13  consumer  interests and each will appoint a member representing the food
    14  industry.  The minority leaders of the assembly  and  the  senate  shall
    15  each  have one appointment.  In addition, representatives of the follow-
    16  ing agencies shall be invited to attend and participate in all  meetings
    17  of the advisory board and, at their option, shall be ex officio members:
    18    (a) a county or municipal health department;
    19    (b) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;
    20    (c) the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service;
    21  and
    22    (d) the New York State Department of Health.
    23    2.  It  shall  be the duty of the advisory board hereby established to
    24  advise, counsel and confer with the commissioner on matters of policy in
    25  connection with the administration and enforcement  of  laws  and  regu-
    26  lations  relating to food safety.  The advisory board shall specifically
    27  examine the adequacy of food safety protection  and  inspection  by  the

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08028-02-0
        S. 7837                             2

     1  department  and recommend necessary changes in administration and staff-
     2  ing  levels  of  food  safety  enforcement  activities  to  ensure   the
     3  protection  of  the  public's  health.   The advisory board shall review
     4  existing  and proposed state food safety laws and regulations and recom-
     5  mend to the commissioner, and the assembly and senate  chairmen  of  the
     6  agriculture  and  health  committees,  necessary changes or additions to
     7  laws, regulations and department programs to improve food safety and the
     8  effectiveness of the department's food safety inspection and enforcement
     9  activities.
    10    3. The commissioner may detail from time to time to the assistance  of
    11  the  advisory board such employees of the department as the commissioner
    12  deems necessary and shall provide necessary information  and  space  for
    13  meetings  of  the advisory board.   The advisory board shall adopt rules
    14  and regulations to govern its proceedings and keep a record of its meet-
    15  ings and recommendations.
    16    4. The advisory board shall meet at the call of the  commissioner  and
    17  at  such  other times as it may deem necessary and at such places as may
    18  be convenient.   An initial meeting shall be  held  within  thirty  days
    19  after all appointments to such board are completed.
    20    §  2.  This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that
    21  the appointments to the advisory board on the department of  agriculture
    22  and markets food safety protection and inspection programs authorized by
    23  section 26-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by section one
    24  of  this  act,  shall  be completed within 180 days after this act shall
    25  have become a law.