N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 31-j: Community gardens task force

§ 31-j. Community gardens task force. 1. The commissioner shall

convene a community gardens task force to identify and develop ways to

encourage state agencies, municipalities and private parties to

establish and expand community gardens and the activities conducted by

such gardens.

2. The task force shall be chaired by the commissioner, or by such

officer or employee of the department as shall be designated by the

commissioner. The membership of the task force may include

representation from appropriate state agencies and members that

represent existing community gardens, counties, cities, towns, villages,

school districts, other special use districts, public authorities and

cooperative extension services. Membership of the task force shall

include at least two representatives from organizations dedicated to the

promotion, expansion or protection of community gardens.

3. The commissioner, may request the assistance of state agencies to

carry out the work of the task force.

4. (a) The goals of the task force may include, but are not limited

to, the study, evaluation and development of recommendations: (i) to

encourage the establishment and expansion of community gardens by state

agencies, municipal governments and private parties, (ii) to encourage

cooperation between the activities and operations of community gardens

and provision of donated food to local voluntary food assistance

programs for the poor and disadvantaged, (iii) to increase the benefits

that community gardens may provide to the local community in which they

are located, (iv) to encourage cooperation with community-based

organizations to increase the opportunities for seniors, those aged

sixty years of age or older, to participate in community gardens, (v) to

encourage the expansion of the production of fresh fruits and vegetables

in areas served by community gardens so that such fresh produce can be

consumed locally to help encourage healthier life styles and wellness,

and to help reduce the incidence of adult and childhood obesity, (vi) to

develop after school programs that establish, maintain and expand

community gardens, and (vii) to encourage the development and expansion

of community gardens in food deserts as defined in section two hundred

sixty of this chapter.

(b) In achieving the goals of the task force, the task force may

consider recommendations that: (i) encourage the execution of

conservation easements by state agencies, municipalities or private

parties to establish or protect community gardens, (ii) encourage the

creation of mechanisms to transfer development rights to protect

community gardens or encourage the donation or lease of lands for

community gardens, (iii) development of model zoning codes, local land

use laws or other municipal policies that could encourage the

establishment or retention of community gardens, and (iv) any other

activity to achieve the goals deemed appropriate by the task force

according to the provisions of this article.

5. The task force shall submit a report to the governor and the

legislature on or before January first, two thousand twenty-three and on

or before January first of each fifth year thereafter on the status of

community gardens in New York state. Such report shall include:

(a) the number, nature and geographic location of community gardens;

(b) a description of the costs, benefits and impacts of community

gardens;

(c) an assessment of the successes, failures and barriers in

developing, maintaining and expanding community gardens;

(d) lists of funding sources available to develop and expand community

gardens along with the requirements for obtaining the funding;

(e) an assessment of the funding, requirements and barriers for double

the number of existing community gardens;

(f) a discussion of the goals outlined in subdivision four of this

section and a description of the steps and projects undertaken to meet

the goals for the task force as established in this section;

(g) an action plan for doubling the number of community gardens in the

state of New York;

(h) recommendations for developing, maintaining and expanding

community gardens in food deserts; and

(i) any other recommendations or assessments the task force deems

appropriate for the report.

Between report due dates, the commissioner shall maintain the

necessary records and data required to satisfy such report requirements

and to satisfy information requests received from the governor and the

legislature between such report due dates.