Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/S7733
Timestamp: 2020-05-28 02:54:42
Document Index: 154894706

Matched Legal Cases: ['§31', '§28', '§272', '§7', '§239', '§331', '§3', '§  31', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§  5', '§ 6', '§  7', '§ 8', '§ 9', '§ 10']

NY State Senate Bill S7733
senate Bill S7733
Get Status Alerts for S7733
Mar 20, 2018 1st report cal.671
Feb 14, 2018 referred to agriculture
Mar 20, 2018 - Agriculture committee Vote
S7733
Agriculture Committee Vote: Mar 20, 2018
S7733 (ACTIVE) - Details
Amd §§31-f, 31-h & 31-j, Ag & Mkts L; amd §28-a, Gen City L; amd §272-a, Town L; amd §7-722, Vil L; amd §239-d, Gen Muni L; amd §331, Hway L; amd §3.09, Pks & Rec L
S2767, A6019
S7733 (ACTIVE) - Summary
Encourages the expansion of the production of fresh fruits and vegetables by community gardens; directs the state and municipalities to develop more and safer bike lanes and multiple use trails so as to encourage physical activity and reduce carbon emissions.
S7733 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S7733
relation to expanding the production of fresh fruits and vegetables by
community gardens; to amend the general city law, the town law, the
village law, the general municipal law and the highway law, in relation
to directing the state and municipalities to develop more and safer bike
lanes and multiple use trails so as to encourage more physical activity
and to reduce carbon emissions; and to amend the parks, recreation and
historic preservation law, in relation to directing the office of parks,
recreation and historic preservation to develop more and safer multiple
use trails in state parks in and throughout the state
The purpose of this bill is to establish a more inter-disciplinary
approach to help promote healthier life-styles through the encouragement
of more physical exercise, involvement in community affairs, and the
consumption of locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and the
production of ornamental plants. In addition, by helping to promote
healthier life-styles, this should help to also combat obesity condi-
tions in children and adults. The incidence of obesity is a rapidly
growing public health, social, and economic concern that is adversely
affecting the overall health and wellbeing of our next generation of New
This bill attempts to better integrate current activities, programs, and
laws that relate to promoting healthier life styles and combating obesi-
ty conditions and to encourage:
A) the work of Community Gardens so that they can supply increasing
amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamental plants to
their communities, especially those communities that have limited access
to such fresh produce. In addition, so that Community Gardens can become
a community focal point for community based events and increased phys-
B) with respect to Community Gardens, to better integrate the work of
the Departments of Health and State, and the Office of Children & Family
Services and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal if their
activities affect Community Gardens and the work conducted by local
volunteer groups as it relates to Community Garden activities.
C) municipalities when drafting their comprehensive master plans and
land-use laws & policies to consider the inclusion of more and safer
bike lanes and multiple-use trails to encourage more physical activity
to enhance the wellness and healthy life-styles of its citizens and to
This bill is an inter-disciplinary approach to help promote healthier
life styles, encourage citizens to participate in local community
affairs, and to address the high incidence of obesity conditions in New
Sections 1-3: Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law sections 31-f,
31-h, and 31-j as it relates to Community Gardens to encourage the
expansion of the production of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs in
areas served by such community gardens. The purpose of these sections
are to promote the concept that such fresh produce should be consumed
locally to help encourage healthier lifestyles and wellness and to help
reduce the incidence of adult and childhood obesity. Many of these
Community Gardens are located in areas that have a shortage or lack of
access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs also known as "food
deserts".
Sections 4-8: Amends the General City Law, Town Law, Village Law, Gener-
al Municipal Law, and the Highway Law, to encourage municipalities to,
when drafting or revising their Comprehensive Plans or local land-use
laws, to include specific policies and strategies to develop more and
safer bike lanes and multiple use trails so as to encourage more phys-
ical activity to enhance the wellness and healthy lifestyles of its
citizens and to reduce carbon emissions.
Section 9: Amends the Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Law
section 3.09 to encourage the Parks Department, to promote in state
parks the development of more and safer multiple use trails to encourage
The purpose of this bill is to help promote healthier life-styles, espe-
cially for those in an urban setting, by providing some assistance and
moral support to those who operate Community Gardens.  These gardens are
locally supported and operated to grow fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs,
and cut flowers. They are often located in areas of the state that have
poor consumer access to high quality and reasonably priced fresh food
and farm products. These urban areas are sometimes referred to as "food
This bill also amends those laws that charge municipalities with the
considerations that they should look at when revising their comprehen-
sive master plans. This bill asks that municipalities, when developing
their comprehensive master plans or revising their local land use laws
to consider strategies to develop or encourage the development of more
and safer bicycle lanes and multiple use trails to encourage more phys-
ical activity and to reduce carbon emissions.
It is the sponsor's hope that by facilitating better more nutritious
foods in our food deserts and by increasing the number of places that
residents can go to for daily exercise (be it a Community Garden, bike
path, or walking trail), that this will enhance the community's quality
of life and help to combat obesity conditions.
The growing prevalence of overweight and obese individuals, especially
children is a substantial public health problem that is facing the
entire nation. Obesity related health care expenditures in New York are
some of the highest in the nation. Further, contrary to the lower preva-
lence of obesity among adults, children in New York are more likely to
be obese or overweight when compared to national trends.
The rising incidence of childhood obesity is a serious medical problem
that continues to grow, especially among poorer and minority communi-
ties. Further, obesity is known to cause or exacerbate a number of seri-
ous chronic medical disorders including hypertension, dyslipidemia,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory dysfunction. Nearly
80% of patients with diabetes mellitus are obese, while nearly 70% of
diagnosed cases of cardiovascular disease are related to obesity.
S7733 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
Introduced  by  Sens. HAMILTON, KLEIN -- 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  expand-
ing  the  production  of  fresh  fruits  and  vegetables  by community
gardens; to amend the general city law, the town law, the village law,
the general municipal law and the highway law, in relation to  direct-
ing  the state and municipalities to develop more and safer bike lanes
and multiple use trails so as to encourage more physical activity  and
to  reduce  carbon  emissions;  and to amend the parks, recreation and
historic preservation law, in relation  to  directing  the  office  of
parks,  recreation and historic preservation to develop more and safer
multiple use trails in state parks in and throughout the state
Section  1.  Section 31-f of the agriculture and markets law, as added
by chapter 528 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
§  31-f.  Legislative  findings.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
declares  that community gardens provide significant health, educational
and social benefits to the general  public,  especially  for  those  who
reside in urban and suburban areas of this state. Furthermore, it is the
articulated  public policy of this state to promote and foster growth in
the number of community gardens and the acreage  of  such  gardens.  The
community  garden  movement  continues  to provide low cost food that is
fresh and nutritious for those who may be unable to  readily  afford  OR
HAVE  EASY ACCESS TO fresh fruits and vegetables for themselves or their
families, promotes public health and healthier individual lifestyles  by
encouraging  better  eating  habits  and  increased physical activity by
growing their own food, fosters the  retention  and  expansion  of  open
spaces,  particularly in urban environments, enhances urban and suburban
environmental quality and community beautification, provides inexpensive
community building activities, recreation and physical exercise for  all
age groups, establishes a safe place for community involvement and helps
to  reduce  the  incidence  of  crime,  engenders  a closer relationship
between urban residents, nature and their local environment, and fosters
LBD13758-03-8
S. 7733                             2
green job training and ecological education at all levels. It is  there-
fore  the  intent  of the legislature and the purpose of this article to
foster growth in the number, size and scope of community gardens in this
state  by encouraging state agencies, municipalities and private parties
in their efforts to promote community gardens.
§ 2. Paragraph f of subdivision 2 of section 31-h of  the  agriculture
and markets law, as added by chapter 528 of the laws of 2013, is amended
f.  Assist,  support  and  encourage communication, and the sharing of
resources between community garden organizations  [and],  the  New  York
Harvest  For  New  York  Kids Week program established by the department
pursuant to subdivision five-b of section sixteen of this chapter[,] and
individual farm-to-school and school garden programs, AND, WHERE  APPLI-
CABLE,  THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THE OFFICE OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE DIVISION OF HOUSING  AND  COMMUNITY
§ 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 31-j of the agriculture
and  markets  law,  as  amended  by  chapter 154 of the laws of 2015, is
(a) The goals of the task force may include, but are not  limited  to,
the study, evaluation and development of recommendations: (i) to encour-
age  the establishment and expansion of community gardens by state agen-
cies, municipal governments and private parties, (ii) to encourage coop-
eration 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, [and] (iv) to encourage cooperation with community-based organ-
izations to increase the opportunities for  seniors,  those  aged  sixty
years  of  age or older, to participate in community gardens, AND (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.
§ 4. 1. Subdivision 4 of section 28-a  of  the  general  city  law  is
amended by adding a new paragraph (j-1) to read as follows:
(J-1)  SPECIFIC POLICIES AND STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP MORE AND SAFER BIKE
LANES AND MULTIPLE USE TRAILS SO AS TO ENCOURAGE MORE PHYSICAL  ACTIVITY
AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS.
§  5.  Subdivision  3  of  section 272-a of the town law is amended by
adding a new paragraph (j-1) to read as follows:
(J-1) SPECIFIC POLICIES AND STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP MORE AND SAFER  BIKE
LANES  AND MULTIPLE USE TRAILS SO AS TO ENCOURAGE MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
§ 6. Subdivision 3 of section 7-722 of the village law is  amended  by
§  7.  Subdivision  1 of section 239-d of the general municipal law is
AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS;
§ 8. Subdivision (b) of section 331 of the highway law,  as  added  by
chapter 398 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
S. 7733                             3
clists and individuals of all ages and  abilities  ENGAGED  IN  PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY.  These features may include, but need not be limited to: side-
walks, paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists  AND  PEDESTRIANS,
lane  striping,  bicycle  lanes,  MULTIPLE  USE  TRAILS,  share the road
§ 9. 1. Subdivision 10 of section 3.09 of the  parks,  recreation  and
10.  Encourage,  promote  and  provide  recreational opportunities for
residents of urban as well  as  suburban  and  rural  areas,  WHICH  MAY
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE AND SAFER MULTI-
PLE  USE TRAILS IN STATE PARKS AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE SO AS TO ENCOUR-
AGE MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
§ 10. This act shall take effect immediately.