Establishes a farm-to-senior program to facilitate and promote the purchase of New York farm products by senior centers and other institutions for the aging.

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S2149-2013 Actions

• May 7, 2013: referred to ways and means
• May 7, 2013: DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
• May 7, 2013: PASSED SENATE
• Apr 29, 2013: ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
• Apr 24, 2013: 2ND REPORT CAL.
• Apr 23, 2013: 1ST REPORT CAL.413
• Feb 12, 2013: REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
• Jan 14, 2013: REFERRED TO AGING

S2149-2013 Meetings

Aging: Feb 12, 2013, Finance: Apr 23, 2013

S2149-2013 Calendars

Active List: May 7, 2013 , Floor Calendar: Apr 24, 2013 , Floor Calendar: Apr 29, 2013 , Floor Calendar: Apr 30, 2013 , Floor Calendar: May 1, 2013 , Floor Calendar: May 6, 2013 , Floor Calendar: May 7, 2013

S2149-2013 Votes

S2149-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2149

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the elder law and the agriculture and
markets law, in relation to establishing a farm-to-senior program

PURPOSE OF BILL:  To facilitate and promote the purchase of New York
State farm products by senior centers, and other institutions for the
aging, under the jurisdiction of the New York State Office for the
Aging.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of bill adds a new subdivision 15 to section 202 of the
elder law to require the director of the office for the aging to
establish a farm-to-senior program to facilitate and promote the
purchase of farm products by senior centers and other institutions for
the aging under the jurisdiction of the office. The office will make
information about New York farm products available to farmers, farm
organizations, and institutions for the aging interested in
establishing farm-to senior programs.

A new subdivision 16 of the Ag & Markets Law would require the
establishment of a farm-to-senior program where the Department would
gather information from the Office for the Aging regarding senior
centers and other aging institutions interested in purchasing NY farm
products. This information would be made readily available to
interested NY farmers, farm organizations and businesses that market
NY farm products. The Department would provide information to the
Office for the Aging and interested aging institutions about the
availability of NY farm products. The Commissioner would also report
to the Legislature on the opportunities for changes in law to
facilitate the purchases of such products by senior centers, and other
institutions for the aging.

Additionally, the Office for the Aging and the Department of Ag &
Markets would coordinate to establish a promotional event to be known
as New York Golden Harvest: Seniors Week to promote NY agriculture,
and foods to seniors at senior centers, farms, farmers' markets and
other aging institutions.

JUSTIFICATION:  With the success of the 2002 Farm-to-School
legislation and subsequent law, this legislation seeks to provide the
same access for seniors, as the current law does to students,
throughout New York State.  Senior centers and other aging
institutions under the jurisdiction of the New York State Office for
the Aging are a huge potential market for New York farm products,
however, it appears that only a small percentage of the food served in
these senior centers originates from local farms.  Increasing senior
centers' purchases of New York produced food would help improve the
bottom line of New York farmers at a time when the loss of farmers and
farmland continues to accelerate because of low profits in
agriculture. It would also provide urban, suburban and rural seniors
improved access to fresh, local nutritious foods

Fortunately, there is recognition at the federal level that fostering
farm-to-senior marketing is important, The Senior Farmers' Market


Nutrition Program (SFMNP) awards grants to States to provide
low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible
foods at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported
agricultural programs. The majority of the grant funds must be used to
support the costs of the foods that are provided under the SFMNP.
State agencies may use up to 10 percent of their grants to support
administrative costs for the program. Additionally, in New York State,
there are laws that allow for bidding exemptions making it easier for
schools to buy direct from local farms.

To build upon the efforts of the successful farm-to-school state law,
seniors and farmers need the assistance of the relevant State
agencies, (the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the State
Office for the Aging). This bill would create such a program to
facilitate a working relationship for the purchase and promotion of
farmers' products with local senior centers and aging institutions.
For example, a website could be created where senior center food
service directors and marketers of New York farm products could easily
identify sellers, buyers and available products. New York State
government should make every possible effort to maximize the use of
government funding for senior meals to purchase nutritious, locally
produced foods to benefit the health of seniors and our local economy
and allow Upstate and Downstate, city and rural residents to support
each other.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: S.7452 of 2012

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  Existing federal and State funds would be used.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  120 days after it becomes law, provided, however,
that the Director of the Office for the Aging and the Commissioner of
Agriculture and Markets are authorized to promulgate any and all rules
and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on
its effective date on or before such date.

S2149-2013 Text

Not Available.