N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 31-j

§ 31-j. Community gardens task force. 1. The commissioner may convene\na community gardens task force to identify and develop ways to encourage\nstate agencies, municipalities and private parties to establish and\nexpand community gardens and the activities conducted by such gardens.\n 2. The task force shall be chaired by the commissioner, or by such\nofficer or employee of the department as shall be designated by the\ncommissioner. The membership of the task force may include\nrepresentation from appropriate state agencies and members that\nrepresent existing community gardens, counties, cities, towns, villages,\nschool districts, other special use districts, public authorities and\ncooperative extension services.\n 3. The commissioner, may request the assistance of state agencies to\ncarry out the work of the task force.\n 4. (a) The goals of the task force may include, but are not limited\nto, the study, evaluation and development of recommendations: (i) to\nencourage the establishment and expansion of community gardens by state\nagencies, municipal governments and private parties, (ii) to encourage\ncooperation between the activities and operations of community gardens\nand provision of donated food to local voluntary food assistance\nprograms for the poor and disadvantaged, (iii) to increase the benefits\nthat community gardens may provide to the local community in which they\nare located, and (iv) to encourage cooperation with community-based\norganizations to increase the opportunities for seniors, those aged\nsixty years of age or older, to participate in community gardens.\n (b) In achieving the goals of the task force, the task force may\nconsider recommendations that: (i) encourage the execution of\nconservation easements by state agencies, municipalities or private\nparties to establish or protect community gardens, (ii) encourage the\ncreation of mechanisms to transfer development rights to protect\ncommunity gardens or encourage the donation or lease of lands for\ncommunity gardens, (iii) development of model zoning codes, local land\nuse laws or other municipal policies that could encourage the\nestablishment or retention of community gardens, and (iv) any other\nactivity to achieve the goals deemed appropriate by the task force\naccording to the provisions of this article.\n