* § 28. Task force on improving urban and rural consumer access to locally produced, healthy foods. 1. There is hereby created the task force on improving urban and rural consumer access to locally produced, healthy foods. The task force is to be comprised of eleven members. Such task force shall have one ex-officio chairperson, who shall be the commissioner or his or her designee. Four members shall be appointed by the governor, two members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate and one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The appointed members of such task force shall be representative of:

1. (a) a farm engaged in growing crops, livestock or livestock products, as defined in section three hundred one of this chapter;
2. (b) not-for-profit food access organizations dedicated to expanding access of underserved, urban and rural communities to healthy, locally produced food;
3. (c) the grocery industry; and
4. (d) economic development agencies serving county, New York state and New York city government. Any vacancy on such task force shall be filled by the original appointing authority. Task force members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
5. 2. The mission of the task force is to identify strategies and opportunities to expand access for underserved, nutritionally deficient urban and rural communities to healthy, locally produced food in New York state. The task force shall develop and identify new and innovative methods to increase the production, marketing and distribution of locally produced, fresh food in such communities in New York state.
6. 3. Not later than one year after the effective date of this section, the task force shall report to the governor and the legislature on its activities, findings and recommendations. * NB Repealed December 31, 2025