File #: Int 1660-2019    Version: * Name: Creating a good food purchasing program.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Economic Development
On agenda: 8/14/2019
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a good food purchasing program
Sponsors: Ben Kallos, Diana I. Ayala, Vanessa L. Gibson, Brad S. Lander, Stephen T. Levin
Council Member Sponsors: 5
Summary: This bill would create a good food purchasing program and advisory board. The advisory board would include the commissioners of agencies that execute food procurement contracts, seven members appointed by the Mayor and seven members appointed by the Speaker with knowledge of the good food purchasing program value categories. The advisory board would conduct baseline assessments of each agency’s food procurement processes, then develop and submit a five-year plan with one-year, three-year and five-year benchmarks. The advisory board would evaluate the contract bids that are submitted, and each agency may consider the board’s assessments. The advisory board would submit a progress report with recommendations to each agency, the Mayor and the Speaker, post the report on the website of the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy and hold a public hearing about its findings.
Indexes: Council Appointment Required, Other Appointment Required, Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1660, 2. Int. No. 1660, 3. August 14, 2019 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 8-14-19, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - August 14, 2019, 6. Committee Report 9/18/19, 7. Report - Growing Food Equity in New York City, 8. Hearing Testimony 9/18/19, 9. Hearing Transcript 9/18/19

Int. No. 1660

 

By Council Members Kallos, Ayala, Gibson, Lander and Levin

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a good food purchasing program

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Title 6 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 6-130.1 to read as follows:

§ 6-130.1 Good Food Purchasing Program. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Good food purchasing program. The term “good food purchasing program” means a program that sets standards and goals for food procurement by city agencies and provides a comprehensive set of tools, technical support and a verification system to assist city agencies in meeting those goals over time.

Value categories. The term “value categories” means the five values that are the basis for the food procurement standards and goals included in the good food purchasing program, which are environmental sustainability, local economies, health, valued workforce and animal welfare.

b. Standards. The mayor’s office of food policy shall establish a good food purchasing program that shall be based on value categories. The mayor’s office of food policy shall reevaluate the standards and goals of such program every five years.

c. Good Food Purchasing Advisory Board. The application of the good food purchasing program established pursuant to subdivision b shall be overseen by a good food purchasing advisory board. The mayor’s office of food policy shall convene such advisory board. Such advisory board shall include the following members:

1. The commissioner of each agency that executes food procurement contracts or such commissioner’s designee;

2. Seven members appointed by the mayor, including an individual with knowledge regarding all five value categories, an environmental sustainability advocate, an expert in nutrition, an individual representing food system workers, an animal welfare advocate, an individual representing local farm owners and an individual representing local farm workers; and

3. Seven members appointed by the speaker of the council, including an individual with knowledge regarding all five value categories, an environmental sustainability advocate, an expert in nutrition, an individual representing food system workers, an animal welfare advocate, an individual representing local farm owners and an individual representing local farm workers.

d. Baseline assessment and report. On or before December 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, the advisory board shall conduct a baseline assessment of the food procurement process for each agency that executes food procurement contracts and publish a report with its findings. Such baseline assessment shall evaluate the food procurement contracts of each agency and how such contracts meet the goals of the good food purchasing program. The reports required pursuant to this subdivision shall be posted on the website of the mayor’s office of food policy.

e. Agency procurement goals and plans. Within six months of completing the initial baseline assessment required by subdivision d, the advisory board shall develop and submit to each agency a five-year plan that includes one-year, three-year and five-year benchmarks to measure each agency’s progress toward achieving the good food purchasing program goals. Such plan shall include a process for each agency to consult with the advisory board regarding incorporating good food purchasing program standards into the agency’s requests for proposals, at the agency’s discretion. Such plans shall be reevaluated and revised by the advisory board every five years thereafter based on the progress of each agency in achieving the good food purchasing standards.

f. Bid assessment. The advisory board shall evaluate food procurement contract bids that are submitted in response to the requests for proposal of each agency that solicits food procurement contracts. Each bid shall be evaluated and scored under the good food purchasing standards. The board shall complete such evaluation and score and submit it to the relevant agency for consideration within 30 days of receipt of the complete bid. Each agency may consider the advisory board’s assessment and score as part of its evaluation of the food procurement bids it receives. Such evaluations and scores shall also be posted on the website of the mayor’s office of food policy.

g. Progress Report. On or before June 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, the advisory board shall submit a report and recommendations to each agency that solicits food procurement contracts regarding its progress toward achieving the good food purchasing standards and hold a public hearing regarding the results of the progress report. Such report shall also be submitted to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and posted to the website of the mayor’s office of food policy.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioners of each agency that executes food procurement contracts may take all actions necessary for its implementation including the promulgation of rules, before such effective date.

JG

LS # 10095

07/25/19 10:40 AM