Bill > A01339

This bill establishes a sanitary retail food store grant program designed to help small grocery stores located in food deserts (areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food) that are struggling to meet health and safety standards. The program allows the state's agriculture department, in cooperation with the Empire State Development Corporation, to provide grants to retail food stores that have failed inspections due to critical deficiencies like pest infestations, unsanitary food preparation surfaces, inadequate handwashing facilities, or improper food storage temperatures. To be eligible, stores must demonstrate they lack the financial resources to make necessary improvements, are located in a food desert, and provide essential food services to their community. The grants will be based on the scope of needed corrections and will be disbursed every six months, with the goal of helping these stores maintain proper sanitation for at least five years. Additionally, the bill modifies existing inspection rules to provide more flexibility for stores seeking to qualify for the grant program, potentially allowing them to continue operating while seeking funding to address critical deficiencies, thus preserving food access in underserved communities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1339