NY S02461

Establishes a sanitary retail food store grant program administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets to provide funding to retail food stores unable to afford immediate corrections of critical sanitary deficiencies.

Defines eligible stores as those located in food deserts with limited access to affordable nutritious food that fail inspections, lack adequate resources or credit to correct deficiencies, and supply communities with fresh produce and refrigerated foods.

Requires eligible stores to submit a plan to correct critical deficiencies and maintain proper sanitation for at least five years, with grants approved and released every six months based on the scope of needed corrections.

Modifies inspection requirements to mandate six-month inspections for stores failing two consecutive inspections and requires the department to order closure for stores with uncorrectable critical deficiencies or three consecutive failures, unless the store qualifies for the grant program but exhausted available funds.

Takes effect 120 days after enactment.