HB4234 EngrossedLRB100 15721 SLF 30827 b

1    AN ACT concerning agriculture.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Farmer
5Equity Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative Findings. This State recognizes the
7importance of investing in the long-term prosperity of our food
8and farming system, beginning with farmers. It is the intent of
9the General Assembly that the Director of Agriculture should
10support socially disadvantaged farmers and include this
11support in the Department's vision and its relevant policies.
 
12    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
13    "Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
14    "Director" means the Director of Agriculture.
15    "Socially disadvantaged farmers" means a farmer who is a
16member of a socially disadvantaged group.
17    "Socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members
18have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice
19because of their identity as members of a group without regard
20to that member's personal qualities. "Socially disadvantaged
21group" includes, but is not limited to, African Americans,
22Native Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans,

 

 

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1and Pacific Islanders.
2    "Urbanized area" means a geographic location with a
3population of at least 50,000 people.
 
4    Section 15. Inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers.
5    (a) The Department shall ensure the inclusion of socially
6disadvantaged farmers, including socially disadvantaged
7farmers in urbanized areas, in the development, adoption,
8implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws,
9regulations, policies, and programs.
10    (b) The Director shall create a position within the
11Department's office to support the efforts of this Act. The
12person appointed to this position shall report to the Director.
13    (c) The Department shall:
14        (1) consult with the Director of the Environmental
15    Protection Agency, the Director of Natural Resources, the
16    Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development
17    Authority, the Secretary of Human Services, and other
18    interested parties of the public and private sector of the
19    State on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers
20    to coordinate State programs;
21        (2) disseminate information regarding opportunities
22    provided by, including, but not limited to, the United
23    States Department of Agriculture, the United States
24    Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting
25    Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other

 

 

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1    federal agencies that that have programs that may assist
2    socially disadvantaged farmers; and
3        (3) evaluate opportunities for the inclusion of
4    socially disadvantaged farmers in boards, committees,
5    commissions, and other similar positions created by the
6    Department.
 
7    Section 20. Report. On or before January 1, 2020, the
8Department shall submit a report to the Governor and the
9General Assembly on efforts to serve socially disadvantaged
10farmers and female farmers in this State. The report shall
11include recommendations to the Governor and the General
12Assembly on how to improve processes to include socially
13disadvantaged farmers. The report to the General Assembly shall
14be filed electronically with the General Assembly as provided
15under Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and
16shall be provided electronically to any member of the General
17Assembly upon request.
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.