HB4234 EnrolledLRB100 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 Department shall:
11        (1) consult with the Director of the Environmental
12    Protection Agency, the Director of Natural Resources, the
13    Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development
14    Authority, the Secretary of Human Services, and other
15    interested parties of the public and private sector of the
16    State on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers
17    to coordinate State programs;
18        (2) disseminate information regarding opportunities
19    provided by, including, but not limited to, the United
20    States Department of Agriculture, the United States
21    Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting
22    Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other
23    federal agencies that that have programs that may assist
24    socially disadvantaged farmers; and
25        (3) evaluate opportunities for the inclusion of

 

 

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