101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5232

 

Introduced , by Rep. Michael D. Unes

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2421/25

    Amends the Blind Vendors Act. In provisions permitting the Department of Human Services to provide, by rule, for set-asides similar to those provided under the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, provides that the funds may be used only for: (1) the maintenance and replacement of equipment that is for use on State property; (2) the purchase of new equipment that is for use on State property; (3) the construction of new vending facilities that are for use on State property; and (4) the funding of functions of the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, including legal and other professional services, that are performed on State property.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Blind Vendors Act is amended by changing
5Section 25 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2421/25)
7    Sec. 25. Set-aside funds; Blind Vendors Trust Fund.
8    (a) The Department may provide, by rule, for set-asides
9similar to those provided in Section 107d-3 of the
10Randolph-Sheppard Act. If any funds are set aside, or caused to
11be set aside, from the net proceeds of the operation of vending
12facilities by blind vendors, the funds shall be set aside only
13to the extent necessary in a percentage amount not to exceed
14that determined jointly by the Director and the Committee and
15published in State rule, and that these funds may be used only
16for the following purposes: (1) maintenance and replacement of
17equipment that is for use on State property; (2) purchase of
18new equipment that is for use on State property; (3)
19construction of new vending facilities that are for use on
20State property; (4) funding the functions of the Committee,
21including legal and other professional services, that are
22performed on State property; and (5) retirement or pension
23funds, health insurance, paid sick leave, and vacation time for

 

 

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1blind licensees, so long as these benefits are approved by a
2majority vote of all Illinois licensed blind vendors that
3occurs after the Department provides these vendors with
4information on all matters relevant to these purposes.
5    (b) No set-aside funds shall be collected from a blind
6vendor when the monthly net proceeds of that vendor are less
7than $1,000. This amount may be adjusted annually by the
8Director and the Committee to reflect changes in the cost of
9living.
10    (c) The Department shall establish, with full
11participation by the Committee, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund as
12a separate account managed by the Department for the State's
13blind vendors.
14    (d) Set-aside funds collected from the operation of all
15vending facilities administered by the Business Enterprise
16Program for the Blind shall be placed in the Blind Vendors
17Trust Fund, which shall include set-aside funds from facilities
18on federal property. The Fund must provide separately
19identified sub-accounts for moneys from (i) federal and (ii)
20State and other facilities, as well as vending machine income
21generated pursuant to Section 30 of this Act. These funds shall
22be available until expended and shall not revert to the General
23Revenue Fund or to any other State account.
24    (e) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the
25expenditure of set-aside funds authorized by this Section shall
26be supplemental to any current appropriation or other moneys

 

 

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1made available for these purposes and shall not constitute an
2offset of any previously existing appropriation or other
3funding source. In no way shall this imply that the
4appropriation for the Blind Vendors Program may never be
5decreased, rather that the new funds shall not be used as an
6offset.
7    (f) An amount equal to 10% of the wages paid by a blind
8vendor to any employee who is blind or has another disability
9shall be deducted from any set-aside charge paid by the vendor
10each month, in order to encourage vendors to employ blind
11workers and workers with disabilities and to set an example for
12industry and government. No deduction shall be made for any
13employee paid less than the State or federal minimum wage.
14(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)