30 ILCS 595/25

(30 ILCS 595/25)

Sec. 25. Governance of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council.

(a) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall be governed by a 35-member board of directors, which shall be comprised of the following:

(1) one representative each from the Department of Agriculture; the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Human Services, Office of Health and Prevention; the Department of Human Services, Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness;

(2) the Director of the Lieutenant Governor's Rural Affairs Council;

(3) one agricultural specialist from the University of Illinois Extension;

(4) four local farm or food product farmers representing different agribusiness sectors, including, but not limited to, the dairy, meat, vegetable, and grain sectors;

(5) four local farm or food product producers representing different flower, fruit, viticulture, aquaculture, forestry, seeds, fiber, vegetable, ornamental, or other specialty crop sectors;

(6) two local farm or food product processors;

(7) two local farm or food product distributors;

(8) three representatives of not-for-profit educational organizations that specialize in supporting and expanding local farm or food product networks;

(9) one certifier of specialty local farm or food products, such as an organic, naturally grown, biodynamic, Halal, or Kosher certifier;

(10) one local farm or food product consumer representative;

(11) two representatives of farm organizations;

(12) one representative from a philanthropic organization supporting the development of local farm or food products;

(13) one local farm or food product retailer;

(14) two municipal representatives from different communities in the State actively engaged in the development of local farm or food products;

(15) four representatives from community-based organizations focusing on access to local farm or food products, including at least 3 minority members; and

(16) one chef specializing in the preparation of locally grown foods.

(b) The 29 non-state governmental board members shall be appointed by the Governor to 3-year staggered terms as determined by the Governor. Persons may be nominated by organizations representing the sectors outlined in subsection (a) of this Section. Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor.

(c) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may apply for and establish a not for profit corporation under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.

(d) The board of directors shall have all the rights, titles, powers, privileges, and obligations provided for in the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. It shall elect its presiding officers from among its members and may elect or appoint an executive committee, other committees, and subcommittees to conduct the business of the organization.

(e) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may solicit grants, loans, and contributions from public or private sources and may enter into any contracts, grants, loans, or agreements with respect to the use of such funds to execute the purposes of this Act. No debt or obligation of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall become the debt or obligation of the State.

(f) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall not be considered a State Agency, and its funds shall be considered private funds and held in an appropriate account outside of the State Treasury. Private funds collected by the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council are not subject to the Public Funds Investment Act. Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council procurement is exempt from the Illinois Procurement Code. The treasurer of Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council funds shall be custodian of all Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council funds. The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council and its officers shall be responsible for the approval of recording of receipts, approval of payments, and the proper filing of required reports. The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council's records shall be audited annually by an independent auditor who is a certified public accountant and has been selected by the Board. An annual report shall also be compiled by the Board. Both the annual report and the annual audit shall be filed with any public agency providing funds to the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council and be made available to the public.

(g) Subject to the availability of public or private funds, the board of directors may employ an executive director, treasurer, other staff, or independent contractors necessary to execute the purposes of this Act, and it may fix the compensation, benefits, terms, and conditions of those persons' employment.

(h) The State Governmental agencies represented on the board of directors may re-direct existing staff, as appropriations permit; assist in executing the purposes of this Act; and provide office space, meeting space, and other research and communication services as appropriate.

(i) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may be assisted in carrying out its functions by personnel of the Department of Agriculture. The Department shall provide reasonable assistance to the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council to help it achieve its purposes.

(Source: P.A. 96-579, eff. 8-18-09.)