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Public Act 099-0653 |
HB5933 Enrolled | LRB099 19612 MLM 44007 b |
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AN ACT concerning finance.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act is amended |
by changing Sections 20 and 25 as follows: |
(30 ILCS 595/20)
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Sec. 20. Responsibilities of the Local Food, Farms, and |
Jobs Council. The responsibilities of the Local Food, Farms, |
and Jobs Council include, but are not limited to, the |
following: |
(a) To assist State agencies, State-owned facilities, and |
other entities with the purchase of local farm or food products |
and with tracking and reporting of such purchases in order to |
meet the goals established in Section 10 of this Act.
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(b) To assist local farm and food entrepreneurs to identify |
and secure necessary resources and equipment to begin, |
maintain, and expand projects and networks necessary for the |
development of local farm or food products; provided, however, |
that it is the intent of this Act that the Local Food, Farms, |
and Jobs Council will facilitate program start-ups and then |
relinquish rights, benefits, and control within a reasonably |
short duration of time.
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(c) To facilitate the building of infrastructure, |
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including aggregation, processing, storage, packaging, and |
distribution facilities necessary to move local farm or food |
products to local and other markets.
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(d) To support and expand programs that recruit, train, and |
provide technical assistance to Illinois farmers and residents |
in order to encourage the production of local farm or food |
products.
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(e) To coordinate interagency policies, initiatives, and |
procedures promoting local farm and food products in Illinois |
communities, by working with and involving State, federal, and |
local agencies, as well as community based organizations, |
educational institutions, and trade organizations in executing |
the purposes of this Act.
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(f) To facilitate the elimination of legal barriers |
hindering the development of a local farm and food economy by |
working with federal, State, and local public health agencies, |
other agencies and applicable entities, and the Illinois |
Attorney General to create consistent and compatible |
regulations for the production, storage, distribution, and |
marketing of local farm or food products.
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(g) To facilitate the use of public lands for growing local |
farm or food products by working with governmental entities at |
the local, State, and federal levels.
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(h) To set annual goals for all purchases of local farm or |
food products by Illinois residents and to monitor the |
development and expansion of a local farm and food economy |
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through data collection, tracking, measurement, analysis, and |
reporting on progress made in an annual report to the Illinois |
General Assembly.
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(i) (Blank). To develop, in collaboration with the |
Department of Agriculture, a label and certification program |
different than the "Illinois Product" label program, whereby a |
label with a specific name and unique design or logo may be |
placed on local farm and food products. |
(j) To initiate and facilitate public awareness campaigns |
about the economic benefits of a local farm and food economy.
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(Source: P.A. 96-579, eff. 8-18-09.) |
(30 ILCS 595/25)
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Sec. 25. Governance of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs |
Council. |
(a) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall be |
governed by a 20-member 35-member board of directors, which |
shall be comprised of the following:
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(1) one representative each from the Department of |
Agriculture; the Department of Commerce and Economic |
Opportunity; the Department of Public Health; the Illinois |
Finance Authority; the Office of the State Treasurer; an |
agency tasked with responsibilities over economic or |
workforce development; the Department of Human Services, |
Office of Health and Prevention; the Department of Human |
Services, Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness;
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(2) the Director of the Lieutenant Governor's Rural |
Affairs Council;
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(2) (3) one agricultural specialist from the |
University of Illinois Extension;
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(3) one representative of the State's largest general |
farm organization; |
(4) thirteen representatives, each of whom shall |
represent at least one of the following interests, and each |
interest shall be represented by at least one |
representative: |
(A) local farm or food product farmers |
representing different sectors, including, but not |
limited to, dairy, meat, vegetable, and grain; |
(B) local farm or food product producers |
representing different flower, fruit, viticulture, |
aquaculture, forestry, seeds, fiber, ornamental, or |
other specialty crop sectors; |
(C) local farm or food product processors or |
distributors, preferentially those operating |
cooperatively or under local ownership; |
(D) not-for-profit educational organizations that |
specialize in supporting and expanding local farm or |
food product networks; |
(E) local farm or food product retailers; |
(F) municipalities in the State actively engaged |
in the development of local farm or food products; |
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(G) banking, investment, or philanthropic |
communities with expertise in financing or supporting |
local foods production and infrastructure; |
(H) community-based organizations focusing on |
access to local farm or food products; |
(I) restaurants or food service businesses, |
schools, or institutions that use or seek to increase |
and promote use of local foods; and |
(J) employees working for businesses in the food |
system. |
(4) four local farm or food product farmers |
representing different agribusiness sectors, |
including, but not limited to, the dairy, meat, |
vegetable, and grain sectors;
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(5) four local farm or food product producers |
representing different flower, fruit, viticulture, |
aquaculture, forestry, seeds, fiber, vegetable, |
ornamental, or other specialty crop sectors;
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(6) two local farm or food product processors;
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(7) two local farm or food product distributors;
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(8) three representatives of not-for-profit |
educational organizations that specialize in supporting |
and expanding local farm or food product networks;
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(9) one certifier of specialty local farm or food |
products, such as an organic, naturally grown, biodynamic, |
Halal, or Kosher certifier;
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(10) one local farm or food product consumer |
representative;
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(11) two representatives of farm organizations;
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(12) one representative from a philanthropic |
organization supporting the development of local farm or |
food products;
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(13) one local farm or food product retailer;
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(14) two municipal representatives from different |
communities in the State actively engaged in the |
development of local farm or food products;
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(15) four representatives from community-based |
organizations focusing on access to local farm or food |
products, including at least 3 minority members; and
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(16) one chef specializing in the preparation of |
locally grown foods.
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(b) The 15 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.
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(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 |
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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.
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(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 |
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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.
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(Source: P.A. 96-579, eff. 8-18-09.)
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