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Public Act 91-0560
HB1897 Enrolled LRB9104720DHmg
AN ACT creating the Illinois Value-Added Agricultural
Enhancement Program.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
amended by adding Section 40.43 as follows:
(20 ILCS 205/40.43 new)
Sec. 40.43. Value Added Agricultural Products.
(a) To expend funds appropriated to the Department of
Agriculture to develop and implement a grant program for
value added agricultural products, to be called the "Illinois
Value-Added Agriculture Enhancement Program". The grants are
to provide 50% of (i) the cost of undertaking feasibility
studies, competitive assessments, and consulting or
productivity services that the Department determines may
result in enhancement of value added agricultural products
and (ii) seed money for new or expanding agribusiness.
(b) "Agribusiness" means any sole proprietorship,
limited partnership, copartnership, joint venture,
corporation, or cooperative that operates or will operate a
facility located within the State of Illinois that is related
to the processing of agricultural commodities (including,
without limitation, the products of aquaculture, hydroponics,
and silviculture) or the manufacturing, production, or
construction of agricultural buildings, structures,
equipment, implements, and supplies, or any other facilities
or processes used in agricultural production. Agribusiness
includes but is not limited to the following:
(1) grain handling and processing, including grain
storage, drying, treatment, conditioning, milling, and
packaging;
(2) seed and feed grain development and processing;
(3) fruit and vegetable processing, including
preparation, canning, and packaging;
(4) processing of livestock and livestock products,
dairy products, poultry and poultry products, fish, or
apiarian products, including slaughter, shearing,
collecting, preparation, canning, and packaging;
(5) fertilizer and agricultural chemical
manufacturing, processing, application, and supplying;
(6) farm machinery, equipment, and implement
manufacturing and supplying;
(7) manufacturing and supplying of agricultural
commodity processing machinery and equipment, including
machinery and equipment used in slaughter, treatment,
handling, collecting, preparation, canning, or packaging
of agricultural commodities;
(8) farm building and farm structure manufacturing,
construction, and supplying;
(9) construction, manufacturing, implementation,
supplying, or servicing of irrigation, drainage, and soil
and water conservation devices or equipment;
(10) fuel processing and development facilities
that produce fuel from agricultural commodities or
by-products;
(11) facilities and equipment for processing and
packaging agricultural commodities specifically for
export;
(12) facilities and equipment for forestry product
processing and supplying, including sawmilling
operations, wood chip operations, timber harvesting
operations, and manufacturing of prefabricated buildings,
paper, furniture, or other goods from forestry products;
and
(13) facilities and equipment for research and
development of products, processes, and equipment for the
production, processing, preparation, or packaging of
agricultural commodities and by-products.
(c) The "Illinois Value-Added Agriculture Enhancement
Program Fund" is created as a special fund in the State
Treasury to provide grants to Illinois' small agribusinesses,
subject to appropriation for that purpose. Each grant
awarded under this program shall provide funding for up to
50% of the cost of (i) the development of valued added
agricultural products or (ii) seed money for new or expanding
agribusiness, not to exceed 50% of appropriated funds.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, the
fund shall not be used to provide seed money to an Illinois
small agribusiness for the purpose of compliance with the
provisions of the Livestock Management Facilities Act.
(d) For the purposes of this Section, "Illinois small
agribusiness" means a "small business concern" as defined in
Title 15 United States Code, Section 632, that primarily
conducts its business in Illinois.
(e) The Department shall make such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to carry out its statutory duties. Among
other duties, the Department, through the program, may do all
of the following:
(1) Make and enter into contracts, including but
not limited to making grants specified by the General
Assembly pursuant to appropriations by the General
Assembly from the Illinois Value-Added Agriculture
Enhancement Program Fund, and generally to do all such
things as, in its judgment, may be necessary, proper, and
expedient in accomplishing its duties.
(2) Provide for, staff, and administer a program in
which the Department shall plan and coordinate State
efforts designed to aid and stimulate the development of
value-added agribusiness.
(3) Make grants on the terms and conditions that
the Department shall determine, except that no grant made
under the provisions of this item (3) shall exceed 50% of
the direct costs.
(4) Act as the State Agriculture Planning Agency,
and accept and use planning grants or other financial
assistance from the federal government (i) for statewide
comprehensive planning work including research and
coordination activity directly related to agriculture
needs; and (ii) for state and inter-state comprehensive
planning and research and coordination activity related
thereto. All such grants shall be subject to the terms
and conditions prescribed by the federal government.
(f) The Illinois Value-Added Agricultural Enhancement
Fund is subject to the provisions of the Illinois Grant Funds
Recovery Act (GFRA).
Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.490 as follows:
(30 ILCS 105/5.490 new)
Sec. 5.490. The Illinois Value-Added Agriculture
Enhancement Program Fund.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
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