FOOD STAMPS-FARMERS MARKET House SponsorsRep. LaShawn K. Ford-Mary E. Flowers-Sara Feigenholtz-Monique D. Davis-Greg Harris, Maria Antonia Berrios, Karen A. Yarbrough, Annazette Collins, Eddie Washington, Arthur L. Turner, Al Riley, Kenneth Dunkin, Luis Arroyo, William D. Burns, Karen May, Lisa M. Dugan, David E. Miller, Cynthia Soto, Deborah L. Graham, Marlow H. Colvin, William Davis, Edward J. Acevedo, John D'Amico, Paul D. Froehlich, Elizabeth Hernandez, Barbara Flynn Currie, Sandy Cole and Kay Hatcher Senate Sponsors(Sen. Toi W. Hutchinson-Linda Holmes-Mattie Hunter-A. J. Wilhelmi-David Koehler, William Delgado and Jacqueline Y. Collins) 7/19/2010HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 96-1088 New Act Creates the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Program Act. Provides that out of funds appropriated to the Department of Human Services for the LINK program, the Department, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, shall use whatever monies are necessary to implement the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Program to assist nontraditional fresh food markets, such as farmers' markets, Green Carts, market boxes, farm stands and mobile farm stands, produce stands, and other open-air markets, to develop the capability to accept wireless electronic payment cards, including electronic benefits transfer cards or LINK cards, and maintain the equipment usage. Provides that the purpose of the program is to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other LINK eligible food products, including quality meat and dairy, for all Illinois residents by allowing LINK program participants to redeem their SNAP benefits at nontraditional fresh food markets. Requires grant funding to be used for one or more specified purposes including the purchase or rental of wireless point of sale terminals capable of processing SNAP benefits disbursed under the LINK program. Effective July 1, 2010.House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to:30 ILCS 105/5.755 newReplaces everything after the enacting clause with similar provisions creating the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Program Act, but with changes that include the following: (1) changes the definition of "farmers' market" and removes definitions relating to features of farmers' markets; (2) creates the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Fund as a special fund in the State treasury to receive moneys to be used for implementing the program, and amends the State Finance Act in connection therewith; (3) requires the Department of Human Services and the Department of Agriculture to solicit federal and State funding for implementing the program; (4) changes the purposes for which program funding must be used; and (5) changes the bill's effective date from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011. Effective July 1, 2011.House Floor Amendment No. 2 Changes the definition of "Farmers' market" to mean a nontraditional fresh food market, licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service to accept SNAP benefits, where farmers or growers sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and other locally-grown farm products directly to consumers (rather than, a common facility or area that has been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service where several farmers or growers gather on a regular, recurring basis to sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and other locally-grown farm products directly to consumers, including nontraditional fresh food markets). Provides that the Act shall take effect July 1, 2010 (rather than, July 1, 2011) and that the Department of Human Services shall have the regulations in place and shall implement the program by March 31, 2011. Effective July 1, 2010. 1/5/2010HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. LaShawn K. Ford 1/11/2010HouseFirst Reading 1/11/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios 1/11/2010HouseReferred to Rules Committee 1/27/2010HouseAssigned to Human Services Committee 1/29/2010HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers 2/4/2010HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sara Feigenholtz 2/10/2010HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Human Services Committee 2/10/2010HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Human Services Committee; by Voice Vote 2/10/2010HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Human Services Committee; 007-000-000 2/10/2010HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 2/17/2010HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. LaShawn K. Ford 2/17/2010HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee 2/23/2010HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-002-000 2/23/2010HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Monique D. Davis 2/23/2010HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Greg Harris 3/2/2010HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 3/2/2010HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted by Voice Vote 3/2/2010HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Annazette Collins 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Eddie Washington 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Arthur L. Turner 3/4/2010HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-002-000 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Al Riley 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Luis Arroyo 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. William D. Burns 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Karen May 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa M. Dugan 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. David E. Miller 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Cynthia Soto 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Deborah L. Graham 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Marlow H. Colvin 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. William Davis 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Edward J. Acevedo 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. John D'Amico 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul D. Froehlich 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Sandy Cole 3/4/2010HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kay Hatcher 3/9/2010SenateArrive in Senate 3/9/2010SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 3/9/2010SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Toi W. Hutchinson 3/9/2010SenateFirst Reading 3/9/2010SenateReferred to Assignments 3/10/2010SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes 3/15/2010SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter 3/17/2010SenateAssigned to Human Services 4/14/2010SenateDo Pass Human Services; 008-000-000 4/14/2010SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 15, 2010 4/14/2010SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. A. J. Wilhelmi 4/14/2010SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler 4/15/2010SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. William Delgado 4/21/2010SenateSecond Reading 4/21/2010SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 22, 2010 4/27/2010SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins 4/27/2010SenateThird Reading - Passed; 048-005-000 4/27/2010HousePassed Both Houses 5/26/2010HouseSent to the Governor 7/19/2010HouseGovernor Approved 7/19/2010HouseEffective Date July 19, 2010 7/19/2010HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 96-1088