Rep. Sonya M. Harper

Filed: 3/17/2023

 

 


 

 


 
10300HB2557ham001LRB103 25608 RLC 58310 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2557

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2557 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Farmer Equity and Innovation Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
7    "Limited resource farmer" means a farmer who has a total
8household income at or below the national poverty level for a
9family of 4, or less than 50% of the county median household
10income in each of the previous 2 years.
11    "Socially disadvantaged farmer" means a farmer who has
12been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices because of their
13identity as a member of a group without regard to their
14individual qualities.
 
15    Section 10. Farmer Equity and Innovation Center.

 

 

10300HB2557ham001- 2 -LRB103 25608 RLC 58310 a

1    (a) Subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and
2approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, the
3Farmer Equity and Innovation Center is created at the
4University of Illinois Extension.
5    (b) The Farmer Equity and Innovation Center shall:
6        (1) ensure the continued economic viability of
7    small-scale and moderate-scale diversified farms by
8    creating a coordinated, statewide program to support the
9    operators of those farms, prioritizing limited resource
10    farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers;
11        (2) establish a Farmer Equity and Innovation Program
12    administered by the Center;
13        (3) utilize the University of Illinois Small Farm
14    Advisors, and require the University to increase its Small
15    Farm Advisor positions to 6 in number;
16        (4) include applied research on specified subjects
17    concerning farming in Illinois, outreach regarding those
18    subjects, and informational services on assistance
19    provided by or through the Center or nonprofit
20    organizations designated by the Center;
21        (5) authorize the Program to include special training
22    for new and beginning farmers, with priority given to
23    socially disadvantaged farmers; and
24        (6) conduct a study to determine and issue an annual
25    report to the Governor and General Assembly containing a
26    demographic breakdown of farmers who participate in the

 

 

10300HB2557ham001- 3 -LRB103 25608 RLC 58310 a

1    Program.".