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1     AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Program Act.
 
6     Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7     "Farmers' market" means a nontraditional fresh food
8 market, licensed by the United States Department of
9 Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service to accept SNAP
10 benefits, where farmers or growers sell a variety of fresh
11 fruits and vegetables and other locally-grown farm products
12 directly to consumers.
13     "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
14 issued by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of
15 enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP (formerly known as
16 food stamps) benefits or cash.
 
17     Section 10. Farmers' Market Technology Improvement
18 Program.
19     (a) The Department of Human Services and the Department of
20 Agriculture shall implement a Farmers' Market Technology
21 Improvement Program. The purpose of this program is to increase
22 access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other LINK eligible

 

 

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1 food products, including quality meat and dairy, for all
2 Illinois residents by allowing LINK program participants to
3 redeem their SNAP benefits at farmers' markets. The Department
4 of Human Services and the Department of Agriculture shall
5 solicit federal and State funding for the purpose of
6 implementing this program.
7     (b) The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Fund is
8 created as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose
9 of implementing the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement
10 Program. All monies received pursuant to this Act shall be
11 deposited into the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement
12 Fund. Funding for the program must be used for one or more of
13 the following purposes:
14         (1) The purchase or rental of wireless point of sale
15     terminals capable of processing SNAP benefits disbursed
16     under the LINK program.
17         (2) Monthly or transaction fees associated with LINK
18     card transactions. No fees related to credit or debit
19     transactions will be reimbursed.
20         (3) Outreach to LINK program participants.
 
21     Section 15. Implementation of regulations. The Department
22 of Human Services shall adopt necessary rules and shall
23 implement the program by March 31, 2011.
 
24     Section 20. The State Finance Act is amended by adding

 

 

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1 Section 5.755 as follows:
 
2     (30 ILCS 105/5.755 new)
3     Sec. 5.755. The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement
4 Fund.
 
5     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
6 2010.