99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB3340

 

Introduced , by Rep. Michael W. Tryon

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Creates the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of implementing the Program. Provides that subject to appropriations, the Department shall make an annual grant of $1,000,000 from the Fund to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency, which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives (up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP or WIC benefits spent on SNAP or WIC eligible food products at participating Illinois farmers markets and producer-to-consumer venues. Provides that the qualified non-profit organization shall have a demonstrated track record of (i) building a statewide network; (ii) designing and implementing successful healthy food incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local producers; (iii) implementing funds distribution and reporting processes; and other requirements. Provides that at least 60% of the monies deposited into the Fund shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for healthy local food incentives and program implementation; and that a maximum of 40% of the monies deposited into the Fund shall be used for statewide program development and other purposes. Requires the non-profit organization or agency to submit a progress report to the Department with certain information, including the impact of the Program on increasing the quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP and WIC families, as determined by customer surveys.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
5Section 5.866 as follows:
 
6    (30 ILCS 105/5.866 new)
7    Sec. 5.866. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.
 
8    Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
9adding Section 12-4.49 as follows:
 
10    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.49 new)
11    Sec. 12-4.49. Healthy Local Food Incentives Program.
12    (a) Legislative findings. Diet and other lifestyle choices
13contribute to more than half of all deaths in Illinois. Health
14risk factors include smoking, obesity, stress, nutrition, high
15blood pressure, and alcohol and drug use. Illinois residents
16should be encouraged to adopt diets and lifestyles that lead to
17wellness. The State can help provide that encouragement by
18funding wellness programs that enhance the health of Illinois
19residents. Healthy local food incentives, which are currently
20provided under the Double Value Coupon incentive programs
21funded by LINK Up Illinois, encourage wellness among some of

 

 

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1the most vulnerable residents of Illinois (those whose incomes
2are below the poverty line and who often have limited access to
3fresh, healthy, and affordable foods) by doubling the
4purchasing power of LINK cardholders at farmers markets across
5the State. The benefits of such a program include: an increase
6in population health, Medicaid health care cost savings,
7decreased incidence of preventable diseases, increased revenue
8for Illinois small farmers, and economic stimulus for the
9region.
10    (b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
11    "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
12issued by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of
13enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash.
14    "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
15Program.
16    "WIC" means the federal Special Supplemental Food Program
17for Women, Infants and Children created by federal Public Law
1892-433.
19    (c) The Department of Human Services shall establish a
20Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing
21power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits
22and vegetables. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund is
23created as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose
24of implementing the Healthy Local Food Incentives Program. All
25monies received pursuant to this Section shall be deposited
26into the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.

 

 

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1    (d) Subject to appropriations, the Department of Human
2Services shall make an annual grant of $1,000,000 from the Fund
3to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency,
4which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers
5markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives
6(up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP or WIC
7benefits spent on SNAP or WIC eligible food products at
8participating Illinois farmers markets and
9producer-to-consumer venues.
10    (e) The designated qualified non-profit organization or
11agency shall have a demonstrated track record of:
12        (1) building a statewide network;
13        (2) designing and implementing successful healthy food
14    incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local
15    producers;
16        (3) implementing funds distribution and reporting
17    processes;
18        (4) providing training and technical assistance to
19    farmers markets;
20        (5) conducting community outreach and data collection;
21    and
22        (6) providing full accounting and administration of
23    funds distributed to farmers markets.
24    (f) At least 60% of the monies deposited into the Fund
25shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets
26for healthy local food incentives and program implementation. A

 

 

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1maximum of 40% of the monies deposited into the Fund shall be
2used for statewide program development, promotion and
3outreach, farmers market training and capacity building,
4technical assistance, program data collection, evaluation,
5administration, and reporting.
6    (g) Within 90 days after the end of a grant cycle, the
7designated qualified non-profit organization or agency shall
8submit a progress report to the Department of Human Services.
9The progress report shall include the following information:
10        (1) the names and locations of Illinois farmers markets
11    and direct producer-to-consumer venues that received funds
12    distributed under the Program;
13        (2) the dollar amount of funds awarded to each
14    participating Illinois farmers market and direct
15    producer-to-consumer venue;
16        (3) the dollar amount of SNAP and WIC benefits, and
17    funds provided under the Program, that were spent at
18    Illinois farmers markets participating in the Program, as
19    well as the dollar amount of any unspent funds available
20    under the Program;
21        (4) the number of SNAP transactions carried out
22    annually at participating Illinois farmers markets;
23        (5) the impact of the Program on increasing the
24    quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP
25    and WIC families, as determined by customer surveys.

 

 

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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    30 ILCS 105/5.866 new
4    305 ILCS 5/12-4.49 new