Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB1607

Creates the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts Act. Establishes the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for the purpose of reviewing the effectiveness of current State-led efforts to eliminate food deserts in Illinois and advising the General Assembly on policy, funding, initiatives, and best practices for the elimination of food deserts in Illinois. Describes the membership of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall convene at the call of the chairperson and meet as frequently as necessary to carry out its duties. Provides that the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission. Provides that commissioners shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2027, with annual addenda thereafter. Provides that the Act is repealed and the Commission is dissolved if 90% of food deserts in this State have been eliminated, with certain requirements. Defines terms.

In provisions concerning the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts, adds a commissioner who is a representative of labor organizations, appointed by the Governor, to members of the Commission.

Provides that the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Director's designee serves on the Commission as an ex officio, nonvoting, advisory member.

Provides that the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts is established in the Department of Public Health (rather than the Office of the Lieutenant Governor), and that the Department of Public Health (rather than the Office of the Lieutenant Governor) shall provide support to the Commission. Replaces the Lieutenant Governor or the Lieutenant Governor's designee as chairperson on the Commission with the Director of Public Health or the Director's designee as chairperson. Adds the Director of Aging or the Director's designee to the Commission.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Retitles the Act as the Task Force on Eliminating Food Deserts Act (rather than the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts Act), and makes corresponding changes throughout the Act. Changes the date of the submission of the report by the Task Force to January 1, 2028 (rather than January 1, 2027). Deletes provisions regarding the submission of an addendum noting the percentage of food deserts in the State that have been eliminated since the submission of the report, and deletes provisions that trigger repeal if 90% of food deserts have been eliminated. Provides that the Act is repealed and the Task Force is dissolved upon the submission of the report by the Task Force, with certain filing requirements.

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