Public Act 100-0636
 
HB4568 EnrolledLRB100 18691 KTG 33922 b

    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing Section 12-4.50 as follows:
 
    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.50)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2019)
    Sec. 12-4.50. Healthy Local Food Incentives Program.
    (a) Legislative findings. Diet and other lifestyle choices
contribute to more than half of all deaths in Illinois. Health
risk factors include smoking, obesity, stress, nutrition, high
blood pressure, and alcohol and drug use. Illinois residents
should be encouraged to adopt diets and lifestyles that lead to
wellness. The State can help provide that encouragement by
funding wellness programs that enhance the health of Illinois
residents. Healthy local food incentives encourage wellness
among some of the most vulnerable residents of Illinois (those
whose incomes are below the poverty line and who often have
limited access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods) by
doubling the purchasing power of LINK cardholders at farmers
markets across the State. The benefits of such a program
include: an increase in population health, Medicaid health care
cost savings, decreased incidence of preventable diseases,
increased revenue for Illinois small farmers, and economic
stimulus for the region.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
    "FINI eligible fruits and vegetables" means any variety of
fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and
vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e.
sodium), as defined by the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive
Grant Program administered by the United States Department of
Agriculture.
    "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
issued by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of
enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash.
    "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program.
    (c) The Department of Human Services shall establish a
Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing
power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits
and vegetables. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund is
created as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose
of implementing the Healthy Local Food Incentives Program. All
moneys received pursuant to this Section shall be deposited
into the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.
    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
Services shall make an annual grant of $500,000 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
benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at
participating Illinois farmers markets and direct
producer-to-consumer venues.
    (e) The designated qualified non-profit organization or
agency shall have a demonstrated track record of:
        (1) building a statewide network;
        (2) designing and implementing successful healthy food
    incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local
    producers;
        (3) implementing funds distribution and reporting
    processes;
        (4) providing training and technical assistance to
    farmers markets;
        (5) conducting community outreach and data collection;
    and
        (6) providing full accounting and administration of
    funds distributed to farmers markets.
    (f) 100% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be
distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for
healthy local food incentives.
    (g) Within 90 days after the end of a grant cycle, the
designated qualified non-profit organization or agency shall
submit a progress report to the Department of Human Services.
The progress report shall include the following information:
        (1) the names and locations of Illinois farmers markets
    and direct producer-to-consumer venues that received funds
    distributed under the Program;
        (2) the dollar amount of funds awarded to each
    participating Illinois farmers market and direct
    producer-to-consumer venue;
        (3) the dollar amount of SNAP benefits, and funds
    provided under the Program, that were spent at Illinois
    farmers markets participating in the Program, as well as
    the dollar amount of any unspent funds available under the
    Program;
        (4) the number of SNAP transactions carried out
    annually at participating Illinois farmers markets;
        (5) the impact of the Program on increasing the
    quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP
    families, as determined by customer surveys.
    (h) No later than December 31, 2017, the Department of
Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of
this Section.
    (i) (Blank). This Section is repealed on June 30, 2019.
(Source: P.A. 99-928, eff. 1-20-17.)