Public Act 094-0077
 
HB0211 Enrolled LRB094 05723 RSP 35775 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
amended by changing Section 605-600 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 605/605-600)  (was 20 ILCS 605/46.19f)
    Sec. 605-600. Buy Illinois Program. The Department shall
have the authority to establish and administer a Buy Illinois
Program, which may include, but is not limited to, the
following powers and duties:
    (1) To accept grants, loans, or appropriations from the
federal government or the State or any agency or
instrumentality thereof, and to assess fees for any services
performed under the Buy Illinois Program, to carry out the
program.
    (2) To form a Buy Illinois Council, made up of Illinois
large firms and small firms, to provide advice and counsel in
directing a statewide program.
    (3) To publicize and advertise to Illinois firms and
government agencies the importance and benefits of buying goods
and services provided by vendors located within the State.
    (4) To secure the cooperation of Illinois' large firms,
federal, State and local governments, non-profit agencies,
international organizations, and others to carry out this
program.
    (5) To match the needs for products and services by
business firms and government agencies with the capabilities of
small Illinois firms that can provide those needed goods and
services.
    (6) To hold purchasing agent seminars, fairs, conferences
and workshops to aid small Illinois businesses in obtaining
contracts for goods and services from larger firms and
government agencies within the State.
    (7) To assist business firms and government agencies to
analyze their buying activities and to find ways to carry out
those activities in an effective and economical manner, while
promoting subcontract activity with small Illinois firms.
    (8) To establish manual and electronic buying directories,
including stand alone computer data bases that list qualified
vendors and procurement opportunities.
    (9) To promote through other means the use by international
agencies, government agencies, and larger businesses of
products and services produced by small Illinois firms.
    (10) To subcontract, grant funds, or otherwise participate
with qualified private firms, existing procurement centers, or
other organizations that have designed programs approved in
accordance with procedures determined by the Department, that
are aimed at assisting small Illinois firms in obtaining
contracts for products and services from local government
agencies and larger Illinois businesses.
    (11) To develop and administer guidelines for projects that
provide assistance to the Department in connection with the Buy
Illinois Program.
    (12) To form the Illinois Food Systems Policy Council to
develop policies around food access and security, improve
individual health and well-being, promote economic incentives
for Illinois farmers, agri-businesses, and other private
enterprises, and encourage public/private partnerships around
healthy food options. Membership on the Council shall include
the Director or Secretary, or his or her designee, of the
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the
Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health,
the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural
Resources, the Department of Central Management Services, the
State Board of Education, and the Food Nutrition and Education
Program. The Council shall consult with farmers and farm
associations, businesses and business associations, including
agri-businesses and food processing businesses, and community
based organizations, including those working on food access,
security, and delivery and on obesity prevention.
Administration of the Council and its functions shall be shared
among the Council members pursuant to an interagency agreement
from funds appropriated for this purpose or from existing funds
within the budgets of the Council's members. The Council may
submit, in consultation and collaboration with the
associations, businesses, organizations, and entities listed
in this Section, an annual report to the General Assembly
describing the Council's work, which may include performance
indicators to measure the impact of policies and practices
adopted by the Council.
(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)