Public Act 094-0216
 		





HB1575 Enrolled
LRB094 06889 JAM 37000 b






    AN ACT concerning agriculture. 

 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly: 


 
    Section 1. Short title.  This Act may be cited as the 
Illinois
AgrAbility Act.



 
    Section 5. Findings.  The General Assembly finds the 
following:


        (1) Illinois is one of the leading 
    agricultural-producing
states in the nation. By being 
    involved in such a diverse
and highly mechanized industry, 
    the more than 500,000 agricultural
workers in Illinois are 
    susceptible to any one of a number of work-related
injuries 
    and chronic health problems that limit an individual's 
    ability to safely continue farming.


        (2) Available estimates indicate that, each year in

    Illinois, more than 200 farm workers sustain injuries, 
    which result
in permanent physical disabilities affecting 
    their future income.


        (3) It is estimated that nationwide more than 200,000 
    farmers,
ranchers, and other agricultural workers 
    experience injuries that
result in lost work time. Of these 
    injuries, 5% have serious or
permanent results.


        (4) According to the most recent census data, 
    approximately 5,000 Illinois farmers have permanent  
    disabilities as a result of accidents, health related 
    ailments, and age.


        (5) Farm operators and workers are typically highly 
    skilled individuals and the loss of these individuals to a 
    disability negatively impacts the Illinois farm economy. 
    The AgrAbility Project established by the U. S. Department 
    of
Agriculture has been successful in helping agricultural 
    workers who suffer from
a disability continue to farm. A 
    similar program established by the State and working with 
    the existing AgrAbility Unlimited Program will assist even 
    more
Illinois citizens in receiving the assistance that 
    they need and will benefit
the State agriculture industry.



 
    Section 10. Definitions.  As used in this Act:


    "AgrAbility Unlimited" means the joint program of the 
University of Illinois
Extension and the Easter Seals of 
Central Illinois established
in accordance with the AgrAbility 
Program established by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.


    "Department" means the Department of Agriculture.


    "Director" means the Director of Agriculture.


    "Production agriculture" has the meaning set forth in 
Section 3-35
of the Use Tax Act.



 
    Section 15. Illinois AgrAbility Program established.


    (a) Subject to appropriation, the Department, in 
cooperation with the University of Illinois Extension,
 shall 
contract with a non-profit disability service provider or other 
entity that assists disabled farmers, to establish and 
administer the Illinois AgrAbility Program in order to assist

individuals who are engaged in farming or an 
agriculture-related activity and
who have been affected by 
disability.


    (b) Services provided by the Illinois AgrAbility Program 
shall
include, but are not limited to, the following:


        (1) A toll-free information and referral hotline.


        (2) The establishment of networks with local

    agricultural and rehabilitation professionals.


        (3) The coordination of community resources.


        (4) The establishment of networks with local 
    agricultural and health care professionals to
help 
    identify individuals who may be eligible for assistance and 
    to help
identify the best method of providing that 
    assistance.


        (5) The provision of information on and assistance 
    regarding equipment
modification.


        (6) Job restructuring.


        (7) The provision of information on and assistance 
    regarding the development of alternative jobs.


    In order to provide these services, the Illinois AgrAbility 
Program shall
cooperate and share resources, facilities, and 
employees with AgrAbility
Unlimited, the University of 
Illinois Extension, and the Office of Rehabilitation Services 
of the Department of
Human Services.


    The costs of the program, including any related 
administrative expenses from the Department, may be paid from 
any funds specifically appropriated or otherwise available to 
the Department for that purpose. The Department may pay the 
costs of the Illinois AgrAbility program by making grants to 
the operating entity, by making grants directly to service 
providers, by paying reimbursements for services provided, or 
in any other appropriate manner. 
    (c) The Department has the power to enter into any 
agreements that are necessary and appropriate for the 
establishment, operation, and funding of the Illinois 
AgrAbility Program. The Department may adopt  any rules that it 
determines necessary for the establishment, operation, and 
funding of the Illinois AgrAbility Program.



 
    Section 20. Eligibility.  To be eligible to receive 
assistance under
this Act, an individual must meet all of the 
following:


        (1) Be a resident of Illinois.


        (2) Derive at least a portion of his or her income from

    production agriculture.


        (3) Be affected by a disability.
        (4) Meet any additional eligibility requirements set

    forth by the Department, in conjunction with the University 
    of Illinois
Extension.



 
    Section 25. The Illinois AgrAbility Fund.


    (a) The Illinois AgrAbility Fund is created as a special 
appropriated fund
within the State treasury.
The Director shall 
also accept and deposit into the Fund all gifts,
grants, 
transfers, and other amounts from any legal source,
public or 
private, that are designated for deposit into the Fund. All 
interest
earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into 
the Fund.


    (b) Subject to appropriation and as directed by the 
Director, moneys
in the Illinois AgrAbility Fund may be 
expended for the Illinois AgrAbility
Program and for no other 
purpose.
No more than 15% of the moneys expended in a fiscal 
year for the Program
may be expended for administrative costs.



 
    Section 30. Reports.  Unless otherwise required by federal 
law, the
University of Illinois
Extension must provide the 
Department with a copy of any report or other
document that it 
provides to the U.S. Department of Agriculture concerning

AgrAbility Unlimited.
The non-profit disability service 
provider or other entity awarded a contract under Section 15 
must annually up-date the University of Illinois Extension and 
the Department in writing on the status of the Illinois 
AgrAbility Program.


 
    Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 
Section
5.640 as follows:


 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.640 new)

    Sec. 5.640. The Illinois AgrAbility Fund.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.