HB3089 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 10183 RJF 15506 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3089

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 595/5
30 ILCS 595/13 new
30 ILCS 595/20

Amends the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act. Provides that it shall be the goal of this State that at least 20% of all food and food products purchased by State agencies and State-owned facilities shall be local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers. Provides that the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall support and encourage that 10% of food and food products purchased by entities funded in part or in whole by State dollars shall be local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers. Provides for a preference in the awarding of State contracts to socially disadvantaged farmers. Requires the Food, Farms, and Jobs Council to assist State agencies, State-owned facilities, and other entities with the purchase of local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers and with the tracking and reporting of such purchases in order to meet specified goals. Requires the Council to facilitate and bolster access to more readily available healthy food options in areas considered to be a food desert, including support and expansion of programs utilizing local farm and food products to provide increased food options in such areas. Defines terms. Makes other changes.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

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

Section 5. The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 20 and by adding Section 13 as follows:

(30 ILCS 595/5)

Sec. 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Food desert" means an area lacking fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, in part due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers' markets, or healthy food providers.

"Local farm or food products" are products: (1) grown in Illinois; or (2) processed and packaged in Illinois, using at least one ingredient grown in Illinois.

"Socially disadvantaged farmers" means farmers who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices or who have been placed at a disadvantage because of their identity as a member of a racial or ethnic group without regard to their individual qualities. "Socially disadvantaged farmers" includes farmers who identify as a "minority person" as defined under Section 2 of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-258, eff. 1-1-20.)

(30 ILCS 595/13 new)

Sec. 13. Socially disadvantaged farmers.

(a) In order to create, strengthen, and expand local farm and food economies throughout Illinois, as well as create equity in those economies, it shall be the goal of this State that at least 20% of all food and food products purchased by State agencies and State-owned facilities shall be local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers.

(b) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council established under this Act shall support and encourage that 10% of food and food products purchased by entities funded in part or in whole by State dollars, which spend more than $25,000 per year on food or food products for its students, residents, or clients, including, without limitation, public schools, child care facilities, after-school programs, and hospitals, shall be local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers.

(c) To meet the goals set forth in this Section, when a State contract for purchase of food or food products is to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, an otherwise qualified bidder who is a socially disadvantaged farmer that will fulfill the contract through the use of local farm or food products may be given preference over other bidders, provided that the cost included in the bid of local farm or food products is not more than 10% greater than the cost included in a bid that is not for local farm or food products.

(d) All State agencies and State-owned facilities that purchase food and food products shall, with the assistance of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council, develop a system for: (i) identifying the percentage of local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers and purchased for fiscal year 2020 as the baseline; and (ii) tracking and reporting local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers and purchased on an annual basis.

(30 ILCS 595/20)

Sec. 20. Responsibilities of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council. The responsibilities of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) To assist State agencies, State-owned facilities, and other entities with the purchase of local farm or food products and with tracking and reporting of such purchases in order to meet the goals established in Section 10 of this Act.

(a-5) To assist State agencies, State-owned facilities, and other entities with the purchase of local farm or food products produced by socially disadvantaged farmers and with tracking and reporting of such purchases in order to meet the goals established in Section 13 of this Act.

(b) To assist local farm and food entrepreneurs, including socially disadvantaged farmers, to identify and secure necessary resources and equipment to begin, maintain, and expand projects and networks necessary for the development of local farm or food products; provided, however, that it is the intent of this Act that the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council will facilitate program start-ups and then relinquish rights, benefits, and control within a reasonably short duration of time.

(c) To facilitate the building of infrastructure, including aggregation, processing, storage, packaging, and distribution facilities necessary to move local farm or food products to local and other markets.

(d) To support and expand programs that recruit, train, and provide technical assistance to Illinois farmers, including socially disadvantaged farmers, and residents in order to encourage the production of local farm or food products.

(e) To coordinate interagency policies, initiatives, and procedures promoting local farm and food products in Illinois communities, by working with and involving State, federal, and local agencies, as well as community based organizations, educational institutions, and trade organizations in executing the purposes of this Act.

(f) To facilitate the elimination of social, racial, and legal barriers hindering the development of a local farm and food economy by working with federal, State, and local public health agencies, other agencies and applicable entities, and the Illinois Attorney General to create consistent and compatible regulations for the production, storage, distribution, and marketing of local farm or food products.

(g) To facilitate the use of public lands for growing local farm or food products by working with governmental entities at the local, State, and federal levels.

(h) To set annual goals for all purchases of local farm or food products by Illinois residents and to monitor the development and expansion of a local farm and food economy through data collection, tracking, measurement, analysis, and reporting on progress made in an annual report to the Illinois General Assembly.

(i) (Blank).

(j) To initiate and facilitate public awareness campaigns about the economic benefits of a local farm and food economy.

(k) To facilitate and bolster access to more readily available healthy food options in areas considered to be a food desert, including support and expansion of programs utilizing local farm and food products to provide increased food options in such areas.

(Source: P.A. 99-653, eff. 1-1-17.)