|
| | 10300HB3240ham001 | - 2 - | LRB103 25599 RLC 58088 a |
|
|
1 | | following: |
2 | | (1) African Americans. |
3 | | (2) Native Indians. |
4 | | (3) Alaskan Natives. |
5 | | (4) Hispanics.
|
6 | | (5) Asian Americans. |
7 | | (6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. |
8 | | "Urbanized area", as used by the United States Census |
9 | | Bureau, refers to a population of at least 50,000 people.
|
10 | | Section 10. Organic Transition Pilot Program. |
11 | | (a) On or before July 1, 2024, the Department shall |
12 | | develop and oversee, for a period of 5 years, the Organic |
13 | | Transition Pilot Program. The pilot program shall support the |
14 | | economic viability of farmers, prioritizing limited resource |
15 | | and socially disadvantaged farmers, by providing incentives, |
16 | | including, but not limited to, grants, research, technical |
17 | | assistance, and educational materials and outreach, to farmers |
18 | | who intend to transition land to organic certification under |
19 | | the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. |
20 | | (b) The Director shall appoint a Farmer Equity Advisor to |
21 | | administer the pilot program and ensure that the pilot program |
22 | | meets the objectives of this Act. |
23 | | (c) In providing incentives under the pilot program, the |
24 | | Department shall do all of the following: |
25 | | (1) Provide incentives to socially disadvantaged |
|
| | 10300HB3240ham001 | - 3 - | LRB103 25599 RLC 58088 a |
|
|
1 | | farmer applicants who self-certify their intent to farm |
2 | | organically. |
3 | | (2) If there are moneys available after providing |
4 | | incentives under paragraph (1), provide incentives to |
5 | | those limited resource farmer applicants who self-certify |
6 | | their intent to farm organically. |
7 | | (3) If there are moneys available after providing |
8 | | incentives under paragraphs (1), provide incentives to any |
9 | | farmer applicants who self-certify their intent to farm |
10 | | organically. |
11 | | (d)(1) Applicants with year-to-year leases may participate |
12 | | in the pilot program. |
13 | | (2) Repeat applicants may participate in the pilot |
14 | | program. |
15 | | (3) If selected to receive an incentive, an applicant may |
16 | | receive advance payment of that incentive. |
17 | | (4) The Department shall prioritize the provision of |
18 | | incentives to new applicants. |
19 | | (e) The following expenses are eligible for incentives |
20 | | under the pilot program: |
21 | | (1) Organic seeds and starts. |
22 | | (2) Organic livestock, poultry, and related expenses. |
23 | | (3) Organic feed. |
24 | | (4) Soil building supplies. |
25 | | (5) Compost. |
26 | | (6) Compost building or generating supplies. |
|
| | 10300HB3240ham001 | - 4 - | LRB103 25599 RLC 58088 a |
|
|
1 | | (7) Compost structures supplies. |
2 | | (8) Organic fertilizer and pest control. |
3 | | (9) Organic integrated pest management supplies. |
4 | | (10) Hedgerow and ecosystem enhancement planting and |
5 | | design. |
6 | | (11) Hiring consultants for translation services, |
7 | | certification, business planning, and agronomic practices |
8 | | as they pertain to organic farming certification. |
9 | | (12) Inspection and certification fees. |
10 | | (13) Educational materials on organic certification |
11 | | and production. |
12 | | (14) Development of an organic system plan. |
13 | | (15) Farm supplies and repair. |
14 | | (16) Other expenses deemed necessary by the Director |
15 | | that further the pilot program. |
16 | | (f) The Director shall make available not less than 15% of |
17 | | the moneys appropriated to the Department for purposes of the |
18 | | pilot program to technical service providers with organic |
19 | | expertise, including, but not limited to, the University of |
20 | | Illinois Extension, conservation districts, and nonprofits for |
21 | | any of the following purposes: |
22 | | (1) Providing organic-specific technical assistance as |
23 | | defined in 24 CFR Part 570, training, organic |
24 | | certification support, financial and farm planning, |
25 | | communication support, program recruitment, recordkeeping |
26 | | support, support with the application process, and |
|
| | 10300HB3240ham001 | - 5 - | LRB103 25599 RLC 58088 a |
|
|
1 | | translation support to limited resource and socially |
2 | | disadvantaged farmers. |
3 | | (2) Establishing a mentorship program for organic |
4 | | farmers to support transitioning farmers. |
5 | | (3) Supporting annual information sharing for the |
6 | | continuous improvement of program guidelines, application |
7 | | processes, and relevant organic research. |
8 | | (4) Developing capacity and expertise of technical |
9 | | assistance providers to support limited resource and |
10 | | socially disadvantaged farmers to transition to organic |
11 | | farming. |
12 | | (g)(1) On or before January 1, 2025, and annually |
13 | | thereafter until a report has been submitted that covers the |
14 | | conclusion of the pilot program, the Department shall submit a |
15 | | report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the outcome |
16 | | of the pilot program. |
17 | | (2) The report shall include, but is not limited to, all of |
18 | | the following: |
19 | | (A) The number of grants awarded, including the number |
20 | | of grants awarded to socially disadvantaged farmers. |
21 | | (B) The amount of funds awarded.
|
22 | | (C) The number of grant awardees who obtained organic |
23 | | certification. |
24 | | (D) The names of the technical assistance providers |
25 | | that received grants, and a summary of the technical |
26 | | assistance they provided. |
|
| | 10300HB3240ham001 | - 6 - | LRB103 25599 RLC 58088 a |
|
|
1 | | (3) The Department shall post the reports submitted under |
2 | | paragraph (1) on the Department's website.
|
3 | | Section 15. Comprehensive market analysis. |
4 | | (a) On or before July 1, 2024, the Department shall |
5 | | conduct a comprehensive statewide market analysis of the total |
6 | | economic impacts of Illinois' organic products sector. |
7 | | (b) The market analysis shall, at a minimum, do all of the |
8 | | following: |
9 | | (1) Compile employment and wage data connected to |
10 | | production, distribution, and sales of organic products in |
11 | | Illinois. |
12 | | (2) Assess the economic impacts of Illinois's organic |
13 | | trade sectors. |
14 | | (3) Evaluate revenues that the Illinois State |
15 | | government derives from the Illinois organic products |
16 | | sector. |
17 | | (4) Identify and assess economic and growth |
18 | | opportunities related to Illinois organic products and |
19 | | trade. |
20 | | (c) The Department shall post the market analysis on its |
21 | | website.
|
22 | | Section 20. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, |
23 | | 2030.".
|