102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4970

 

Introduced 1/27/2022, by Rep. Cyril Nichols

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/12-4.50

    Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Department of Human Services' Health Local Food Incentives Program, expands the program to provide grants to farm stands, mobile markets, community-supported agriculture sites, grocery stores, and other direct food retailers that participate in the SNAP program (rather than providing grants to participating Illinois farmers markets and direct producer-to-consumer venues). Requires the Department to consult and cooperate with non-profit organizations to develop and implement rules to distribute grants under the program (rather than designating a single non-profit organization or agency to receive an annual $500,000 grant to be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets and direct producer-to-consumer venues). Effective July 1, 2022.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB4970LRB102 24808 KTG 34053 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5changing Section 12-4.50 as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.50)
7    Sec. 12-4.50. Healthy Local Food Incentives Program.
8    (a) Legislative findings. Diet and other lifestyle choices
9contribute to more than half of all deaths in Illinois. Health
10risk factors include smoking, obesity, stress, nutrition, high
11blood pressure, and alcohol and drug use. Illinois residents
12should be encouraged to adopt diets and lifestyles that lead
13to wellness. The State can help provide that encouragement by
14funding wellness programs that enhance the health of Illinois
15residents. Healthy local food incentives encourage wellness
16among some of the most vulnerable residents of Illinois (those
17whose incomes are below the poverty line and who often have
18limited access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods) by
19doubling the purchasing power of LINK cardholders at farmers
20markets, farm stands, mobile markets, community-supported
21agriculture sites, grocery stores, direct producer-to-consumer
22venues, and other direct food retailers across the State. The
23benefits of such a program include: an increase in population

 

 

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1health, Medicaid health care cost savings, decreased incidence
2of preventable diseases, increased revenue for Illinois small
3farmers, and economic stimulus for the region.
4    (b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
5    "FINI eligible fruits and vegetables" means any variety of
6fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and
7vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e.
8sodium), as defined by the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive
9Grant Program administered by the United States Department of
10Agriculture.
11    "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
12issued by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of
13enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash.
14    "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
15Program.
16    (c) The Department of Human Services shall establish a
17Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing
18power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh
19fruits and vegetables. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund
20is created as a special fund in the State treasury for the
21purpose of implementing the Healthy Local Food Incentives
22Program. All moneys received pursuant to this Section shall be
23deposited into the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.
24    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
25Services shall make grants an annual grant of $500,000 from
26the Fund to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or

 

 

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1agency, which shall be distributed to participating Illinois
2farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets,
3community-supported agriculture sites, grocery stores, direct
4producer-to-consumer venues, and other direct food retailers
5that participate in the SNAP program for the purpose of
6providing matching dollar incentives (up to a specified
7amount) for the dollar value of SNAP benefits spent on FINI
8eligible fruits and vegetables at those participating food
9retailers. The Department of Human Services shall consult and
10cooperate with non-profit organizations to develop and
11implement rules to distribute grants as provided in this
12subsection participating Illinois farmers markets and direct
13producer-to-consumer venues.
14    (e) Qualifying non-profit organizations The designated
15qualified non-profit organization or agency shall have a
16demonstrated track record of:
17        (1) building a statewide network;
18        (2) designing and implementing successful healthy food
19    incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local
20    producers;
21        (3) implementing funds distribution and reporting
22    processes;
23        (4) providing training and technical assistance to
24    farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets,
25    community-supported agriculture sites, grocery stores,
26    direct producer-to-consumer venues, or other direct food

 

 

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1    retailers;
2        (5) conducting community outreach and data collection;
3    and
4        (6) providing full accounting and administration of
5    funds distributed to farmers markets, farm stands, mobile
6    markets, community-supported agriculture sites, grocery
7    stores, direct producer-to-consumer venues, or other
8    direct food retailers.
9    (f) 100% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be
10distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets, farm
11stands, mobile markets, community-supported agriculture sites,
12grocery stores, direct producer-to-consumer venues, and other
13direct food retailers that participate in the SNAP program for
14healthy local food incentives.
15    (g) Within 90 days after the end of a grant cycle, the
16designated non-profit organizations qualified non-profit
17organization or agency shall submit a progress report to the
18Department of Human Services. The progress report shall
19include the following information:
20        (1) the names and locations of Illinois farmers
21    markets, farm stands, mobile markets, community-supported
22    agriculture sites, grocery stores, direct
23    producer-to-consumer venues, and other direct food
24    retailers and direct producer-to-consumer venues that
25    received funds distributed under the Program;
26        (2) the dollar amount of funds awarded to each

 

 

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1    participating Illinois farmers market, farm stand, mobile
2    market, community-supported agriculture site, grocery
3    store, direct producer-to-consumer venue, and other direct
4    food retailer and direct producer-to-consumer venue;
5        (3) the dollar amount of SNAP benefits, and funds
6    provided under the Program, that were spent at Illinois
7    farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets,
8    community-supported agriculture sites, grocery stores,
9    direct producer-to-consumer venues, and other direct food
10    retailers participating in the Program, as well as the
11    dollar amount of any unspent funds available under the
12    Program;
13        (4) the number of SNAP transactions carried out
14    annually at participating Illinois farmers markets, farm
15    stands, mobile markets, community-supported agriculture
16    sites, grocery stores, direct producer-to-consumer venues,
17    and other direct food retailers;
18        (5) the impact of the Program on increasing the
19    quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP
20    families, as determined by customer surveys.
21    (h) The No later than December 31, 2017, the Department of
22Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the provisions
23of this Section.
24    (i) (Blank).
25(Source: P.A. 99-928, eff. 1-20-17; 100-636, eff. 1-1-19.)
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,

 

 

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12022.