99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB5933

 

Introduced , by Rep. Robyn Gabel

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
30 ILCS 595/25

    Amends the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act. Allows the board of directors of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council to divide board membership into classes with and without voting rights. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB5933LRB099 19612 MLM 44007 b

1    AN ACT concerning finance.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act is amended
5by changing Section 25 as follows:
 
6    (30 ILCS 595/25)
7    Sec. 25. Governance of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs
8Council.
9    (a) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall be
10governed by a 35-member board of directors, which shall be
11comprised of the following:
12        (1) one representative each from the Department of
13    Agriculture; the Department of Commerce and Economic
14    Opportunity; the Department of Public Health; the
15    Department of Human Services, Office of Health and
16    Prevention; the Department of Human Services, Office of
17    Security and Emergency Preparedness;
18        (2) the Director of the Lieutenant Governor's Rural
19    Affairs Council;
20        (3) one agricultural specialist from the University of
21    Illinois Extension;
22        (4) four local farm or food product farmers
23    representing different agribusiness sectors, including,

 

 

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1    but not limited to, the dairy, meat, vegetable, and grain
2    sectors;
3        (5) four local farm or food product producers
4    representing different flower, fruit, viticulture,
5    aquaculture, forestry, seeds, fiber, vegetable,
6    ornamental, or other specialty crop sectors;
7        (6) two local farm or food product processors;
8        (7) two local farm or food product distributors;
9        (8) three representatives of not-for-profit
10    educational organizations that specialize in supporting
11    and expanding local farm or food product networks;
12        (9) one certifier of specialty local farm or food
13    products, such as an organic, naturally grown, biodynamic,
14    Halal, or Kosher certifier;
15        (10) one local farm or food product consumer
16    representative;
17        (11) two representatives of farm organizations;
18        (12) one representative from a philanthropic
19    organization supporting the development of local farm or
20    food products;
21        (13) one local farm or food product retailer;
22        (14) two municipal representatives from different
23    communities in the State actively engaged in the
24    development of local farm or food products;
25        (15) four representatives from community-based
26    organizations focusing on access to local farm or food

 

 

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1    products, including at least 3 minority members; and
2        (16) one chef specializing in the preparation of
3    locally grown foods.
4    (b) The 29 non-state governmental board members shall be
5appointed by the Governor to 3-year staggered terms as
6determined by the Governor. Persons may be nominated by
7organizations representing the sectors outlined in subsection
8(a) of this Section. Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor.
9    (c) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may apply for
10and establish a not for profit corporation under the General
11Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.
12    (d) The board of directors shall have all the rights,
13titles, powers, privileges, and obligations provided for in the
14General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. It shall elect
15its presiding officers from among its members and may elect or
16appoint an executive committee, other committees, and
17subcommittees to conduct the business of the organization. The
18board of directors may divide board membership into classes
19with and without voting rights.
20    (e) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may solicit
21grants, loans, and contributions from public or private sources
22and may enter into any contracts, grants, loans, or agreements
23with respect to the use of such funds to execute the purposes
24of this Act. No debt or obligation of the Local Food, Farms,
25and Jobs Council shall become the debt or obligation of the
26State.

 

 

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1    (f) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall not be
2considered a State Agency, and its funds shall be considered
3private funds and held in an appropriate account outside of the
4State Treasury. Private funds collected by the Local Food,
5Farms, and Jobs Council are not subject to the Public Funds
6Investment Act. Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council procurement
7is exempt from the Illinois Procurement Code. The treasurer of
8Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council funds shall be custodian of
9all Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council funds. The Local Food,
10Farms, and Jobs Council and its officers shall be responsible
11for the approval of recording of receipts, approval of
12payments, and the proper filing of required reports. The Local
13Food, Farms, and Jobs Council's records shall be audited
14annually by an independent auditor who is a certified public
15accountant and has been selected by the Board. An annual report
16shall also be compiled by the Board. Both the annual report and
17the annual audit shall be filed with any public agency
18providing funds to the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council and
19be made available to the public.
20    (g) Subject to the availability of public or private funds,
21the board of directors may employ an executive director,
22treasurer, other staff, or independent contractors necessary
23to execute the purposes of this Act, and it may fix the
24compensation, benefits, terms, and conditions of those
25persons' employment.
26    (h) The State Governmental agencies represented on the

 

 

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1board of directors may re-direct existing staff, as
2appropriations permit; assist in executing the purposes of this
3Act; and provide office space, meeting space, and other
4research and communication services as appropriate.
5    (i) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may be assisted
6in carrying out its functions by personnel of the Department of
7Agriculture. The Department shall provide reasonable
8assistance to the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council to help
9it achieve its purposes.
10(Source: P.A. 96-579, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12becoming law.