HB5933 EngrossedLRB099 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 Sections 20 and 25 as follows:
 
6    (30 ILCS 595/20)
7    Sec. 20. Responsibilities of the Local Food, Farms, and
8Jobs Council. The responsibilities of the Local Food, Farms,
9and Jobs Council include, but are not limited to, the
10following:
11    (a) To assist State agencies, State-owned facilities, and
12other entities with the purchase of local farm or food products
13and with tracking and reporting of such purchases in order to
14meet the goals established in Section 10 of this Act.
15    (b) To assist local farm and food entrepreneurs to identify
16and secure necessary resources and equipment to begin,
17maintain, and expand projects and networks necessary for the
18development of local farm or food products; provided, however,
19that it is the intent of this Act that the Local Food, Farms,
20and Jobs Council will facilitate program start-ups and then
21relinquish rights, benefits, and control within a reasonably
22short duration of time.
23    (c) To facilitate the building of infrastructure,

 

 

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1including aggregation, processing, storage, packaging, and
2distribution facilities necessary to move local farm or food
3products to local and other markets.
4    (d) To support and expand programs that recruit, train, and
5provide technical assistance to Illinois farmers and residents
6in order to encourage the production of local farm or food
7products.
8    (e) To coordinate interagency policies, initiatives, and
9procedures promoting local farm and food products in Illinois
10communities, by working with and involving State, federal, and
11local agencies, as well as community based organizations,
12educational institutions, and trade organizations in executing
13the purposes of this Act.
14    (f) To facilitate the elimination of legal barriers
15hindering the development of a local farm and food economy by
16working with federal, State, and local public health agencies,
17other agencies and applicable entities, and the Illinois
18Attorney General to create consistent and compatible
19regulations for the production, storage, distribution, and
20marketing of local farm or food products.
21    (g) To facilitate the use of public lands for growing local
22farm or food products by working with governmental entities at
23the local, State, and federal levels.
24    (h) To set annual goals for all purchases of local farm or
25food products by Illinois residents and to monitor the
26development and expansion of a local farm and food economy

 

 

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1through data collection, tracking, measurement, analysis, and
2reporting on progress made in an annual report to the Illinois
3General Assembly.
4    (i) (Blank). To develop, in collaboration with the
5Department of Agriculture, a label and certification program
6different than the "Illinois Product" label program, whereby a
7label with a specific name and unique design or logo may be
8placed on local farm and food products.
9    (j) To initiate and facilitate public awareness campaigns
10about the economic benefits of a local farm and food economy.
11(Source: P.A. 96-579, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
12    (30 ILCS 595/25)
13    Sec. 25. Governance of the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs
14Council.
15    (a) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall be
16governed by a 20-member 35-member board of directors, which
17shall be comprised of the following:
18        (1) one representative each from the Department of
19    Agriculture; the Department of Commerce and Economic
20    Opportunity; the Department of Public Health; the Illinois
21    Finance Authority; the Office of the State Treasurer; an
22    agency tasked with responsibilities over economic or
23    workforce development; the Department of Human Services,
24    Office of Health and Prevention; the Department of Human
25    Services, Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness;

 

 

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1        (2) the Director of the Lieutenant Governor's Rural
2    Affairs Council;
3        (2) (3) one agricultural specialist from the
4    University of Illinois Extension;
5        (3) one representative of the State's largest general
6    farm organization;
7        (4) thirteen representatives, each of whom shall
8    represent at least one of the following interests, and each
9    interest shall be represented by at least one
10    representative:
11            (A) local farm or food product farmers
12        representing different sectors, including, but not
13        limited to, dairy, meat, vegetable, and grain;
14            (B) local farm or food product producers
15        representing different flower, fruit, viticulture,
16        aquaculture, forestry, seeds, fiber, ornamental, or
17        other specialty crop sectors;
18            (C) local farm or food product processors or
19        distributors, preferentially those operating
20        cooperatively or under local ownership;
21            (D) not-for-profit educational organizations that
22        specialize in supporting and expanding local farm or
23        food product networks;
24            (E) local farm or food product retailers;
25            (F) municipalities in the State actively engaged
26        in the development of local farm or food products;

 

 

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1            (G) banking, investment, or philanthropic
2        communities with expertise in financing or supporting
3        local foods production and infrastructure;
4            (H) community-based organizations focusing on
5        access to local farm or food products;
6            (I) restaurants or food service businesses,
7        schools, or institutions that use or seek to increase
8        and promote use of local foods; and
9            (J) employees working for businesses in the food
10        system.
11        (4) four local farm or food product farmers
12        representing different agribusiness sectors,
13        including, but not limited to, the dairy, meat,
14        vegetable, and grain sectors;
15        (5) four local farm or food product producers
16    representing different flower, fruit, viticulture,
17    aquaculture, forestry, seeds, fiber, vegetable,
18    ornamental, or other specialty crop sectors;
19        (6) two local farm or food product processors;
20        (7) two local farm or food product distributors;
21        (8) three representatives of not-for-profit
22    educational organizations that specialize in supporting
23    and expanding local farm or food product networks;
24        (9) one certifier of specialty local farm or food
25    products, such as an organic, naturally grown, biodynamic,
26    Halal, or Kosher certifier;

 

 

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1        (10) one local farm or food product consumer
2    representative;
3        (11) two representatives of farm organizations;
4        (12) one representative from a philanthropic
5    organization supporting the development of local farm or
6    food products;
7        (13) one local farm or food product retailer;
8        (14) two municipal representatives from different
9    communities in the State actively engaged in the
10    development of local farm or food products;
11        (15) four representatives from community-based
12    organizations focusing on access to local farm or food
13    products, including at least 3 minority members; and
14        (16) one chef specializing in the preparation of
15    locally grown foods.
16    (b) The 15 29 non-state governmental board members shall be
17appointed by the Governor to 3-year staggered terms as
18determined by the Governor. Persons may be nominated by
19organizations representing the sectors outlined in subsection
20(a) of this Section. Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor.
21    (c) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may apply for
22and establish a not for profit corporation under the General
23Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.
24    (d) The board of directors shall have all the rights,
25titles, powers, privileges, and obligations provided for in the
26General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. It shall elect

 

 

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1its presiding officers from among its members and may elect or
2appoint an executive committee, other committees, and
3subcommittees to conduct the business of the organization.
4    (e) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may solicit
5grants, loans, and contributions from public or private sources
6and may enter into any contracts, grants, loans, or agreements
7with respect to the use of such funds to execute the purposes
8of this Act. No debt or obligation of the Local Food, Farms,
9and Jobs Council shall become the debt or obligation of the
10State.
11    (f) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall not be
12considered a State Agency, and its funds shall be considered
13private funds and held in an appropriate account outside of the
14State Treasury. Private funds collected by the Local Food,
15Farms, and Jobs Council are not subject to the Public Funds
16Investment Act. Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council procurement
17is exempt from the Illinois Procurement Code. The treasurer of
18Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council funds shall be custodian of
19all Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council funds. The Local Food,
20Farms, and Jobs Council and its officers shall be responsible
21for the approval of recording of receipts, approval of
22payments, and the proper filing of required reports. The Local
23Food, Farms, and Jobs Council's records shall be audited
24annually by an independent auditor who is a certified public
25accountant and has been selected by the Board. An annual report
26shall also be compiled by the Board. Both the annual report and

 

 

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1the annual audit shall be filed with any public agency
2providing funds to the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council and
3be made available to the public.
4    (g) Subject to the availability of public or private funds,
5the board of directors may employ an executive director,
6treasurer, other staff, or independent contractors necessary
7to execute the purposes of this Act, and it may fix the
8compensation, benefits, terms, and conditions of those
9persons' employment.
10    (h) The State Governmental agencies represented on the
11board of directors may re-direct existing staff, as
12appropriations permit; assist in executing the purposes of this
13Act; and provide office space, meeting space, and other
14research and communication services as appropriate.
15    (i) The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council may be assisted
16in carrying out its functions by personnel of the Department of
17Agriculture. The Department shall provide reasonable
18assistance to the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council to help
19it achieve its purposes.
20(Source: P.A. 96-579, eff. 8-18-09.)