SB1367 EnrolledLRB099 07958 KTG 28098 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 State Finance Act is amended by adding
5Section 5.878 as follows:
 
6    (30 ILCS 105/5.878 new)
7    Sec. 5.878. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.
 
8    Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
9adding Section 12-4.50 as follows:
 
10    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.50 new)
11    Sec. 12-4.50. Healthy Local Food Incentives Program.
12    (a) Legislative findings. Diet and other lifestyle choices
13contribute to more than half of all deaths in Illinois. Health
14risk factors include smoking, obesity, stress, nutrition, high
15blood pressure, and alcohol and drug use. Illinois residents
16should be encouraged to adopt diets and lifestyles that lead to
17wellness. The State can help provide that encouragement by
18funding wellness programs that enhance the health of Illinois
19residents. Healthy local food incentives encourage wellness
20among some of the most vulnerable residents of Illinois (those
21whose incomes are below the poverty line and who often have

 

 

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

 

 

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1into the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.
2    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
3Services shall make an annual grant of $500,000 from the Fund
4to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency,
5which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers
6markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives
7(up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP
8benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at
9participating Illinois farmers markets and direct
10producer-to-consumer venues.
11    (e) The designated qualified non-profit organization or
12agency shall have a demonstrated track record of:
13        (1) building a statewide network;
14        (2) designing and implementing successful healthy food
15    incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local
16    producers;
17        (3) implementing funds distribution and reporting
18    processes;
19        (4) providing training and technical assistance to
20    farmers markets;
21        (5) conducting community outreach and data collection;
22    and
23        (6) providing full accounting and administration of
24    funds distributed to farmers markets.
25    (f) 100% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be
26distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for

 

 

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1healthy local food incentives.
2    (g) Within 90 days after the end of a grant cycle, the
3designated qualified non-profit organization or agency shall
4submit a progress report to the Department of Human Services.
5The progress report shall include the following information:
6        (1) the names and locations of Illinois farmers markets
7    and direct producer-to-consumer venues that received funds
8    distributed under the Program;
9        (2) the dollar amount of funds awarded to each
10    participating Illinois farmers market and direct
11    producer-to-consumer venue;
12        (3) the dollar amount of SNAP benefits, and funds
13    provided under the Program, that were spent at Illinois
14    farmers markets participating in the Program, as well as
15    the dollar amount of any unspent funds available under the
16    Program;
17        (4) the number of SNAP transactions carried out
18    annually at participating Illinois farmers markets;
19        (5) the impact of the Program on increasing the
20    quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP
21    families, as determined by customer surveys.
22    (h) No later than December 31, 2017, the Department of
23Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of
24this Section.
25    (i) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2019.
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.