Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HJR0027

HJ0027 Engrossed LRB104 13167 MST 25303 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 27

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has identified the need to create a local, sustainable, accessible, fair, and healthy food system in order to provide healthy food choices in State-funded facilities; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is committed to improving the health of all its residents and to promoting a safe, healthy, and fair work environment for its workforce; and

WHEREAS, The Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) was developed in 2012 to provide an incentive to public institutions to procure Good Food produced through values-driven purchasing standards; and

WHEREAS, GFPP defines Good Food as food that is healthy, affordable, fair, and sustainable and is produced, processed, and distributed locally using the principles of environmental stewardship and meets the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and

WHEREAS, Good Food values prioritize nutrition, affordability, locality, and sustainable production practices, including sound environmental practices, fair prices for producers, safe and fair working conditions for employees, and humane conditions for animals; and

WHEREAS, All participants in the GFPP food supply chain receive fair compensation and fair treatment and are free from exploitation; and

WHEREAS, Good Food Purchasing refers to the sourcing and purchasing of foods and beverages and food and beverage service contracts procured by the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In practicing Good Food Purchasing policies, the State of Illinois will help support a regional food system that is ecologically sound, economically viable, and racially and socially equitable and has an impact on the availability of local, sustainable food; and

WHEREAS, It is recognized that the significant buying power of public institutions across the country can reform the food system, create opportunities for smaller farmers and low-income entrepreneurs to thrive, provide just compensation and fair treatment for food chain workers, support sustainable farming practices, reward good environmental stewardship, and increase access to fresh and healthy foods; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we embrace the principles of the Good Food Purchasing Program as a strategy to help improve our region's food system through the adoption and implementation of Good Food Purchasing Standards; and be it further

RESOLVED, That there is created the Illinois Good Food Purchasing Policy Task Force to study current food procurement practices within the State and explore how Good Food Purchasing can be implemented to maximize the procurement of healthy foods that are sustainably, locally, and equitably sourced; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall distribute a survey to State agencies and State-owned facilities that purchase food, including, but not limited to, facilities for persons with mental health challenges and developmental disabilities, correctional facilities, and public institutions of higher education; such survey shall solicit information on current food procurement practices, including, but not limited to: (1) total annual food spending, (2) number and description of food service programs, (3) number and physical description of physical food service sites, (4) procurement method(s) and any potential barriers to aligning procurement with the Good Food Purchasing Program using such methods, (5) food service operational model (i.e. Food Service Management Company, self- operation, or self-operation with some vended food), and (6) current procurement calendar; State agencies and State-owned facilities shall complete the survey in a timely manner; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members, who shall serve without compensation:

(1) The Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee;

(2) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or his or her designee;

(3) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives or his or her designee;

(4) The Senate President or his or her designee;

(5) The Senate Minority Leader or his or her designee;

(6) One member nominated by a statewide local food advocacy organization appointed by the Lt. Governor;

(7) One member nominated by a national multi-sector food advocacy organization appointed by the Lt. Governor;

(8) One member nominated by a Chicago-based food advocacy organization appointed by the Lt. Governor;

(9) One member nominated by a statewide environmental advocacy organization appointed by the Lt. Governor;

(10) One member nominated by a statewide labor organization that represents food workers appointed by the Lt. Governor;

(11) One member nominated by a national farm-animal welfare organization appointed by the Lt. Governor;

(12) The Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee;

(13) The Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her designee;

(14) The Director of the Department of Public Health or his or her designee;

(15) The Director of the Department of Natural Resources or his or her designee;

(16) The Chief Procurement Officer for General Services or his or her designee;

(17) The Chief Procurement Officer for Higher Education or his or her designee;

(18) The Chief Procurement Officer for the Secretary of State's Office or his or her designee;

(19) The Chief Procurement Officer for the Department of Corrections or his or her designee;

(20) The Chief Procurement Officer for the Department of Human Services or his or her designee;

(21) The Chief Procurement Officer for Central Management Services or his or her designee;

(22) The Director of the Department of Agriculture or his or her designee;

(23) One member nominated by a statewide organization that advocates for healthy nutrition appointed by the Lt. Governor;

(24) One member nominated by a statewide coalition that advocates for a just State food system appointed by the Lt. Governor; and

(25) Two members nominated by an association that advocates on behalf of farmers appointed by the Lt. Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That if a vacancy occurs in the Task Force membership, it shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Agriculture shall provide administrative support for the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force members shall select a chairperson at the first meeting and meet at the call of the chair; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force's final report shall include a summary of results from the above-described survey and recommendations for one to three State agencies or State-owned facilities, or programs of such agencies or facilities, that are well-positioned to participate in Good Food Purchasing pilot programs, including detailed survey results from such agencies or facilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit its final report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2026 and is dissolved upon the filing of its final report.