HB3240 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 25599 RLC 51948 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3240

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Organic Transition Pilot Program Act. Provides that on or before July 1, 2024, the Department of Agriculture shall develop and oversee, for a period of 5 years, the Organic Transition Pilot Program. Provides that the pilot program shall support the economic viability of farmers and ranchers, prioritizing limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, by providing incentives, including, but not limited to, grants, research, technical assistance, and educational materials and outreach, to farmers or ranchers who intend to transition land to organic certification under the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. In providing incentives under the pilot program, the Department shall: (1) provide incentives to socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher applicants who self-certify their intent to farm or ranch organically; (2) if there are moneys available after providing incentives, provide incentives to those limited resource farmer or rancher applicants who self-certify their intent to farm or ranch organically; and (3) If there are moneys available after providing incentives, provide incentives to any farmer or rancher applicants who self-certify their intent to farm or ranch organically. Provides that on or before July 1, 2024, the Department shall conduct a comprehensive statewide market analysis of the total economic impacts of Illinois' organic products sector. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2030.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning agriculture.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Organic Transition Pilot Program Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Agriculture.

"Director" means the Director of Agriculture.

"Limited resource farmer or rancher" has the meaning ascribed to it in 7 CFR 760.107.

"Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher" means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.

"Socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following:

(1) African Americans.

(2) Native Indians.

(3) Alaskan Natives.

(4) Hispanics.

(5) Asian Americans.

(6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

"Urbanized area" as used by the United States Census Bureau, refers to a population of at least 50,000 people.

Section 10. Organic Transition Pilot Program.

(a) On or before July 1, 2024, the Department shall develop and oversee, for a period of 5 years, the Organic Transition Pilot Program. The pilot program shall support the economic viability of farmers and ranchers, prioritizing limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, by providing incentives, including, but not limited to, grants, research, technical assistance, and educational materials and outreach, to farmers or ranchers who intend to transition land to organic certification under the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.

(b) The Director shall appoint a Farmer Equity Advisor to administer the pilot program and ensure that the pilot program meets the objectives of this Act.

(c) In providing incentives under the pilot program, the Department shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide incentives to socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher applicants who self-certify their intent to farm or ranch organically.

(2) If there are moneys available after providing incentives under paragraph (1), provide incentives to those limited resource farmer or rancher applicants who self-certify their intent to farm or ranch organically.

(3) If there are moneys available after providing incentives under paragraphs (1), provide incentives to any farmer or rancher applicants who self-certify their intent to farm or ranch organically.

(d)(1) Applicants with year-to-year leases may participate in the pilot program.

(2) Repeat applicants may participate in the pilot program.

(3) If selected to receive an incentive, an applicant may receive advance payment of that incentive.

(4) The Department shall prioritize the provision of incentives to new applicants.

(e) The following expenses are eligible for incentives under the pilot program:

(1) Organic seeds and starts.

(2) Organic livestock, poultry, and related expenses.

(3) Organic feed.

(4) Soil building supplies.

(5) Compost.

(6) Compost building or generating supplies.

(7) Compost structures supplies.

(8) Organic fertilizer and pest control.

(9) Organic integrated pest management supplies.

(10) Hedgerow and ecosystem enhancement planting and design.

(11) Hiring consultants for translation services, certification, business planning, and agronomic practices as they pertain to organic farming and ranching certification.

(12) Inspection and certification fees.

(13) Educational materials on organic certification and production.

(14) Development of an organic system plan.

(15) Farm supplies and repair.

(16) Other expenses deemed necessary by the Director that further the pilot program.

(f) The Director shall make available not less than 15% of the moneys appropriated to the Department for purposes of the pilot program to technical service providers with organic expertise, including, but not limited to, the University of Illinois Extension, conservation districts, and nonprofits for any of the following purposes:

(1) Providing organic-specific technical assistance as defined in 24 CFR Part 570, training, organic certification support, financial and farm planning, communication support, program recruitment, recordkeeping support, support with the application process, and translation support to limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

(2) Establishing a mentorship program for organic farmers and ranchers to support transitioning farmers and ranchers.

(3) Supporting annual information sharing for the continuous improvement of program guidelines, application processes, and relevant organic research.

(4) Developing capacity and expertise of technical assistance providers to support limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to transition to organic farming.

(g)(1) On or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter until a report has been submitted that covers the conclusion of the pilot program, the Department shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the outcome of the pilot program.

(2) The report shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The number of grants awarded, including the number of grants awarded to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

(B) The amount of funds awarded.

(C) The number of grant awardees who obtained organic certification.

(D) The names of the technical assistance providers that received grants, and a summary of the technical assistance they provided.

(3) The Department shall post the reports submitted under paragraph (1) on the Department's website.

Section 15. Comprehensive market analysis.

(a) On or before July 1, 2024, the Department shall conduct a comprehensive statewide market analysis of the total economic impacts of Illinois' organic products sector.

(b) The market analysis shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:

1) Compile employment and wage data connected to production, distribution, and sales of organic products in Illinois.

(2) Assess the economic impacts of Illinois's organic trade sectors.

(3) Evaluate revenues that the Illinois State government derives from the Illinois organic products sector.

(4) Identify and assess economic and growth opportunities related to Illinois organic products and trade.

(c) The Department shall post the market analysis on its website.

Section 20. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2030.