Public Act 099-0027
 
SB0813 EnrolledLRB099 07720 MGM 27853 b

    AN ACT concerning agriculture.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The County Cooperative Extension Law is amended
by changing Section 2b as follows:
 
    (505 ILCS 45/2b)  (from Ch. 5, par. 242b)
    Sec. 2b. The Cooperative Extension Service of the
University of Illinois may shall establish a Rural Transition
Program to be operated in cooperation with the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide assessments,
career counseling, on-the-job training, tuition
reimbursements, classroom training, financial management
training, work experience opportunities, job search skills,
job placement, youth programs, and support service to farmers
and their families, agriculture-related employees, other rural
residents, and small rural businesses who are being forced out
of farming or other primary means of employment or whose
standard of living or employment has been reduced because of
prevailing economic conditions in the agricultural or rural
economy. Eligible farmers and their families shall include
those who can demonstrate proof of financial stress, proof of
foreclosure, proof of bankruptcy, proof of inability to secure
needed capital, proof of voluntary foreclosure or proof of
income eligibility for assistance programs administered by the
Department of Human Services (acting as successor to the
Department of Public Aid under the Department of Human Services
Act). Eligible agriculture related employees shall mean tenant
farmers or other farm employees and employees of businesses
related to agricultural production who are facing
displacement, unemployment or underemployment due to a closure
or reduction in operation of such business or farm due to poor
economic conditions that prevail in the agricultural or rural
economy. Other eligible rural residents shall include those
residing in rural areas whose employment or standard of living
has been reduced due to the poor economic conditions that
prevail in the agricultural or rural economy. Eligible small
rural businesses shall include those existing or new businesses
established and operating in rural areas that lack access to
other sources of services provided by this Section. In carrying
out the provisions of this Section, the Cooperative Extension
Service may enter into agreements with the Department of
Commerce and Community Affairs, community colleges, vocational
schools, and any other State or local private or public agency
or entity deemed necessary.
(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)