| ||||
| Public Act 099-0027 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
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.)
| ||