Bill Text: IL HB2539 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Healthy Food Program Development Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish a Healthy Food Development Program to expand access to healthy foods in eligible areas in the State by providing assistance to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food retailers. Provides that the benefits provided shall be awarded to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food retailers in eligible areas on a competitive basis, with priority given to projects with the greatest potential impact on expanding access to healthy foods ineligible areas that are underserved by retail sales of healthy food in the State. Provides requirements for participation in the program. Provides that the Department shall designate a grocery ambassador to assist retailers of healthy foods in this State by: (1) providing research and data on eligible areas with insufficient grocery access; (2) coordinating with the Department and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and other relevant State agencies; (3) providing assistance to small grocery retailers in this State, including obtaining and expediting regulatory procedures; and (4) providing other assistance as needed. Provides that the Department, in coordination with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall convene a working group to develop a plan for establishing a commercial distribution system, for fresh produce and healthy foods to corner stores and other small food retailers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-21 - Tabled [HB2539 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB2539-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB2539 Introduced , by Rep. Sonya M. Harper SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Healthy Food Program Development Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish a Healthy Food Development Program to expand access to healthy foods in eligible areas in the State by providing assistance to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food retailers. Provides that the benefits provided shall be awarded to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food retailers in eligible areas on a competitive basis, with priority given to projects with the greatest potential impact on expanding access to healthy foods ineligible areas that are underserved by retail sales of healthy food in the State. Provides requirements for participation in the program. Provides that the Department shall designate a grocery ambassador to assist retailers of healthy foods in this State by: (1) providing research and data on eligible areas with insufficient grocery access; (2) coordinating with the Department and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and other relevant State agencies; (3) providing assistance to small grocery retailers in this State, including obtaining and expediting regulatory procedures; and (4) providing other assistance as needed. Provides that the Department, in coordination with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall convene a working group to develop a plan for establishing a commercial distribution system, for fresh produce and healthy foods to corner stores and other small food retailers.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning healthy food access.
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
Healthy Food Program Development Act.
Section 5. Definitions.
In this Act:
"Corner store" means a retail establishment that sells
grocery products and has less than 5,000 square feet of selling
area.
"Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
"Eligible area" means a historically underutilized
business zone, as defined by 15 U.S.C. 632(p)(1).
"Farmers' market" means a public market at which farmers
and other producers sell fresh produce and healthy foods.
"Grocery store" means a retail establishment that has a
primary business of selling grocery products; has at least
5,000 square feet of selling area that is used for a general
line of food and non-food grocery products; and meets the
eligibility requirements for the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program.
"Small food retailer" means a small business that is not a
grocery store.

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Section 10. Healthy Food Development Program.
(a) The Department may coordinate with the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish a Healthy Food
Development Program to expand access to healthy foods in
eligible areas in the State by providing assistance to grocery
stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food
retailers.
(b) The Department of Public Health, Environmental
Protection Agency, and other relevant State agencies shall
coordinate with the Department and the Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity upon request to establish the Healthy
Food Development Program.
Section 15. The Healthy Food Development Program benefits.
(a) The Healthy Food Development Program may provide a
combination of any or all of the following benefits to grocery
stores, corner stores, farmer markets, or other small food
retailers in eligible areas:
(1) grants;
(2) loans;
(3) State tax credits;
(4) equipment;
(5) other financial assistance; and
(6) technical assistance.
(b) The benefits provided in subsection (a) shall be

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awarded to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and
other small food retailers in eligible areas on a competitive
basis, with priority given to projects with the greatest
potential impact on expanding access to healthy foods in
eligible areas that are underserved by retail sales of healthy
food in this State.
(c) Grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and
other small food retailers are encouraged to work cooperatively
to expand access to healthy foods in eligible areas in this
State.
(d) The Department and the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity may contract with non-profit
organizations to promote and implement this program.
Section 20. Requirements.
(a) Grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and
other small retailers participating in the Healthy Food
Development Program shall be strongly encouraged to:
(1) apply and accept benefits from the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);
(2) apply and accept benefits from the federal Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) program;
(3) employ residents of this State.
(b) Resources may be provided to assist grocery stores,
corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food retailers
in acquiring the necessary technology to accept SNAP and WIC

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benefits.
(c) As a condition of participating in the Healthy Food
Development Program, persons or entities operating grocery
stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food
retailers shall agree in writing to sell produce or other
healthy foods for at least 3 years; provided that this
requirement is not applicable if the individual or entity, or
its successor ceases all of its retail food sales operations.
Section 25. Grocery ambassador and working group.
(a) The Department shall designate a grocery ambassador to
assist retailers of healthy foods in this State by: (1)
providing research and data on eligible areas with insufficient
grocery access; (2) coordinating with the Department and the
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and other
relevant State agencies; (3) providing assistance to small
grocery retailers in this State, including obtaining and
expediting regulatory procedures; and (4) providing other
assistance as needed.
(b) The Department, in coordination with the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall convene a working
group to develop a plan for establishing a commercial
distribution system for fresh produce and healthy foods to
corner stores and other small food retailers. These businesses
shall be encouraged to work cooperatively to maximize their
buying power.

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(c) The working group shall include representatives from:
(1) the Department and the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity and other relevant State agencies;
(2) the grocery ambassador designated in subsection
(a);
(3) non-profit organizations;
(4) urban framers and community gardeners;
(5) corner stores and their trade associations; and
(6) produce wholesalers.
(d) The working group shall issue a report, including its
recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December
31, 2021.
(e) The Department and the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity may issue grants, on a competitive basis,
for the establishment of a commercial distribution system for
fresh produce and healthy foods.