Bill Text: IL HB5232 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Blind Vendors Act. In provisions permitting the Department of Human Services to provide, by rule, for set-asides similar to those provided under the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, provides that the funds may be used only for: (1) the maintenance and replacement of equipment that is for use on State property; (2) the purchase of new equipment that is for use on State property; (3) the construction of new vending facilities that are for use on State property; and (4) the funding of functions of the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, including legal and other professional services, that are performed on State property.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-23 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5232 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB5232-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB5232 Introduced , by Rep. Michael D. Unes SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 2421/25
Amends the Blind Vendors Act. In provisions permitting the Department of Human Services to provide, by rule, for set-asides similar to those provided under the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, provides that the funds may be used only for: (1) the maintenance and replacement of equipment that is for use on State property; (2) the purchase of new equipment that is for use on State property; (3) the construction of new vending facilities that are for use on State property; and (4) the funding of functions of the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, including legal and other professional services, that are performed on State property.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Blind Vendors Act is amended by changing
Section 25 as follows:
(20 ILCS 2421/25)
Sec. 25. Set-aside funds; Blind Vendors Trust Fund.
(a) The Department may provide, by rule, for set-asides
similar to those provided in Section 107d-3 of the
Randolph-Sheppard Act. If any funds are set aside, or caused to
be set aside, from the net proceeds of the operation of vending
facilities by blind vendors, the funds shall be set aside only
to the extent necessary in a percentage amount not to exceed
that determined jointly by the Director and the Committee and
published in State rule, and that these funds may be used only
for the following purposes: (1) maintenance and replacement of
equipment that is for use on State property; (2) purchase of
new equipment that is for use on State property; (3)
construction of new vending facilities that are for use on
State property; (4) funding the functions of the Committee,
including legal and other professional services, that are
performed on State property; and (5) retirement or pension
funds, health insurance, paid sick leave, and vacation time for

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blind licensees, so long as these benefits are approved by a
majority vote of all Illinois licensed blind vendors that
occurs after the Department provides these vendors with
information on all matters relevant to these purposes.
(b) No set-aside funds shall be collected from a blind
vendor when the monthly net proceeds of that vendor are less
than $1,000. This amount may be adjusted annually by the
Director and the Committee to reflect changes in the cost of
living.
(c) The Department shall establish, with full
participation by the Committee, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund as
a separate account managed by the Department for the State's
blind vendors.
(d) Set-aside funds collected from the operation of all
vending facilities administered by the Business Enterprise
Program for the Blind shall be placed in the Blind Vendors
Trust Fund, which shall include set-aside funds from facilities
on federal property. The Fund must provide separately
identified sub-accounts for moneys from (i) federal and (ii)
State and other facilities, as well as vending machine income
generated pursuant to Section 30 of this Act. These funds shall
be available until expended and shall not revert to the General
Revenue Fund or to any other State account.
(e) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the
expenditure of set-aside funds authorized by this Section shall
be supplemental to any current appropriation or other moneys

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made available for these purposes and shall not constitute an
offset of any previously existing appropriation or other
funding source. In no way shall this imply that the
appropriation for the Blind Vendors Program may never be
decreased, rather that the new funds shall not be used as an
offset.
(f) An amount equal to 10% of the wages paid by a blind
vendor to any employee who is blind or has another disability
shall be deducted from any set-aside charge paid by the vendor
each month, in order to encourage vendors to employ blind
workers and workers with disabilities and to set an example for
industry and government. No deduction shall be made for any
employee paid less than the State or federal minimum wage.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)