Bill Text: IL HB6027 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Creates the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of implementing the Program. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department shall make an annual grant of $1,000,000 from the Fund to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency, which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives (up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at participating Illinois farmers markets and producer-to-consumer venues. Provides that the qualified non-profit organization shall have a demonstrated track record of (i) building a statewide network; (ii) designing and implementing successful healthy food incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local producers; and (iii) other requirements. Provides that at least 60% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for healthy local food incentives; and that a maximum of 40% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used for State and local level program development and other purposes. Requires the non-profit organization or agency to submit a progress report to the Department with certain information. Provides that no later than December 31, 2016, the Department shall adopt rules to implement the new provisions. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 34-5)

Status: (Vetoed) 2016-11-30 - Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino [HB6027 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB6027-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning public aid.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.875 as follows:
(30 ILCS 105/5.875 new)
Sec. 5.875. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.
Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
adding Section 12-4.50 as follows:
(305 ILCS 5/12-4.50 new)
Sec. 12-4.50. Healthy Local Food Incentives Program.
(a) Legislative findings. Diet and other lifestyle choices
contribute to more than half of all deaths in Illinois. Health
risk factors include smoking, obesity, stress, nutrition, high
blood pressure, and alcohol and drug use. Illinois residents
should be encouraged to adopt diets and lifestyles that lead to
wellness. The State can help provide that encouragement by
funding wellness programs that enhance the health of Illinois
residents. Healthy local food incentives encourage wellness
among some of the most vulnerable residents of Illinois (those
whose incomes are below the poverty line and who often have

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limited access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods) by
doubling the purchasing power of LINK cardholders at farmers
markets across the State. The benefits of such a program
include: an increase in population health, Medicaid health care
cost savings, decreased incidence of preventable diseases,
increased revenue for Illinois small farmers, and economic
stimulus for the region.
(b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
"FINI eligible fruits and vegetables" means any variety of
fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and
vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e.
sodium), as defined by the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive
Grant Program administered by the United States Department of
Agriculture.
"LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card
issued by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of
enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash.
"SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program.
(c) The Department of Human Services shall establish a
Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing
power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits
and vegetables. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund is
created as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose
of implementing the Healthy Local Food Incentives Program. All
moneys received pursuant to this Section shall be deposited

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into the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund.
(d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
Services shall make an annual grant of $1,000,000 from the Fund
to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency,
which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers
markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives
(up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP
benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at
participating Illinois farmers markets and direct
producer-to-consumer venues.
(e) The designated qualified non-profit organization or
agency shall have a demonstrated track record of:
(1) building a statewide network;
(2) designing and implementing successful healthy food
incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local
producers;
(3) implementing funds distribution and reporting
processes;
(4) providing training and technical assistance to
farmers markets;
(5) conducting community outreach and data collection;
and
(6) providing full accounting and administration of
funds distributed to farmers markets.
(f) At least 60% of the moneys deposited into the Fund
shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets

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for healthy local food incentives. A maximum of 40% of the
moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used for State and
local level program development, promotion and outreach,
farmers market training and capacity building, technical
assistance, program data collection, evaluation,
administration, reporting, and local program implementation.
(g) Within 90 days after the end of a grant cycle, the
designated qualified non-profit organization or agency shall
submit a progress report to the Department of Human Services.
The progress report shall include the following information:
(1) the names and locations of Illinois farmers markets
and direct producer-to-consumer venues that received funds
distributed under the Program;
(2) the dollar amount of funds awarded to each
participating Illinois farmers market and direct
producer-to-consumer venue;
(3) the dollar amount of SNAP benefits, and funds
provided under the Program, that were spent at Illinois
farmers markets participating in the Program, as well as
the dollar amount of any unspent funds available under the
Program;
(4) the number of SNAP transactions carried out
annually at participating Illinois farmers markets;
(5) the impact of the Program on increasing the
quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP
families, as determined by customer surveys.

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(h) No later than December 31, 2016, the Department of
Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of
this Section.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.