Public Act 095-0145
 		





HB1300 Enrolled
LRB095 08986 CMK 29177 b






    AN ACT concerning agriculture.

 
    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 
Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative findings.
    Illinois should be the Midwest leader in local and organic 
food and fiber production.
    One thousand five hundred miles is the average travel 
distance for food items now consumed in this State, and 
agricultural products sold directly for human consumption 
comprise less than 0.2% of  Illinois farm sales.
    Ninety-five percent of organic food sold in this State is 
grown and processed outside of the State, resulting in food 
dollars being exported.
    Illinois ranks fifth in the nation in loss of farmland.
    The market for locally grown foods and for organic food is 
expanding rapidly.
    Consumers would benefit from additional local food outlets 
that make fresh and affordable Illinois grown foods more 
accessible in both rural and urban communities.
    Communities are experiencing significant problems of 
obesity and nutrition, including lack of daily access to fresh 
fruits and vegetables.
    Low-income communities that are currently "food deserts" 
lacking sufficient markets selling fresh fruits and vegetables 
would benefit from local food distribution systems.
    The State's urban communities are showing renewed interest 
in growing food in urban areas.
    Rural communities would be revitalized by increasing the 
number of families in the State that live on small properties 
and by providing fresh high-value local food.
    Farmers who wish to transition from conventional 
agriculture to local and organic food would benefit from 
training and support to diversify their farming operations.
    Food consumers, farmers, and entrepreneurs would benefit 
from an expanded infrastructure for processing, storing, and 
distributing locally grown foods.
    The capture of existing food dollars within the State would 
help to revitalize the State's treasury by creating a broad 
range of new in-state jobs and business opportunities within 
both rural and urban communities.
    For the purposes of this Act and for the retention of the 
greatest benefit from every food dollar spent in this State, 
support for local food means capturing in Illinois the greatest 
portion of food production, processing, storing, and 
distribution possible.


 
    Section 10. Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task 
Force.    The Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force 
("the Task Force") shall be appointed by the Governor within 60 
days after the effective date of this Act.  The Task Force shall 
be convened by the Department of  Agriculture and shall include 
the following Illinois-based members:
    (a) one representative each from the Departments of 
Agriculture, Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Human 
Services;
    (b) four organic farmers, representing different dairy, 
meat, vegetable, and grains sectors;
    (c) four specialty crop producers, representing different 
flower, fruit, viticulture, aquaculture, fiber, vegetable, and 
ornamental sectors;
    (d) two organic processors;
    (e) one organic distributor and one non-organic 
distributor;
    (f) three representatives of not-for-profit educational 
organizations;
    (g) one organic certifier;
    (h) one consumer representative;
    (i) two representatives of farm organizations;
    (j) one university agricultural specialist;
    (k) one philanthropic organization representative;
    (l) one food retailer representative;
    (m) two municipal representatives from different 
communities in the State;
    (n) four representatives from community-based 
organizations focusing on food access,
to include at least 3 
minority members; and
    (o) one chef specializing in the preparation of locally 
grown organic foods.
    All members of the Task Force shall be appointed for a 
2-year term.

 
    Section 15. Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Plan.   
The Task Force shall develop a plan containing policy and 
funding recommendations for expanding and supporting a State 
local and organic food system and for assessing and overcoming 
obstacles to an increase in locally grown food and local 
organic food production.   The Task Force shall prepare and 
submit its plan in a report to the General Assembly by 
September 30, 2008, for consideration of its recommendations in 
the 96th General Assembly.  The Plan, among other matters, 
shall:
    (a) identify land preservation and acquisition 
opportunities for local and organic
agriculture in rural, 
suburban, and urban areas;
    (b) identify farmer training and development, as 
necessary, by expanding training programs
such as Farm 
Beginnings, incubator projects such as Prairie Crossing Farm, 
urban agriculture training programs, farmer-to-farmer learning 
opportunities, or other programs;
    (c) identify financial incentives, technical support, and 
training necessary to help Illinois
farmers to transition to 
local, organic, and specialty crop production by minimizing 
their financial losses during the 3-year transition period 
required under USDA standards and to help with recordkeeping 
requirements;
    (d) identify strategies and funding needs to make fresh and 
affordable Illinois-grown foods
more accessible, both in rural 
and urban communities, with an emphasis on creating new food 
outlets in communities that need them;
    (e) identify the financial and technical support necessary 
to build connections between
landowners, farmers, buyers, and 
consumers;

    (f) identify the financial and technical support necessary 
to build a local food infrastructure
of processing, storage, 
and distribution;
    (g) identify the financial and technical support necessary 
to develop new food and
agriculture-related businesses for 
local food and organic food production and distribution, such 
as on-farm processing, micro-markets, incubator kitchens, and 
marketing and communications businesses;
    (h) identify the financial and technical support necessary 
to expand the development of
farmers markets, roadside markets, 
and local grocery stores in unserved and underserved areas, as 
well as the creation of year-round public markets in Chicago 
and other large communities;
    (i) research, identify, and coordinate best practices and 
opportunities for the development
of local food and organic 
food production;
    (j) identify opportunities to educate the public and 
producers about the benefits of local
foods systems and about 
the development opportunities provided through this Act; and
    (k) identify legal impediments to local food and organic 
food production, and develop
recommendations for a remedy.

 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.