HB0211 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 05723 RSP 35775 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB0211

Introduced 1/13/2005, by Rep. William Delgado

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 605/605-600

was 20 ILCS 605/46.19f

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Authorizes the Department to form the Illinois Food Systems Policy Council. Provides that the Council's purposes are to develop policies around food access and security, improve individual health and well-being, promote economic incentives for Illinois farmers, agri-businesses, and other private enterprises, and encourage public/private partnerships around healthy food options. Sets out certain entities that must be represented on the Council. Requires the Department to administer the Council. Requires the Council to make annual reports to the General Assembly.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section 605-600 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-600) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.19f)

Sec. 605-600. Buy Illinois Program. The Department shall have the authority to establish and administer a Buy Illinois Program, which may include, but is not limited to, the following powers and duties:

(1) To accept grants, loans, or appropriations from the federal government or the State or any agency or instrumentality thereof, and to assess fees for any services performed under the Buy Illinois Program, to carry out the program.

(2) To form a Buy Illinois Council, made up of Illinois large firms and small firms, to provide advice and counsel in directing a statewide program.

(3) To publicize and advertise to Illinois firms and government agencies the importance and benefits of buying goods and services provided by vendors located within the State.

(4) To secure the cooperation of Illinois' large firms, federal, State and local governments, non-profit agencies, international organizations, and others to carry out this program.

(5) To match the needs for products and services by business firms and government agencies with the capabilities of small Illinois firms that can provide those needed goods and services.

(6) To hold purchasing agent seminars, fairs, conferences and workshops to aid small Illinois businesses in obtaining contracts for goods and services from larger firms and government agencies within the State.

(7) To assist business firms and government agencies to analyze their buying activities and to find ways to carry out those activities in an effective and economical manner, while promoting subcontract activity with small Illinois firms.

(8) To establish manual and electronic buying directories, including stand alone computer data bases that list qualified vendors and procurement opportunities.

(9) To promote through other means the use by international agencies, government agencies, and larger businesses of products and services produced by small Illinois firms.

(10) To subcontract, grant funds, or otherwise participate with qualified private firms, existing procurement centers, or other organizations that have designed programs approved in accordance with procedures determined by the Department, that are aimed at assisting small Illinois firms in obtaining contracts for products and services from local government agencies and larger Illinois businesses.

(11) To develop and administer guidelines for projects that provide assistance to the Department in connection with the Buy Illinois Program.

(12) To form the Illinois Food Systems Policy Council to develop policies around food access and security, improve individual health and well-being, promote economic incentives for Illinois farmers, agri-businesses, and other private enterprises, and encourage public/private partnerships around healthy food options. Membership on the Council shall, at a minimum, include representatives from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources, the State Board of Education, the Food Nutrition and Education Program, farmers and farm associations, businesses and business associations, including agri-businesses and food processing businesses, and community based organizations, including those working on food access, security, and delivery and on obesity prevention. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall administer the Council. The Council must submit an annual report to the General Assembly describing the Council's work, including, without limitation, performance indicators to measure the impact of policies and practices adopted by the Council.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)