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91_HR0168
LRB9106401CBcb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Industrial hemp is a valuable product in the
3 commercial marketplace, creating jobs and opening up new
4 markets and fields for employment and revenue; and
5 WHEREAS, Several states have begun the process of
6 enacting legislation that would legalize industrial hemp
7 production and sales in those states; and
8 WHEREAS, Hawaii, Vermont, Colorado, Minnesota, North
9 Dakota, New Mexico, Virginia, Montana, and Missouri have all
10 introduced legislation regarding industrial hemp in their
11 1999 legislatures; and
12 WHEREAS, An investigation into the merits and values of
13 industrial hemp is needed to consider whether the State of
14 Illinois should consider passing legislation to implement the
15 production of industrial hemp; and
16 WHEREAS, An investigative task force would be able to
17 take the time and facilitate the necessary research to
18 examine the hemp issue; therefore, be it
19 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21 there is created the Industrial Hemp Investigative and
22 Advisory Task Force consisting of the Director of Agriculture
23 or his or her designee, who shall be chairperson, and 12
24 additional members, 6 each, selected by the Speaker of the
25 House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House
26 of Representatives, representing expertise in the fields of
27 plant science, food processing science, law enforcement,
28 herbology, manufacturing, and the Illinois Specialty Growers
29 Association; members of the Task Force shall serve without
30 compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
31 necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose;
-2- LRB9106401CBcb
1 and be it further
2 RESOLVED, The Task Force shall study the economic
3 viability of industrial hemp production in this State, shall
4 identify any legal or other obstacles to industrial hemp
5 production, shall make any recommendations it deems
6 appropriate, and shall report its findings and
7 recommendations to the Illinois House of Representatives by
8 January 1, 2000; and upon reporting to the House of
9 Representatives, the Task Force shall be dissolved; and be it
10 further
11 RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet initially at the
12 call of the chairperson, shall hold public hearings, and
13 shall receive the assistance of legislative staff; and be it
14 further
15 RESOLVED, That the University of Illinois College of ACES
16 (Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences) is
17 requested to work with the Task Force and cooperate in
18 undertaking the study; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
20 delivered to the the President of the University of Illinois
21 and the Illinois Director of Agriculture.