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91_SR0049
LRB9106160EGfgA
1 SENATE 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 SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL
20 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created the
21 Industrial Hemp Investigative and Advisory Task Force
22 consisting of the Director of Agriculture or his or her
23 designee, who shall be chairperson, and 12 additional
24 members, 6 each, selected by the President of the Senate and
25 the Minority Leader of the Senate, representing expertise in
26 the fields of plant science, food processing science, law
27 enforcement, herbology, manufacturing, and the Illinois
28 Specialty Growers Association; members of the Task Force
29 shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for
30 their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds
31 appropriated for that purpose; and be it further
-2- LRB9106160EGfgA
1 RESOLVED, The Task Force shall study the economic
2 viability of industrial hemp production in this State, shall
3 identify any legal or other obstacles to industrial hemp
4 production, shall make any recommendations it deems
5 appropriate, and shall report its findings and
6 recommendations to the Illinois Senate by January 1, 2000;
7 and upon reporting to the Senate, the Task Force shall be
8 dissolved; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet initially at the
10 call of the chairperson, shall hold public hearings, and
11 shall receive the assistance of legislative staff; and be it
12 further
13 RESOLVED, That the University of Illinois College of ACES
14 (Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences) is
15 requested to work with the Task Force and cooperate in
16 undertaking the study; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
18 delivered to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of
19 Representatives, the President of the University of Illinois,
20 and the Illinois Director of Agriculture.