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90_HB0604eng
New Act
Creates the Community Food Garden Act. Establishes the
Illinois Community Nutrition Task Force. Provides that the
Task Force shall establish community food gardens in at least
2 Illinois communities. Provides that the Department of
Central Management Services shall identify State property
suitable for the establishment of community food gardens.
Establishes the duties of the Task Force. Provides for the
use of food grown in community gardens. Provides that the
Department of Central Management Services may execute leases
and contracts and enter into other transactions necessary to
accomplish the purposes of this Act. Effective immediately.
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1 AN ACT concerning community food gardens.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Community Food Garden Act.
6 Section 5. Illinois Community Nutrition Task Force;
7 pilot program.
8 (a) The Illinois Community Nutrition Task Force is
9 established to develop, implement, and evaluate a 2-year
10 community food garden pilot program using underutilized State
11 land or other appropriate property in at least 2 Illinois
12 communities.
13 (b) The Task Force shall report the results of its
14 evaluations to the General Assembly.
15 Section 10. Composition of the Task Force. The Task
16 Force shall be composed of:
17 (a) Representatives of each of the following agencies
18 appointed by the Governor:
19 (1) the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
20 (2) the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.
21 (3) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
22 (4) the Interagency Nutrition Council.
23 (5) the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.
24 (6) the Illinois Community Action Association.
25 (7) the Illinois Association of Senior Centers.
26 (b) 3 representatives of nonprofit organizations that
27 work in low-income communities or with Illinois farmers on
28 projects to increase food security, one of whom shall be
29 appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be appointed by
30 the Director of the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service,
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1 and one of whom shall be appointed by the Director of Central
2 Management Services.
3 Section 15. Identification of suitable underutilized
4 property. The Task Force shall make recommendations to the
5 Department of Central Management Services concerning
6 underutilized State property that is suitable for the
7 establishment of community food gardens.
8 Section 20. Establishment of community food gardens.
9 (a) The Task Force shall select suitable State property
10 identified by the Department of Central Management Services
11 or other appropriate property in at least 2 communities for
12 the establishment of pilot program community food gardens.
13 (b) Each agency on the Task Force shall provide
14 resources, information, and staff support for the
15 establishment of community food gardens.
16 (c) Agencies that are members of the Task Force shall:
17 (1) identify community groups, non-profit
18 organizations, local government agencies, and persons in
19 communities near the gardens that will be helpful in
20 implementing the program;
21 (2) work with community groups to develop a
22 community food garden plan and to identify the resources
23 necessary to implement the plan;
24 (3) teach youth and adults in communities near the
25 gardens the basics of gardening for food, nutrition, and
26 how that knowledge benefits their health and economic
27 security; and
28 (4) use Department of Public Aid recipients who are
29 required to volunteer for 20 hours under welfare reform.
30 Section 25. Food grown in gardens. Food grown in a
31 community food garden may not be sold for individual profit
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1 but may be:
2 (a) sold at or below cost, as appropriate, to local
3 low-income families;
4 (b) donated to local families at risk for hunger;
5 (c) sold to the general public with the proceeds of the
6 sales used to benefit the continued operation of the gardens;
7 or
8 (d) donated to local food pantries, homeless shelters,
9 or food banks.
10 Section 30. Transactions related to land. On behalf of
11 the Task Force, the State, and any affected State agency, the
12 Department of Central Management Services may, if necessary,
13 execute leases and contracts or enter into other transactions
14 related to land to accomplish the purposes of this Act. The
15 term of a contract, lease, or other transaction executed
16 under this Act may not extend past September 1, 1999.
17 Section 35. Repeal. This Act is repealed on September
18 1, 1999.
19 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
20 becoming law.
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