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91_HB1897enr
HB1897 Enrolled LRB9104720DHmg
1 AN ACT creating the Illinois Value-Added Agricultural
2 Enhancement Program.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
6 amended by adding Section 40.43 as follows:
7 (20 ILCS 205/40.43 new)
8 Sec. 40.43. Value Added Agricultural Products.
9 (a) To expend funds appropriated to the Department of
10 Agriculture to develop and implement a grant program for
11 value added agricultural products, to be called the "Illinois
12 Value-Added Agriculture Enhancement Program". The grants are
13 to provide 50% of (i) the cost of undertaking feasibility
14 studies, competitive assessments, and consulting or
15 productivity services that the Department determines may
16 result in enhancement of value added agricultural products
17 and (ii) seed money for new or expanding agribusiness.
18 (b) "Agribusiness" means any sole proprietorship,
19 limited partnership, copartnership, joint venture,
20 corporation, or cooperative that operates or will operate a
21 facility located within the State of Illinois that is related
22 to the processing of agricultural commodities (including,
23 without limitation, the products of aquaculture, hydroponics,
24 and silviculture) or the manufacturing, production, or
25 construction of agricultural buildings, structures,
26 equipment, implements, and supplies, or any other facilities
27 or processes used in agricultural production. Agribusiness
28 includes but is not limited to the following:
29 (1) grain handling and processing, including grain
30 storage, drying, treatment, conditioning, milling, and
31 packaging;
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1 (2) seed and feed grain development and processing;
2 (3) fruit and vegetable processing, including
3 preparation, canning, and packaging;
4 (4) processing of livestock and livestock products,
5 dairy products, poultry and poultry products, fish, or
6 apiarian products, including slaughter, shearing,
7 collecting, preparation, canning, and packaging;
8 (5) fertilizer and agricultural chemical
9 manufacturing, processing, application, and supplying;
10 (6) farm machinery, equipment, and implement
11 manufacturing and supplying;
12 (7) manufacturing and supplying of agricultural
13 commodity processing machinery and equipment, including
14 machinery and equipment used in slaughter, treatment,
15 handling, collecting, preparation, canning, or packaging
16 of agricultural commodities;
17 (8) farm building and farm structure manufacturing,
18 construction, and supplying;
19 (9) construction, manufacturing, implementation,
20 supplying, or servicing of irrigation, drainage, and soil
21 and water conservation devices or equipment;
22 (10) fuel processing and development facilities
23 that produce fuel from agricultural commodities or
24 by-products;
25 (11) facilities and equipment for processing and
26 packaging agricultural commodities specifically for
27 export;
28 (12) facilities and equipment for forestry product
29 processing and supplying, including sawmilling
30 operations, wood chip operations, timber harvesting
31 operations, and manufacturing of prefabricated buildings,
32 paper, furniture, or other goods from forestry products;
33 and
34 (13) facilities and equipment for research and
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1 development of products, processes, and equipment for the
2 production, processing, preparation, or packaging of
3 agricultural commodities and by-products.
4 (c) The "Illinois Value-Added Agriculture Enhancement
5 Program Fund" is created as a special fund in the State
6 Treasury to provide grants to Illinois' small agribusinesses,
7 subject to appropriation for that purpose. Each grant
8 awarded under this program shall provide funding for up to
9 50% of the cost of (i) the development of valued added
10 agricultural products or (ii) seed money for new or expanding
11 agribusiness, not to exceed 50% of appropriated funds.
12 Notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, the
13 fund shall not be used to provide seed money to an Illinois
14 small agribusiness for the purpose of compliance with the
15 provisions of the Livestock Management Facilities Act.
16 (d) For the purposes of this Section, "Illinois small
17 agribusiness" means a "small business concern" as defined in
18 Title 15 United States Code, Section 632, that primarily
19 conducts its business in Illinois.
20 (e) The Department shall make such rules and regulations
21 as may be necessary to carry out its statutory duties. Among
22 other duties, the Department, through the program, may do all
23 of the following:
24 (1) Make and enter into contracts, including but
25 not limited to making grants specified by the General
26 Assembly pursuant to appropriations by the General
27 Assembly from the Illinois Value-Added Agriculture
28 Enhancement Program Fund, and generally to do all such
29 things as, in its judgment, may be necessary, proper, and
30 expedient in accomplishing its duties.
31 (2) Provide for, staff, and administer a program in
32 which the Department shall plan and coordinate State
33 efforts designed to aid and stimulate the development of
34 value-added agribusiness.
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1 (3) Make grants on the terms and conditions that
2 the Department shall determine, except that no grant made
3 under the provisions of this item (3) shall exceed 50% of
4 the direct costs.
5 (4) Act as the State Agriculture Planning Agency,
6 and accept and use planning grants or other financial
7 assistance from the federal government (i) for statewide
8 comprehensive planning work including research and
9 coordination activity directly related to agriculture
10 needs; and (ii) for state and inter-state comprehensive
11 planning and research and coordination activity related
12 thereto. All such grants shall be subject to the terms
13 and conditions prescribed by the federal government.
14 (f) The Illinois Value-Added Agricultural Enhancement
15 Fund is subject to the provisions of the Illinois Grant Funds
16 Recovery Act (GFRA).
17 Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
18 Section 5.490 as follows:
19 (30 ILCS 105/5.490 new)
20 Sec. 5.490. The Illinois Value-Added Agriculture
21 Enhancement Program Fund.
22 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
23 becoming law.
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