Public Act 099-0928
 
SB1367 EnrolledLRB099 07958 KTG 28098 b


  
    AN ACT concerning public aid.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  



 
 
    Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 
Section 5.878 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.878 new)
    Sec. 5.878. The Healthy Local Food Incentives  Fund.
 
    Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended  by 
adding Section 12-4.50 as follows:
 
    (305 ILCS 5/12-4.50 new)
    Sec. 12-4.50. Healthy Local Food Incentives Program. 
    (a) Legislative findings. Diet and other lifestyle choices 
contribute to more than half of all deaths in Illinois. Health 
risk factors include smoking, obesity, stress, nutrition, high 
blood pressure, and alcohol and drug use. Illinois residents 
should be encouraged to adopt diets and lifestyles that lead to 
wellness. The State can help provide that encouragement by 
funding wellness programs that enhance the health of Illinois 
residents. Healthy local food incentives encourage wellness 
among some of the most vulnerable residents of Illinois (those 
whose incomes are below the poverty line and who often have 
limited access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods) by 
doubling the purchasing power of LINK cardholders at farmers 
markets across the State. The benefits of such a program 
include: an increase in population health, Medicaid health care 
cost savings, decreased incidence of preventable diseases, 
increased revenue for Illinois small farmers, and economic 
stimulus for the region.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this Section: 
    "FINI eligible fruits and vegetables" means any variety of 
fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and 
vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e. 
sodium), as defined by the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive 
Grant Program administered by the United States Department of 
Agriculture. 
    "LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card 
issued by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of 
enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash. 
    "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program. 
    (c) The Department of Human Services shall establish a 
Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing 
power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits 
and vegetables. The Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund is 
created as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose 
of implementing the Healthy Local Food Incentives Program. All 
moneys received pursuant to this Section shall be deposited 
into the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund. 
    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human 
Services shall make an annual grant of $500,000 from the Fund 
to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency, 
which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers 
markets for the purpose of providing  matching  dollar incentives 
(up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP 
benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at 
participating Illinois farmers markets and direct 
producer-to-consumer venues. 
    (e) The designated qualified non-profit organization or 
agency shall have a demonstrated track record of:
        (1) building a statewide network;
        (2) designing and implementing successful healthy food 
    incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local 
    producers;
        (3) implementing funds distribution and reporting 
    processes;
        (4) providing training and technical assistance to 
    farmers markets;
        (5) conducting community outreach and data collection; 
    and 
        (6) providing full accounting and administration of 
    funds distributed to farmers markets. 
    (f) 100% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be 
distributed  to participating Illinois farmers markets for 
healthy local food incentives. 
    (g) Within 90 days after the end of a grant cycle, the 
designated qualified non-profit organization or agency shall 
submit a progress report to the Department of Human Services. 
The progress report shall include the following information: 
        (1) the names and locations of Illinois farmers markets 
    and direct producer-to-consumer venues that received funds 
    distributed  under the Program;
        (2) the dollar amount of funds awarded to each 
    participating Illinois farmers market and direct 
    producer-to-consumer venue;
        (3) the dollar amount of SNAP benefits, and funds 
    provided under the Program, that were spent at Illinois 
    farmers markets participating in the Program, as well as 
    the dollar amount of any unspent funds available under the 
    Program;
        (4) the number of SNAP transactions carried out 
    annually at participating Illinois farmers markets;
        (5) the impact of the Program on increasing the 
    quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP 
    families, as determined by customer surveys. 
    (h) No later than December 31, 2017, the Department of 
Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of 
this Section. 
    (i) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2019. 
  
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.