HB4234 EngrossedLRB100 15721 SLF 30827 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning agriculture.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Farmer 
5Equity Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative Findings. This State recognizes the 
7importance of investing in the long-term prosperity of our food 
8and farming system, beginning with farmers. It is the intent of 
9the General Assembly that the Director of  Agriculture should 
10support socially disadvantaged farmers and include this 
11support in the Department's vision and its relevant policies.
 
12    Section 10. Definitions.
In this Act:
13    "Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
14    "Director" means the Director of Agriculture.
15    "Socially disadvantaged farmers" means a farmer who is a 
16member of a socially disadvantaged group.
17    "Socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members 
18have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice 
19because of their identity as members of a group without regard 
20to that member's personal qualities. "Socially disadvantaged 
21group" includes, but is not limited to, African Americans, 
22Native Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans, 
 
 
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1and Pacific Islanders.
2    "Urbanized area" means a geographic location with a 
3population of at least 50,000 people.
 
4    Section 15. Inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers.
5    (a) The Department shall ensure the inclusion of socially 
6disadvantaged farmers, including socially disadvantaged 
7farmers in urbanized areas, in the development, adoption, 
8implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws, 
9regulations, policies, and programs.
10    (b) The Director shall create a position within the 
11Department's office to support the efforts of this Act. The 
12person appointed to this position shall report to the Director.
13    (c) The Department shall:
14        (1) consult with the Director of the Environmental 
15    Protection Agency, the Director of Natural Resources, the 
16    Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development 
17    Authority, the Secretary of Human Services, and other 
18    interested parties of the public and private sector of the 
19    State on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers 
20    to coordinate State programs;
21        (2) disseminate information regarding opportunities 
22    provided by, including, but not limited to, the United 
23    States Department of Agriculture, the United States 
24    Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting 
25    Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other 
 
 
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1    federal agencies that that have programs that may assist 
2    socially disadvantaged farmers; and
3        (3) evaluate opportunities for the inclusion of 
4    socially disadvantaged farmers in boards, committees, 
5    commissions, and other similar positions created by the 
6    Department.
 
7    Section 20. Report. On or before January 1, 2020, the 
8Department shall submit a report to the Governor and the 
9General Assembly on efforts to serve socially disadvantaged 
10farmers and female farmers in this State. The report shall 
11include recommendations to the Governor and the General 
12Assembly on how to improve processes to include socially 
13disadvantaged farmers. The report to the General Assembly shall 
14be filed electronically with the General Assembly as provided 
15under Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and 
16shall be provided electronically to any member of the General 
17Assembly upon request.
 
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
19becoming law.