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| | HB4234 Enrolled | | LRB100 15721 SLF 30827 b |
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| 1 | | AN ACT concerning agriculture.
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| 2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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| 3 | | represented in the General Assembly:
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| 4 | | Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Farmer |
| 5 | | Equity Act.
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| 6 | | Section 5. Legislative Findings. This State recognizes the |
| 7 | | importance of investing in the long-term prosperity of our food |
| 8 | | and farming system, beginning with farmers. It is the intent of |
| 9 | | the General Assembly that the Director of Agriculture should |
| 10 | | support socially disadvantaged farmers and include this |
| 11 | | support in the Department's vision and its relevant policies.
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| 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 |
| 16 | | member of a socially disadvantaged group. |
| 17 | | "Socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members |
| 18 | | have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice |
| 19 | | because of their identity as members of a group without regard |
| 20 | | to that member's personal qualities. "Socially disadvantaged |
| 21 | | group" includes, but is not limited to, African Americans, |
| 22 | | Native Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans, |
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| 1 | | and Pacific Islanders. |
| 2 | | "Urbanized area" means a geographic location with a |
| 3 | | population of at least 50,000 people.
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| 4 | | Section 15. Inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers. |
| 5 | | (a) The Department shall ensure the inclusion of socially |
| 6 | | disadvantaged farmers, including socially disadvantaged |
| 7 | | farmers in urbanized areas, in the development, adoption, |
| 8 | | implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws, |
| 9 | | regulations, policies, and programs. |
| 10 | | (b) The Department shall: |
| 11 | | (1) consult with the Director of the Environmental |
| 12 | | Protection Agency, the Director of Natural Resources, the |
| 13 | | Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development |
| 14 | | Authority, the Secretary of Human Services, and other |
| 15 | | interested parties of the public and private sector of the |
| 16 | | State on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers |
| 17 | | to coordinate State programs; |
| 18 | | (2) disseminate information regarding opportunities |
| 19 | | provided by, including, but not limited to, the United |
| 20 | | States Department of Agriculture, the United States |
| 21 | | Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting |
| 22 | | Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other |
| 23 | | federal agencies that that have programs that may assist |
| 24 | | socially disadvantaged farmers; and |
| 25 | | (3) evaluate opportunities for the inclusion of |
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| 1 | | socially disadvantaged farmers in boards, committees, |
| 2 | | commissions, and other similar positions created by the |
| 3 | | Department.
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| 4 | | Section 20. Report. On or before January 1, 2020, the |
| 5 | | Department shall submit a report to the Governor and the |
| 6 | | General Assembly on efforts to serve socially disadvantaged |
| 7 | | farmers and female farmers in this State. The report shall |
| 8 | | include recommendations to the Governor and the General |
| 9 | | Assembly on how to improve processes to include socially |
| 10 | | disadvantaged farmers. The report to the General Assembly shall |
| 11 | | be filed electronically with the General Assembly as provided |
| 12 | | under Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and |
| 13 | | shall be provided electronically to any member of the General |
| 14 | | Assembly upon request.
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| 15 | | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |
| 16 | | becoming law.
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