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1 | AN ACT concerning State government.
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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 Blind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Vendors Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Section 5. Definitions.
As used in this Act: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | "Blind licensee" means a blind person licensed by the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Department to operate a vending facility on State, federal, or | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | other
property. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | "Blind person" means a person whose central visual acuity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | or whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, is accompanied | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | by a limit to the field of vision in the better eye to such a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle of no greater | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | than 20 degrees. In determining whether an individual is blind, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | there shall be an examination by a physician skilled in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | individual shall select. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | "Building" means only the portion of a structure owned or | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | leased by the State or any State agency. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | "Cafeteria" means a food dispensing facility capable of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | providing
a broad variety of prepared foods and beverages | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | (including hot meals)
primarily through the use of a line where |
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1 | the customer serves himself
or herself from displayed | ||||||
2 | selections. A cafeteria may be fully automatic or some
limited | ||||||
3 | waiter or waitress service may be available and provided within
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4 | a cafeteria and table or booth seating facilities are always | ||||||
5 | provided.
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6 | "Committee" means the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, | ||||||
7 | an independent representative body for blind vendors | ||||||
8 | established by the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act. | ||||||
9 | "Department" means the Department of Human Services. | ||||||
10 | "Director" means the Bureau Director of the Bureau for the | ||||||
11 | Blind in the Department of Human Services. | ||||||
12 | "Federal property" means any structure, land, or other real
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13 | property owned, leased, or occupied by any department, agency | ||||||
14 | or
instrumentality of the United States (including the | ||||||
15 | Department of
Defense and the U.S. Postal Service), or any | ||||||
16 | other instrumentality
wholly owned by the United States, or by | ||||||
17 | any department or agency of the
District of Columbia or any | ||||||
18 | territory or possession of the United
States. | ||||||
19 | "License" means a written instrument issued by the | ||||||
20 | Department to a blind person, authorizing such person to | ||||||
21 | operate a vending
facility on State, federal, or other | ||||||
22 | property.
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23 | "Net proceeds" means the amount remaining from the sale of
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24 | articles or services of vending facilities, and any vending | ||||||
25 | machine or
other income accruing to blind vendors after | ||||||
26 | deducting the cost of such
sale and other expenses (excluding |
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1 | any set-aside charges required to be paid
by the blind | ||||||
2 | vendors). | ||||||
3 | "Normal working hours" means an 8 hour work period between | ||||||
4 | the
approximate hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through | ||||||
5 | Friday. | ||||||
6 | "Other property" means property that is not State or | ||||||
7 | federal property and
on which vending facilities are | ||||||
8 | established or operated by the use of
any funds derived in | ||||||
9 | whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the
operation of | ||||||
10 | vending facilities on any State or federal property. | ||||||
11 | "Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services. | ||||||
12 | "Set-aside funds" means funds that accrue to the Department | ||||||
13 | from an assessment against the net income of each vending
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14 | facility in the State's vending facility program and any income | ||||||
15 | from
vending machines on State or federal property that accrues | ||||||
16 | to the Department. | ||||||
17 | "State agency" means any department, board, commission, or | ||||||
18 | agency created by the Constitution or Public Act, whether in | ||||||
19 | the executive, legislative, or judicial branch. | ||||||
20 | "State property" means all property owned, leased, or | ||||||
21 | rented by any State agency. For purposes of this Act, "State | ||||||
22 | property" does not include property owned or controlled by a | ||||||
23 | unit of local government or school district. | ||||||
24 | "Vending facility" means automatic vending machines,
snack | ||||||
25 | bars, cart service, counters, rest areas, and such other | ||||||
26 | appropriate
auxiliary equipment that may be operated by blind |
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1 | vendors and that
is necessary for the sale of newspapers, | ||||||
2 | periodicals, confections,
tobacco products, foods, beverages, | ||||||
3 | and notions
dispensed automatically or manually and prepared on | ||||||
4 | or off the premises
in accordance with all applicable health | ||||||
5 | laws, and including the vending
and payment of any lottery | ||||||
6 | tickets or shares authorized by State law and
conducted by a | ||||||
7 | State agency within the State. Vending facility does not | ||||||
8 | include cafeterias, restaurants, or the Department of | ||||||
9 | Corrections' non-vending machine commissaries.
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10 | "Vending machine", for the purpose of assigning vending | ||||||
11 | machine
income under this Act, means a coin or currency | ||||||
12 | operated machine that
dispenses articles or services, except | ||||||
13 | that those machines operated by
the United States Postal | ||||||
14 | Service for the sale of postage stamps or other
postal products | ||||||
15 | and services, machines providing services of a
recreational | ||||||
16 | nature, and telephones shall not be considered to be
vending | ||||||
17 | machines. | ||||||
18 | "Vending machine income" means the commissions or fees paid | ||||||
19 | to the State from vending machine operations on State property | ||||||
20 | where the machines are operated, serviced,
or maintained by, or | ||||||
21 | with the approval of, a State agency by a commercial or | ||||||
22 | not-for-profit vending concern that operates, services, and | ||||||
23 | maintains vending machines.
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24 | "Vendor" means a blind licensee who is operating a vending
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25 | facility on State, federal, or other property.
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1 | Section 10. Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. | ||||||
2 | (a) The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind is | ||||||
3 | created for the purposes of providing blind persons with | ||||||
4 | remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities | ||||||
5 | of the blind, and stimulating the blind to greater efforts in | ||||||
6 | striving to make themselves self-supporting. In order to | ||||||
7 | achieve these goals, blind persons licensed under this Act | ||||||
8 | shall be authorized to operate vending facilities on any | ||||||
9 | property within this State as provided by this Act. | ||||||
10 | It is the intent of the General Assembly that the | ||||||
11 | Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 USC Sections 107-107f, and the | ||||||
12 | federal regulations for its administration set forth in Part | ||||||
13 | 395 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shall serve | ||||||
14 | as a model for minimum standards for the operation of the | ||||||
15 | Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. The federal | ||||||
16 | Randolph-Sheppard Act provides employment opportunities for | ||||||
17 | individuals who are blind or visually impaired through the | ||||||
18 | Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Under the | ||||||
19 | Randolph-Sheppard Act, all federal agencies are required to | ||||||
20 | give priority to licensed blind vendors in the operation of | ||||||
21 | vending facilities on federal property. It is the intent of | ||||||
22 | this Act to provide the same priority to licensed blind vendors | ||||||
23 | on State property by requiring State agencies to give priority | ||||||
24 | to licensed blind vendors in the operation of vending | ||||||
25 | facilities on State property and preference to licensed blind | ||||||
26 | vendors in the operation of cafeteria facilities on State |
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1 | property. Furthermore it is the intent of this Act that all | ||||||
2 | State agencies, particularly the Department of Central | ||||||
3 | Management Services, promote and advocate for the Business | ||||||
4 | Enterprise Program for the Blind. | ||||||
5 | (b) The Secretary, through the Director, shall continue, | ||||||
6 | maintain, and promote the Business Enterprise Program for the | ||||||
7 | Blind. Some or all of the functions of the program may be | ||||||
8 | provided by the Department of Human Services. The Business | ||||||
9 | Enterprise Program for the Blind must provide that: | ||||||
10 | (1) priority is given to blind vendors in the operation | ||||||
11 | of vending facilities on State property; | ||||||
12 | (2) tie bid preference is given to blind vendors in the | ||||||
13 | operation of cafeterias on State property, unless the | ||||||
14 | cafeteria operations are operated by employees of a State | ||||||
15 | agency; | ||||||
16 | (3) vending machine income from all vending machines on | ||||||
17 | State property is assigned as provided for by Section 30 of | ||||||
18 | this Act; | ||||||
19 | (4) no State agency may impose any commission, service | ||||||
20 | charge, rent, or utility charge on a licensed blind vendor | ||||||
21 | who is operating a vending facility on State property; and | ||||||
22 | (5) vending facilities operated by the Program use | ||||||
23 | reasonable and necessary means and methods to maintain fair | ||||||
24 | market pricing in relation to each facility's given | ||||||
25 | demographic, geographic, and other circumstances. | ||||||
26 | (c) With respect to vending facilities on federal property |
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1 | within this State, priority shall be given as provided in the | ||||||
2 | federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 USC Sections 107-107f, | ||||||
3 | including any amendments thereto. This Act, as it applies to | ||||||
4 | federal property, is intended to conform to the federal Act, | ||||||
5 | and is to be of no force or effect if, and to the extent that, | ||||||
6 | any provision of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act is | ||||||
7 | in conflict with the federal Act. Nothing in this subsection | ||||||
8 | shall be construed to impose limitations on the operation of | ||||||
9 | vending facilities on State property, or property other than | ||||||
10 | federal property, or to allow only those activities | ||||||
11 | specifically enumerated in the Randolph-Sheppard Act. | ||||||
12 | (d) The Secretary shall actively pursue all commissions | ||||||
13 | from vending facilities not operated by blind vendors as | ||||||
14 | provided in Section 30 of this Act, and shall propose new | ||||||
15 | placements of vending facilities on State property where a | ||||||
16 | facility is not yet in place. | ||||||
17 | (e) Partnerships and teaming arrangements between blind | ||||||
18 | vendors and private industry, including franchise operations, | ||||||
19 | shall be fostered and encouraged by the Department. | ||||||
20 | Section 15. Vending facilities on State property. | ||||||
21 | (a) In order to ensure that priority is given to blind | ||||||
22 | vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State | ||||||
23 | property as provided in Section 10, the Secretary, directly or | ||||||
24 | by delegation to the Director, and the Committee shall jointly | ||||||
25 | develop rules to ensure the following: |
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1 | (1) That priority is given to blind persons licensed | ||||||
2 | under this Act or under its predecessor Act (the Blind | ||||||
3 | Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act, 20 ILCS 2420/), | ||||||
4 | including the assignment of vending machine income as | ||||||
5 | provided in this Act. | ||||||
6 | (2) That one or more vending facilities shall be | ||||||
7 | established on all State property to the extent feasible. | ||||||
8 | Where a larger vending facility is determined by the | ||||||
9 | Director and the Committee to be infeasible, every effort | ||||||
10 | shall be made to place vending machines on the property | ||||||
11 | whenever possible. The Director and the Committee shall | ||||||
12 | take into account the following criteria when determining | ||||||
13 | whether establishment of a vending facility is feasible: | ||||||
14 | (A) the number of State employees, visitors, and | ||||||
15 | other potential facility customers on the property in a | ||||||
16 | given period; | ||||||
17 | (B) the size, in square feet, of the area owned, | ||||||
18 | leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by the | ||||||
19 | State; | ||||||
20 | (C) the duration the property is expected to be | ||||||
21 | leased or occupied by the State; | ||||||
22 | (D) whether establishment of a vending facility | ||||||
23 | would adversely affect the interests of the State; and | ||||||
24 | (E) the likelihood that the vending facility would | ||||||
25 | produce an adequate net income for a blind vendor as | ||||||
26 | determined by the average income of all blind vendors |
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1 | in the State. | ||||||
2 | (b) Any determination by the Director, or by the State | ||||||
3 | agency controlling the property, that the placement or | ||||||
4 | operation of a vending facility is not feasible, or that the | ||||||
5 | placement or operation would adversely affect the interests of | ||||||
6 | the State shall be in writing and shall be transmitted to the | ||||||
7 | Committee for review and ratification or rejection. | ||||||
8 | (c) The Secretary, through the Director, subject to the | ||||||
9 | rules developed and adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this | ||||||
10 | Section and the requirements of federal law and regulations, is | ||||||
11 | authorized to select a location for a vending facility and the | ||||||
12 | type of facility to be provided. | ||||||
13 | (d) Beginning January 1, 2010, all State agencies that: | ||||||
14 | (1) undertake to acquire any property, in whole or in | ||||||
15 | part, by ownership, rent, or lease, or that undertake to | ||||||
16 | relocate to any property, shall request a determination | ||||||
17 | from the Director or his or her designee as to whether the | ||||||
18 | new property includes a satisfactory site or sites for the | ||||||
19 | location and operation of a blind vendor vending facility; | ||||||
20 | or | ||||||
21 | (2) undertake to occupy a building that is to be | ||||||
22 | constructed, substantially altered, or renovated, or in | ||||||
23 | the case of a building that is already occupied by the | ||||||
24 | State agency, undertake to substantially alter or renovate | ||||||
25 | that building for use by the State agency; | ||||||
26 | shall request a determination from the Director or his or her |
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1 | designee as to whether that building includes a satisfactory | ||||||
2 | site or sites for the location and operation of a blind vendor | ||||||
3 | vending facility. | ||||||
4 | Upon receiving a request for a determination under this | ||||||
5 | subsection (d), the Director or his or her designee and the | ||||||
6 | Committee shall have 10 days in which to notify that requesting | ||||||
7 | State agency as to whether the new property or building is | ||||||
8 | satisfactory or not satisfactory for the operation of a blind | ||||||
9 | vendor vending facility. A site shall be deemed to be a | ||||||
10 | satisfactory site by examining the potential customer base, | ||||||
11 | including, but not limited to, State employees, State | ||||||
12 | contractual employees, and the general public. The | ||||||
13 | determination shall be based upon a site survey or any other | ||||||
14 | reasonable means enabling an accurate assessment of the | ||||||
15 | location. If the property has an existing private vendor, | ||||||
16 | bottler, or vending machine operator, then the property shall | ||||||
17 | be presumed to be a satisfactory site. If the Director, in | ||||||
18 | consultation with the Committee, determines that the number of | ||||||
19 | people using the location is or will be insufficient to support | ||||||
20 | a vending facility, then the Director shall determine the | ||||||
21 | property to be not satisfactory. | ||||||
22 | Upon a determination by the Director or his or her designee | ||||||
23 | and the Committee that the new property or building is | ||||||
24 | satisfactory for the operation of a blind vendor vending | ||||||
25 | facility, the Director, in consultation with the head of the | ||||||
26 | State agency and in accordance with the rules developed |
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1 | pursuant to subsection (a), shall inform the agency to comply | ||||||
2 | with the priority established for the operation of vending | ||||||
3 | facilities by blind persons under this Act. | ||||||
4 | (e) All State agencies shall fully cooperate with the | ||||||
5 | Department to ensure that priority is given to blind vendors in | ||||||
6 | the operation of vending facilities on State property. This | ||||||
7 | includes notifying the Department prior to the expiration of | ||||||
8 | existing contracts or agreements for vending facilities or when | ||||||
9 | such contracts or agreements are considered for renewal | ||||||
10 | options. The notification must be given, when feasible, no | ||||||
11 | later than 6 months prior to the potential expiration or | ||||||
12 | renewal of the existing vending facility contract or agreement. | ||||||
13 | Section 20. Other vending facilities. The governing body of | ||||||
14 | any unit of local government or school board owning property or | ||||||
15 | persons or entities owning or controlling private property are | ||||||
16 | authorized and encouraged to construct or install on the | ||||||
17 | property, or permit the construction or installation of, | ||||||
18 | vending facilities for operation by blind persons licensed | ||||||
19 | under this Act. In constructing or installing these vending | ||||||
20 | facilities, the amount of space allotted for this purpose | ||||||
21 | should be sufficient to adequately serve the number of persons | ||||||
22 | at the site and to provide the kind of services to be rendered. | ||||||
23 | Section 25. Set-aside funds; Blind Vendors Trust Fund. | ||||||
24 | (a) The Department may provide, by rule, for set-asides |
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1 | similar to those provided in Section 107d-3 of the | ||||||
2 | Randolph-Sheppard Act. If any funds are set aside, or caused to | ||||||
3 | be set aside, from the net proceeds of the operation of vending | ||||||
4 | facilities by blind vendors, the funds shall be set aside only | ||||||
5 | to the extent necessary in a percentage amount not to exceed | ||||||
6 | that determined jointly by the Director and the Committee and | ||||||
7 | published in State rule, and that these funds may be used only | ||||||
8 | for the following purposes: (1) maintenance and replacement of | ||||||
9 | equipment; (2) purchase of new equipment; (3) construction of | ||||||
10 | new vending facilities; (4) funding the functions of the | ||||||
11 | Committee, including legal and other professional services; | ||||||
12 | and (5) retirement or pension funds, health insurance, paid | ||||||
13 | sick leave, and vacation time for blind licensees, so long as | ||||||
14 | these benefits are approved by a majority vote of all Illinois | ||||||
15 | licensed blind vendors that occurs after the Department | ||||||
16 | provides these vendors with information on all matters relevant | ||||||
17 | to these purposes. | ||||||
18 | (b) No set-aside funds shall be collected from a blind | ||||||
19 | vendor when the monthly net proceeds of that vendor are less | ||||||
20 | than $1,000. This amount may be adjusted annually by the | ||||||
21 | Director and the Committee to reflect changes in the cost of | ||||||
22 | living. | ||||||
23 | (c) The Department shall establish, with full | ||||||
24 | participation by the Committee, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund as | ||||||
25 | a separate account managed by the Department for the State's | ||||||
26 | blind vendors. |
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1 | (d) Set-aside funds collected from the operation of all | ||||||
2 | vending facilities administered by the Business Enterprise | ||||||
3 | Program for the Blind shall be placed in the Blind Vendors | ||||||
4 | Trust Fund, which shall include set-aside funds from facilities | ||||||
5 | on federal property. The Fund must provide separately | ||||||
6 | identified sub-accounts for moneys from (i) federal and (ii) | ||||||
7 | State and other facilities, as well as vending machine income | ||||||
8 | generated pursuant to Section 30 of this Act. These funds shall | ||||||
9 | be available until expended and shall not revert to the General | ||||||
10 | Revenue Fund or to any other State account.
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11 | (e) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the | ||||||
12 | expenditure of set-aside funds authorized by this Section shall | ||||||
13 | be supplemental to any current appropriation or other moneys | ||||||
14 | made available for these purposes and shall not constitute an | ||||||
15 | offset of any previously existing appropriation or other | ||||||
16 | funding source. In no way shall this imply that the | ||||||
17 | appropriation for the Blind Vendors Program may never be | ||||||
18 | decreased, rather that the new funds shall not be used as an | ||||||
19 | offset. | ||||||
20 | (f) An amount equal to 10% of the wages paid by a blind | ||||||
21 | vendor to any employee who is blind or otherwise disabled shall | ||||||
22 | be deducted from any set-aside charge paid by the vendor each | ||||||
23 | month, in order to encourage vendors to employ blind and | ||||||
24 | disabled workers and to set an example for industry and | ||||||
25 | government. No deduction shall be made for any employee paid | ||||||
26 | less than the State or federal minimum wage. |
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1 | Section 30. Vending machine income and compliance. | ||||||
2 | (a) After July 1, 2010, all vending machine income, as | ||||||
3 | defined by this Act, from vending machines on State property | ||||||
4 | shall accrue to (1) the blind vendor operating the vending | ||||||
5 | facilities on the property or (2) in the event there is no | ||||||
6 | blind vendor operating a facility on the property, the Blind | ||||||
7 | Vendors Trust Fund for use exclusively as set forth in | ||||||
8 | subsection (a) of Section 25 of this Act. | ||||||
9 | (b) The Secretary, directly or by delegation of authority, | ||||||
10 | shall ensure compliance with this Section and Section 15 of | ||||||
11 | this Act with respect to buildings, installations, facilities, | ||||||
12 | roadside rest stops, and any other State property, and shall be | ||||||
13 | responsible for the collection of, and accounting for, all | ||||||
14 | vending machine income on this property. The Secretary shall | ||||||
15 | enforce these provisions through litigation, arbitration, or | ||||||
16 | any other legal means available to the State, and each State | ||||||
17 | agency in control of this property shall be subject to the | ||||||
18 | enforcement. State agencies or departments failing to comply | ||||||
19 | with an order of the Department may be held in contempt in any | ||||||
20 | court of general jurisdiction. | ||||||
21 | (c) Any limitation on the placement or operation of a | ||||||
22 | vending machine by a State agency based on a determination that | ||||||
23 | such placement or operation would adversely affect the | ||||||
24 | interests of the State must be explained in writing to the | ||||||
25 | Secretary. The Secretary shall promptly determine whether the |
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1 | limitation is justified. If the Secretary determines that the | ||||||
2 | limitation is not justified, the State agency seeking the | ||||||
3 | limitation shall immediately remove the limitation. | ||||||
4 | (d) The amount of vending machine income accruing from | ||||||
5 | vending machines on State property that may be used for the | ||||||
6 | functions of the Committee shall be determined annually by a | ||||||
7 | two-thirds vote of the Committee, except that no more than 25% | ||||||
8 | of the annual vending machine income may be used by the | ||||||
9 | Committee for this purpose, based upon the income accruing to | ||||||
10 | the Blind Vendors Trust Fund in the preceding year. The | ||||||
11 | Committee may establish its budget and expend funds through | ||||||
12 | contract or otherwise without the approval of the Department. | ||||||
13 | Section 40. Licenses. | ||||||
14 | (a) Licenses shall be issued only to blind persons who are | ||||||
15 | qualified to operate vending facilities. The continuing | ||||||
16 | eligibility of a vendor as a blind person shall be reviewed | ||||||
17 | biennially for partially sighted individuals or whenever the | ||||||
18 | Director has information indicating the vendor is no longer | ||||||
19 | blind as defined under this Act. | ||||||
20 | (b) Following agreement by the Secretary, the Director, and | ||||||
21 | the Committee, the Secretary shall adopt and publish rules | ||||||
22 | providing for (1) the requirements for licensure as a blind | ||||||
23 | vendor; (2) a curriculum for training, in-service training, and | ||||||
24 | upward mobility training for blind vendors; and (3) a regular | ||||||
25 | schedule for offering the training, classes to be offered at |
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1 | least once per year. | ||||||
2 | (c) Each license issued pursuant to this Section shall be | ||||||
3 | for an indefinite period as described by rule. The license of a | ||||||
4 | blind vendor may be terminated or suspended for good cause, but | ||||||
5 | only after affording the licensee an opportunity for a full and | ||||||
6 | fair hearing in accordance with the provisions of this Act. | ||||||
7 | Section 45. Committee of Blind Vendors. | ||||||
8 | (a) The Secretary, through the Director, shall provide for | ||||||
9 | the biennial election of the Committee, which shall be fully | ||||||
10 | representative of all blind licensees in the State. There shall | ||||||
11 | be no fewer than one Committee member for each 15 licensed | ||||||
12 | blind vendors in the State. | ||||||
13 | (b) The Committee is empowered to hire staff; contract for | ||||||
14 | consultants including, but not limited to, legal counsel; set | ||||||
15 | agendas and call meetings; create a constitution and bylaws, | ||||||
16 | subcommittees, and budgets; and do any other thing a | ||||||
17 | not-for-profit organization may do through the use of the Blind | ||||||
18 | Vendors Trust Fund. At the discretion of the Committee major | ||||||
19 | issues may be referred for initial consideration to a | ||||||
20 | subcommittee, or to all blind vendors in order to ascertain | ||||||
21 | their views. | ||||||
22 | (c) The Secretary shall ensure that the Committee jointly | ||||||
23 | participates with the State in the development and | ||||||
24 | implementation of all policies, plans, program development, | ||||||
25 | and major administrative and management decisions affecting |
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1 | the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. The Secretary, | ||||||
2 | through the Director, shall provide to the Committee all | ||||||
3 | relevant financial information and data, including quarterly | ||||||
4 | and annual financial reports, on the operation of the vending | ||||||
5 | facility program in order that the Committee may fully | ||||||
6 | participate in budget development and formulation, the | ||||||
7 | establishment of set-aside levels, and other program | ||||||
8 | requirements. A copy of all completed audits, reports, and | ||||||
9 | investigations affecting the Business Enterprise Program for | ||||||
10 | the Blind shall be distributed to the Committee in a timely | ||||||
11 | manner. Any implementation of changes in administrative policy | ||||||
12 | or program development that are within the discretion of the | ||||||
13 | Department shall occur only after Committee review. | ||||||
14 | Section 50. Hearings; arbitration. | ||||||
15 | (a) Any blind vendor dissatisfied with any act or omission | ||||||
16 | arising from the operation or administration of the vending | ||||||
17 | facility program may submit to the Secretary a request for a | ||||||
18 | full evidentiary hearing. This hearing shall be provided in a | ||||||
19 | timely manner by the Department. Damages, including | ||||||
20 | compensatory damages, attorney's fees, and expenses, must be | ||||||
21 | paid to any operator who prevails in the full evidentiary | ||||||
22 | hearing; however, payment of damages may not be paid from any | ||||||
23 | program funds, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund, or federal | ||||||
24 | rehabilitation funds. If the blind vendor is dissatisfied with | ||||||
25 | any action taken or decision rendered as a result of the |
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1 | hearing, that vendor may file a complaint for arbitration with | ||||||
2 | the Secretary. | ||||||
3 | (b) If the Secretary determines that any State agency has | ||||||
4 | failed to comply with the requirements of this Act, the | ||||||
5 | Secretary must establish a panel to arbitrate the dispute and | ||||||
6 | the decision of the panel shall be final and binding on the | ||||||
7 | parties. Any arbitration panel convened by the Secretary shall | ||||||
8 | be composed of 3 members, appointed as follows: | ||||||
9 | (1) one individual appointed by the Secretary; | ||||||
10 | (2) one individual appointed by the State agency | ||||||
11 | determined by the Secretary to be in noncompliance with the | ||||||
12 | Act; and | ||||||
13 | (3) one individual, who shall serve as chairperson, | ||||||
14 | jointly designated by the members appointed under items (1) | ||||||
15 | and (2); provided that, if within 30 days following the | ||||||
16 | Secretary's determination of noncompliance either party | ||||||
17 | fails to appoint a panel member, or if the parties are | ||||||
18 | unable to agree on the appointment of the chairperson, the | ||||||
19 | Secretary shall select the final panel member or may | ||||||
20 | designate a hearing officer of the Department who shall | ||||||
21 | preside. | ||||||
22 | (c) The Secretary may issue a letter of reprimand to a | ||||||
23 | blind vendor who violates program rules or policy. Depending | ||||||
24 | upon the seriousness of the alleged violation, the letter of | ||||||
25 | reprimand may indicate the intention to suspend or terminate | ||||||
26 | the license of the vendor. All reprimand letters shall be sent |
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1 | in a medium accessible by the vendor, and shall be sent by | ||||||
2 | certified mail, return receipt requested. The Secretary must | ||||||
3 | make every reasonable effort to assist the subject vendor to | ||||||
4 | correct the problem for which the vendor is reprimanded. No | ||||||
5 | process to suspend or terminate a license shall be initiated | ||||||
6 | before the vendor is accorded the opportunity for a full | ||||||
7 | evidentiary hearing as provided under subsection (a). A vendor | ||||||
8 | may be summarily removed from a facility only in an emergency. | ||||||
9 | Section 60. General provisions. | ||||||
10 | (a) Blind vendors operating vending facilities are subject | ||||||
11 | to the applicable license or permit requirements of the county | ||||||
12 | or municipality in which the facility is located necessary for | ||||||
13 | the conduct of their business. | ||||||
14 | (b) Vendors licensed pursuant to this Act are authorized to | ||||||
15 | keep guide animals with them while operating vending facilities | ||||||
16 | subject to public health laws and rules. | ||||||
17 | (c) The Secretary, the Director, and the Committee shall | ||||||
18 | cooperate in the development of rules to be promulgated by the | ||||||
19 | Department regarding life standards for vending facility | ||||||
20 | equipment. Such rules shall include, but are not limited to, | ||||||
21 | the life expectancy of equipment; time periods within which | ||||||
22 | equipment should be replaced; exceptions to the replacement | ||||||
23 | time periods for equipment with no service problem history; and | ||||||
24 | replacement schedules for equipment subject to excessive | ||||||
25 | failures not the fault of the vendor. |
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1 | (d) The Secretary, through the Director, shall assign | ||||||
2 | adequate personnel to carry out duties related to the | ||||||
3 | administration and management of this Act. In selecting | ||||||
4 | personnel to fill any program position under this subsection, | ||||||
5 | the Secretary shall ensure that the Committee has full advance | ||||||
6 | opportunity to review the selections, to submit comments | ||||||
7 | thereon, and to assess the adequacy of staffing levels for the | ||||||
8 | program. | ||||||
9 | (e) The Secretary shall provide each vendor access to: all | ||||||
10 | financial information, his or her performance ratings, and all | ||||||
11 | other individual personnel documents and data maintained by the | ||||||
12 | Department. This includes providing each vendor a written copy | ||||||
13 | of all rules and policies adopted pursuant to this Act. Upon | ||||||
14 | request, the information shall be furnished in the medium most | ||||||
15 | accessible by the vendor. | ||||||
16 | (f) The surviving spouse of a current Illinois licensed | ||||||
17 | blind vendor who dies may continue to operate the facility for | ||||||
18 | a period of 6 months following the death of the vendor, | ||||||
19 | provided that the surviving spouse is qualified by experience | ||||||
20 | or training to manage the facility. | ||||||
21 | (g) The Secretary shall, by rule, require licensed blind | ||||||
22 | vendors to obtain additional training to operate a blind | ||||||
23 | vending facility for State property determined by a State | ||||||
24 | agency to be high security property. | ||||||
25 | Section 65. Program rules. |
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1 | (a) The Secretary shall promulgate and adopt necessary | ||||||
2 | rules, and do all things necessary and proper to carry out this | ||||||
3 | Act. The Secretary by delegation shall review these rules with | ||||||
4 | the Committee at least every 3 years. | ||||||
5 | (b) The rules shall include, but are not limited to, the | ||||||
6 | following: (1) uniform procedures for vendor licensing and | ||||||
7 | termination; (2) criteria and standards for selecting vendors | ||||||
8 | and matching them to facilities to ensure that the most | ||||||
9 | qualified person is selected; (3) equipment life standards and | ||||||
10 | service standards for the inventory, repair, and purchase of | ||||||
11 | equipment; (4) minimum requirements for the establishment of a | ||||||
12 | vending facility; (5) standards for training, in-service | ||||||
13 | training, and upward mobility; and (6) policies and procedures | ||||||
14 | for the collection, deposit, reimbursement, and use of all | ||||||
15 | program income, including vending machine income. | ||||||
16 | Section 70. Property Survey and Report. | ||||||
17 | (a) The Department shall survey and report on State | ||||||
18 | property and vending facilities not later than December 31, | ||||||
19 | 2010. The report shall contain the following information: | ||||||
20 | (1) A list of all State property or other property | ||||||
21 | within the State that does or reasonably could accommodate | ||||||
22 | a vending facility as provided for in this Act or as | ||||||
23 | provided for in the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act. | ||||||
24 | (2) For the buildings or locations that have vending | ||||||
25 | facilities or vending machines in place, an indication of |
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1 | the facilities operated by licensed blind vendors under the | ||||||
2 | Business Enterprise Program for the Blind and an indication | ||||||
3 | of the facilities operated by private entities. | ||||||
4 | (3) For the vending facilities or vending machines | ||||||
5 | operated by private entities, an indication of the | ||||||
6 | facilities from which commissions for the Business | ||||||
7 | Enterprise Program for the Blind have been or are being | ||||||
8 | collected. | ||||||
9 | (4) For the buildings or other property that do not | ||||||
10 | have vending facilities in place, an indication of the | ||||||
11 | locations where a vending facility could appropriately be | ||||||
12 | placed, or the reasons why a vending facility is not | ||||||
13 | feasible in the building or property. | ||||||
14 | (b) The Department shall obtain all available information | ||||||
15 | and conduct a survey, before June 30 of every odd-numbered year | ||||||
16 | after the effective date of this Act. This survey shall | ||||||
17 | identify but not be limited to the following information: | ||||||
18 | (1) The number and identity of the buildings owned, | ||||||
19 | leased, acquired, or occupied by the State. | ||||||
20 | (2) The number and identity of the State buildings | ||||||
21 | where vending facilities or vending machines are located. | ||||||
22 | (3) The number of employees located in or visiting | ||||||
23 | these buildings during normal working hours. | ||||||
24 | (4) The usable interior square footage of the building; | ||||||
25 | and | ||||||
26 | (5) Any other information the Department may determine |
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1 | to be useful in expanding the Business Enterprise Program | ||||||
2 | for the Blind to the maximum extent feasible consistent | ||||||
3 | with the purposes of this Act. | ||||||
4 | (c) All State agencies controlling State property or parts | ||||||
5 | thereof where vending machines or vending facilities are | ||||||
6 | located must cooperate with the Department by providing | ||||||
7 | information on the vending machines or facilities at those | ||||||
8 | locations. This information shall include, but is not limited | ||||||
9 | to, the terms of contracts for vending, including financial | ||||||
10 | terms, and the disbursement practices for vending machine | ||||||
11 | income. The Department shall incorporate this information in | ||||||
12 | its reports and updates. | ||||||
13 | (d) The Department shall use the reports and updates | ||||||
14 | mandated by this Section to develop greater opportunities for | ||||||
15 | the placement of blind vendors, to increase vending machine | ||||||
16 | income to the program, and to aid in establishing vending | ||||||
17 | machines and facilities on State property. | ||||||
18 | (e) The reports and surveys prepared pursuant to this | ||||||
19 | Section shall be provided to the Committee and to the | ||||||
20 | appropriate committees of the General Assembly.
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21 | (20 ILCS 2420/Act rep.)
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22 | Section 90. The Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities | ||||||
23 | Act is repealed.
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