Human Services Committee
Filed: 2/10/2010
 
 

 




 

 		












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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4756




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    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4756 by replacing 
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everything after the enacting clause with the following:


 
 
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    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
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Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Program Act.
 
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    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
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    "Farmers' market" means a common facility or area that has 
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been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture's 
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Food and Nutrition Service where several farmers or growers 
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gather on a regular, recurring basis to sell a variety of fresh 
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fruits and vegetables and other locally-grown farm products 
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directly to consumers. The term "farmers' market" includes 
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nontraditional fresh food markets.
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    "LINK card" means an electronic  benefits transfer card 
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issued by the Department of Human
  Services for the purpose of 
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enabling a user of the card to  obtain SNAP (formerly known as 
 


 






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food stamps) benefits or cash.

 
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    Section 10. Farmers' Market Technology Improvement 
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Program. 
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    (a) The Department of Human Services and the Department of 
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Agricultural shall implement a Farmers' Market Technology 
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Improvement Program. The purpose of this program is to increase 
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access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other LINK eligible 
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food products, including quality meat and dairy, for all 
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Illinois residents by allowing LINK program participants to 
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redeem their SNAP benefits at farmers' markets. The Department 
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of Human Services and the Department of Agriculture shall 
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solicit federal and State funding for the purpose of 
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implementing this program.
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    (b) The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Fund is 
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created as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose 
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of implementing the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement 
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Program. All monies received pursuant to this Act shall be 
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deposited into the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement 
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Fund. Funding for the program must be used for one or more of 
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the following purposes:
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        (1) The purchase or rental of wireless point of sale 
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    terminals capable of processing
SNAP benefits disbursed 
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    under the LINK program.
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        (2) Monthly or transaction fees associated with LINK 
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    card transactions. No fees related to credit or debit 
 


 






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    transactions will be reimbursed.
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        (3)  Outreach to LINK program participants.
  
 
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    Section 15. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 
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Section 5.755 as follows:
 
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    (30 ILCS 105/5.755 new)
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    Sec. 5.755. The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement 
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Fund.
 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
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2011.".