HJ0087

LRB096 18009 RPM 33381 r






1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, Farmers' markets provide not only a valuable 
3
marketplace for farmers to sell their products directly to 
4
consumers, but also a place for consumers to access fresh 
5
fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products; and

 
6
    WHEREAS, These markets successfully operate across 
7
Illinois; however, there is a lack of comprehensive regulation 
8
from one county to the next, resulting in discrepancies between 
9
counties regarding the products that may be sold; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, In 1999, the Department of Public Health published 
11
"Technical Information Bulletin/Food #30" in order to outline 
12
the sanitation guidelines required for farmers' markets, 
13
producer markets, and other outdoor food sales events; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, This bulletin has not been uniformly interpreted 
15
across the State; therefore, be it

 
16
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
17
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE

18
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Task Force 
19
on Farmers' Markets, consisting of 14 members appointed as 
20
follows: the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of 
21
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 
 


 






HJ0087
- 2 -
LRB096 18009 RPM 33381 r




1
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each 
2
appoint one member; the Director of Public Health or his or her 
3
designee, the Director of Agriculture or his or her designee, a 
4
representative of a general agricultural production 
5
association, 3 representatives of local county public health 
6
departments appointed by the Director of Public Health and 
7
selected from 3 different counties representing each of the 
8
northern, central, and southern portions of Illinois, and 4 
9
members of the general public who are engaged in local farmers' 
10
markets appointed by the Director of Agriculture; and be it 
11
further

 
12
    RESOLVED, That the Director of Public Health shall serve as 
13
the chair; the Task Force shall meet at the call of the Chair; 
14
and the members of the Task Force shall serve without 
15
compensation; and be it further

 
16
    RESOLVED, That the Task Force can appoint members as it 
17
sees fit to serve as representatives of local farmers' markets 
18
or other concerned parties; and be it further

 
19
    RESOLVED, That the duty of the Task Force is to undertake a 
20
comprehensive and thorough review of the current 
21
implementation of the various Acts that define which products 
22
and practices are permitted and which products and practices 
23
are not permitted at farmers' markets and other outdoor food 
 


 






HJ0087
- 3 -
LRB096 18009 RPM 33381 r




1
sale events; and be it further

 
2
    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall assist the Department 
3
of Public Health in developing interagency agreements and 
4
programs and procedures regarding the implementation of the 
5
various Acts that define which products and practices are 
6
permitted and which products and practices are not permitted at 
7
farmers' markets and other outdoor food sale events; and be it 
8
further

 
9
    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Public Health 
10
shall provide staffing support to the Task Force and shall 
11
administer and prepare all reports deemed necessary in 
12
conjunction with the Task Force; and be it further

 
13
    RESOLVED, That the Task Force may request assistance from 
14
any entity necessary or useful for the performance of its 
15
duties; and be it further

 
16
    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall issue a report with its 
17
recommendations to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of 
18
the House on or before December 31, 2010.