100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4234
 
Introduced , by Rep. Sonya M. Harper
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
New Act

     Creates the Farmer Equity Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall ensure the inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in urbanized areas, in the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws, regulations, policies, and programs. Provides that the Department shall: (1) consult with the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of Natural Resources, the Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Secretary of Human Services, and other interested parties of the public and private sector of the State on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to coordinate State programs; (2) disseminate information regarding opportunities provided by, including, but not limited to, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other federal agencies that that have programs that may assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; and (3) evaluate opportunities for the inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in boards, committees, commissions, and other similar positions created by the Department. Provides that on or before January 1, 2020, the Department shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on efforts to serve socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and female farmers and ranchers in this State. Effective immediately.
  


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A BILL FOR
 

  
HB4234LRB100 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 ranchers and 
11include this support in the Department's vision and its 
12relevant policies.
 
13    Section 10. Definitions.
In this Act:
14    "Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
15    "Director" means the Director of Agriculture.
16    "Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers" means a 
17farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged 
18group.
19    "Socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members 
20have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice 
21because of their identity as members of a group without regard 
22to that member's personal qualities. "Socially disadvantaged 
 
 
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1group" includes, but is not limited to, African Americans, 
2Native Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans, 
3and Pacific Islanders.
4    "Urbanized area" means a geographic location with a 
5population of at least 50,000 people.
 
6    Section 15. Inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers 
7and ranchers.
8    (a) The Department shall ensure the inclusion of socially 
9disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including socially 
10disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in urbanized areas, in the 
11development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of food 
12and agriculture laws, regulations, policies, and programs.
13    (b) The Director shall create a position within the 
14Department's office to support the efforts of this Act. The 
15person appointed to this position shall report to the Director.
16    (c) The Department shall:
17        (1) consult with the Director of the Environmental 
18    Protection Agency, the Director of Natural Resources, the 
19    Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development 
20    Authority, the Secretary of Human Services, and other 
21    interested parties of the public and private sector of the 
22    State on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers 
23    and ranchers to coordinate State programs;
24        (2) disseminate information regarding opportunities 
25    provided by, including, but not limited to, the United 
 
 
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1    States Department of Agriculture, the United States 
2    Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting 
3    Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other 
4    federal agencies that that have programs that may assist 
5    socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; and
6        (3) evaluate opportunities for the inclusion of 
7    socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in boards, 
8    committees, commissions, and other similar positions 
9    created by the Department.
 
10    Section 20. Report. On or before January 1, 2020, the 
11Department shall submit a report to the Governor and the 
12General Assembly on efforts to serve socially disadvantaged 
13farmers and ranchers and female farmers and ranchers in this 
14State. The report shall include recommendations to the Governor 
15and the General Assembly on how to improve processes to include 
16socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
 
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
18becoming law.