103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3265
 
Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Dale Fowler
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 205/205-360 new
    Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall conduct an access to nutritious food program to establish and operate projects and strategies within food deserts that focus on: (1) distribution of fresh and nutritious food; and (2) education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall promote the sharing of information concerning best practices and programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall convene an annual meeting of nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to share best practices and information on programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition. Defines "food desert" and "program".


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning agriculture.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil 
5Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 
6205-360 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 205/205-360 new)
8    Sec. 205-360. Access to nutritious food program.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Food desert" means an underserved geographic area where 
11fresh and nutritious foods are difficult to obtain, as 
12determined by the Department. "Food desert" includes:
13        (1) a rural town or urban neighborhood in which:
14            (A) at least 25% of the households have incomes 
15        that are below the federal income poverty level; or
16            (B) the median family income of residents is not 
17        more than 80% of the median family income of Illinois;
18        (2) a rural town, urban neighborhood, or metropolitan 
19    census tract in which at least 500 residents or at least 
20    33% of the population resides more than one mile from a 
21    supermarket or large grocery store; or
22        (3) a nonmetropolitan census tract in which at least 
23    500 residents or at least 33% of the population resides 
 
 
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1    more than 10 miles from a supermarket or large grocery 
2    store.
3    "Program" refers to the access to nutritious food program 
4conducted under this Section.
5    (b) The Department shall conduct an access to nutritious 
6food program to establish and operate projects and strategies 
7within food deserts that focus on:
8        (1) distribution of fresh and nutritious food; and
9        (2) education in food preparation and nutrition.
10    (c) The Department shall promote the sharing of 
11information concerning best practices and programs, including 
12projects established under this Section, that have proven to 
13be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious 
14food and education in food preparation and nutrition.
15    (d) The Department shall convene an annual meeting of 
16nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to share 
17best practices and information on programs, including projects 
18established under this Section, that have proven to be 
19effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious 
20food and education in food preparation and nutrition.