Sen. Mike Jacobs

Filed: 3/25/2009

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2045

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2045 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
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

 

 

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1 diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the
2 individual shall select.
3     "Building" means only the portion of a structure owned or
4 leased by the State or any State agency.
5     "Cafeteria" means a food dispensing facility capable of
6 providing a broad variety of prepared foods and beverages
7 (including hot meals) primarily through the use of a line where
8 the customer serves himself or herself from displayed
9 selections. A cafeteria may be fully automatic or some limited
10 waiter or waitress service may be available and provided within
11 a cafeteria and table or booth seating facilities are always
12 provided.
13     "Committee" means the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors,
14 an independent representative body for blind vendors
15 established by the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act.
16     "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
17     "Director" means the Bureau Director of the Bureau for the
18 Blind in the Department of Human Services.
19     "Federal property" means any structure, land, or other real
20 property owned, leased, or occupied by any department, agency
21 or instrumentality of the United States (including the
22 Department of Defense and the U.S. Postal Service), or any
23 other instrumentality wholly owned by the United States, or by
24 any department or agency of the District of Columbia or any
25 territory or possession of the United States.
26     "License" means a written instrument issued by the

 

 

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1 Department to a blind person, authorizing such person to
2 operate a vending facility on State, federal, or other
3 property.
4     "Net proceeds" means the amount remaining from the sale of
5 articles or services of vending facilities, and any vending
6 machine or other income accruing to blind vendors after
7 deducting the cost of such sale and other expenses (excluding
8 any set-aside charges required to be paid by the blind
9 vendors).
10     "Normal working hours" means an 8 hour work period between
11 the approximate hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through
12 Friday.
13     "Other property" means property that is not State or
14 federal property and on which vending facilities are
15 established or operated by the use of any funds derived in
16 whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the operation of
17 vending facilities on any State or federal property.
18     "Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services.
19     "Set-aside funds" means funds that accrue to the Department
20 from an assessment against the net income of each vending
21 facility in the State's vending facility program and any income
22 from vending machines on State or federal property that accrues
23 to the Department.
24     "State agency" means any department, board, commission, or
25 agency created by the Constitution or Public Act, whether in
26 the executive, legislative, or judicial branch.

 

 

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1     "State property" means all property owned, leased, or
2 rented by any State agency. For purposes of this Act, "State
3 property" does not include property owned or controlled by a
4 unit of local government or school district.
5     "Vending facility" means automatic vending machines, snack
6 bars, cart service, counters, rest areas, and such other
7 appropriate auxiliary equipment that may be operated by blind
8 vendors and that is necessary for the sale of newspapers,
9 periodicals, confections, tobacco products, foods, beverages,
10 and notions dispensed automatically or manually and prepared on
11 or off the premises in accordance with all applicable health
12 laws, and including the vending and payment of any lottery
13 tickets or shares authorized by State law and conducted by a
14 State agency within the State. Vending facility does not
15 include cafeterias, restaurants, the Department of
16 Corrections' non-vending machine commissaries, or the
17 Department of Juvenile Justice's non-vending machine
18 commissaries.
19     "Vending machine", for the purpose of assigning vending
20 machine income under this Act, means a coin, currency, or debit
21 card operated machine that dispenses articles or services,
22 except that those machines operated by the United States Postal
23 Service for the sale of postage stamps or other postal products
24 and services, machines providing services of a recreational
25 nature, and telephones shall not be considered to be vending
26 machines.

 

 

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1     "Vending machine income" means the commissions or fees paid
2 to the State from vending machine operations on State property
3 where the machines are operated, serviced, or maintained by, or
4 with the approval of, a State agency by a commercial or
5 not-for-profit vending concern that operates, services, and
6 maintains vending machines.
7     "Vendor" means a blind licensee who is operating a vending
8 facility on State, federal, or other property.
 
9     Section 10. Business Enterprise Program for the Blind.
10     (a) The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind is
11 created for the purposes of providing blind persons with
12 remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities
13 of the blind, and stimulating the blind to greater efforts in
14 striving to make themselves self-supporting. In order to
15 achieve these goals, blind persons licensed under this Act
16 shall be authorized to operate vending facilities on any
17 property within this State as provided by this Act.
18     It is the intent of the General Assembly that the
19 Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 USC Sections 107-107f, and the
20 federal regulations for its administration set forth in Part
21 395 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shall serve
22 as a model for minimum standards for the operation of the
23 Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. The federal
24 Randolph-Sheppard Act provides employment opportunities for
25 individuals who are blind or visually impaired through the

 

 

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1 Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Under the
2 Randolph-Sheppard Act, all federal agencies are required to
3 give priority to licensed blind vendors in the operation of
4 vending facilities on federal property. It is the intent of
5 this Act to provide the same priority to licensed blind vendors
6 on State property by requiring State agencies to give priority
7 to licensed blind vendors in the operation of vending
8 facilities on State property and preference to licensed blind
9 vendors in the operation of cafeteria facilities on State
10 property. Furthermore it is the intent of this Act that all
11 State agencies, particularly the Department of Central
12 Management Services, promote and advocate for the Business
13 Enterprise Program for the Blind.
14     (b) The Secretary, through the Director, shall continue,
15 maintain, and promote the Business Enterprise Program for the
16 Blind. Some or all of the functions of the program may be
17 provided by the Department of Human Services. The Business
18 Enterprise Program for the Blind must provide that:
19         (1) priority is given to blind vendors in the operation
20     of vending facilities on State property;
21         (2) tie bid preference is given to blind vendors in the
22     operation of cafeterias on State property, unless the
23     cafeteria operations are operated by employees of a State
24     agency;
25         (3) vending machine income from all vending machines on
26     State property is assigned as provided for by Section 30 of

 

 

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1     this Act;
2         (4) no State agency may impose any commission, service
3     charge, rent, or utility charge on a licensed blind vendor
4     who is operating a vending facility on State property
5     unless approved by the Department;
6         (5) the Department shall approve a commission to the
7     State agency from a blind vendor operating a vending
8     facility on the State property of the Department of
9     Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice in the
10     amount of 10% of the net proceeds from vending machines
11     servicing State employees and 25% of the net proceeds from
12     vending machines servicing visitors on the State property;
13     and
14         (6) vending facilities operated by the Program use
15     reasonable and necessary means and methods to maintain fair
16     market pricing in relation to each facility's given
17     demographic, geographic, and other circumstances.
18     (c) With respect to vending facilities on federal property
19 within this State, priority shall be given as provided in the
20 federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 USC Sections 107-107f,
21 including any amendments thereto. This Act, as it applies to
22 federal property, is intended to conform to the federal Act,
23 and is to be of no force or effect if, and to the extent that,
24 any provision of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act is
25 in conflict with the federal Act. Nothing in this subsection
26 shall be construed to impose limitations on the operation of

 

 

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1 vending facilities on State property, or property other than
2 federal property, or to allow only those activities
3 specifically enumerated in the Randolph-Sheppard Act.
4     (d) The Secretary shall actively pursue all commissions
5 from vending facilities not operated by blind vendors as
6 provided in Section 30 of this Act, and shall propose new
7 placements of vending facilities on State property where a
8 facility is not yet in place.
9     (e) Partnerships and teaming arrangements between blind
10 vendors and private industry, including franchise operations,
11 shall be fostered and encouraged by the Department.
 
12     Section 15. Vending facilities on State property.
13     (a) In order to ensure that priority is given to blind
14 vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State
15 property as provided in Section 10, the Secretary, directly or
16 by delegation to the Director, and the Committee shall jointly
17 develop rules to ensure the following:
18         (1) That priority is given to blind persons licensed
19     under this Act or under its predecessor Act (the Blind
20     Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act, 20 ILCS 2420/),
21     including the assignment of vending machine income as
22     provided in this Act.
23         (2) That one or more vending facilities shall be
24     established on all State property to the extent feasible.
25     Where a larger vending facility is determined by the

 

 

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1     Director and the Committee to be infeasible, every effort
2     shall be made to place vending machines on the property
3     whenever possible. The Director and the Committee shall
4     take into account the following criteria when determining
5     whether establishment of a vending facility is feasible:
6             (A) the number of State employees, visitors, and
7         other potential facility customers on the property in a
8         given period;
9             (B) the size, in square feet, of the area owned,
10         leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by the
11         State;
12             (C) the duration the property is expected to be
13         leased or occupied by the State;
14             (D) whether establishment of a vending facility
15         would adversely affect the interests of the State; and
16             (E) the likelihood that the vending facility would
17         produce an adequate net income for a blind vendor as
18         determined by the average income of all blind vendors
19         in the State.
20     (b) Any determination by the Director, or by the State
21 agency controlling the property, that the placement or
22 operation of a vending facility is not feasible, or that the
23 placement or operation would adversely affect the interests of
24 the State shall be in writing and shall be transmitted to the
25 Committee for review and ratification or rejection.
26     (c) The Secretary, through the Director, subject to the

 

 

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1 rules developed and adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this
2 Section and the requirements of federal law and regulations, is
3 authorized to select a location for a vending facility and the
4 type of facility to be provided.
5     (d) Beginning January 1, 2010, all State agencies that:
6         (1) undertake to acquire any property, in whole or in
7     part, by ownership, rent, or lease, or that undertake to
8     relocate to any property, shall request a determination
9     from the Director or his or her designee as to whether the
10     new property includes a satisfactory site or sites for the
11     location and operation of a blind vendor vending facility;
12     or
13         (2) undertake to occupy a building that is to be
14     constructed, substantially altered, or renovated, or in
15     the case of a building that is already occupied by the
16     State agency, undertake to substantially alter or renovate
17     that building for use by the State agency;
18 shall request a determination from the Director or his or her
19 designee as to whether that building includes a satisfactory
20 site or sites for the location and operation of a blind vendor
21 vending facility.
22     Upon receiving a request for a determination under this
23 subsection (d), the Director or his or her designee and the
24 Committee shall have 10 days in which to notify that requesting
25 State agency as to whether the new property or building is
26 satisfactory or not satisfactory for the operation of a blind

 

 

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1 vendor vending facility. A site shall be deemed to be a
2 satisfactory site by examining the potential customer base,
3 including, but not limited to, State employees, State
4 contractual employees, and the general public. The
5 determination shall be based upon a site survey or any other
6 reasonable means enabling an accurate assessment of the
7 location. If the property has an existing private vendor,
8 bottler, or vending machine operator, then the property shall
9 be presumed to be a satisfactory site. If the Director, in
10 consultation with the Committee, determines that the number of
11 people using the location is or will be insufficient to support
12 a vending facility, then the Director shall determine the
13 property to be not satisfactory.
14     Upon a determination by the Director or his or her designee
15 and the Committee that the new property or building is
16 satisfactory for the operation of a blind vendor vending
17 facility, the Director, in consultation with the head of the
18 State agency and in accordance with the rules developed
19 pursuant to subsection (a), shall inform the agency to comply
20 with the priority established for the operation of vending
21 facilities by blind persons under this Act.
22     (e) All State agencies shall fully cooperate with the
23 Department to ensure that priority is given to blind vendors in
24 the operation of vending facilities on State property. This
25 includes notifying the Department prior to the expiration of
26 existing contracts or agreements for vending facilities or when

 

 

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1 such contracts or agreements are considered for renewal
2 options. The notification must be given, when feasible, no
3 later than 6 months prior to the potential expiration or
4 renewal of the existing vending facility contract or agreement.
 
5     Section 20. Other vending facilities. The governing body of
6 any unit of local government or school board owning property or
7 persons or entities owning or controlling private property are
8 authorized and encouraged to construct or install on the
9 property, or permit the construction or installation of,
10 vending facilities for operation by blind persons licensed
11 under this Act. In constructing or installing these vending
12 facilities, the amount of space allotted for this purpose
13 should be sufficient to adequately serve the number of persons
14 at the site and to provide the kind of services to be rendered.
 
15     Section 25. Set-aside funds; Blind Vendors Trust Fund.
16     (a) The Department may provide, by rule, for set-asides
17 similar to those provided in Section 107d-3 of the
18 Randolph-Sheppard Act. If any funds are set aside, or caused to
19 be set aside, from the net proceeds of the operation of vending
20 facilities by blind vendors, the funds shall be set aside only
21 to the extent necessary in a percentage amount not to exceed
22 that determined jointly by the Director and the Committee and
23 published in State rule, and that these funds may be used only
24 for the following purposes: (1) maintenance and replacement of

 

 

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1 equipment; (2) purchase of new equipment; (3) construction of
2 new vending facilities; (4) funding the functions of the
3 Committee, including legal and other professional services;
4 and (5) retirement or pension funds, health insurance, paid
5 sick leave, and vacation time for blind licensees, so long as
6 these benefits are approved by a majority vote of all Illinois
7 licensed blind vendors that occurs after the Department
8 provides these vendors with information on all matters relevant
9 to these purposes.
10     (b) No set-aside funds shall be collected from a blind
11 vendor when the monthly net proceeds of that vendor are less
12 than $1,000. This amount may be adjusted annually by the
13 Director and the Committee to reflect changes in the cost of
14 living.
15     (c) The Department shall establish, with full
16 participation by the Committee, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund as
17 a separate account managed by the Department for the State's
18 blind vendors.
19     (d) Set-aside funds collected from the operation of all
20 vending facilities administered by the Business Enterprise
21 Program for the Blind shall be placed in the Blind Vendors
22 Trust Fund, which shall include set-aside funds from facilities
23 on federal property. The Fund must provide separately
24 identified sub-accounts for moneys from (i) federal and (ii)
25 State and other facilities, as well as vending machine income
26 generated pursuant to Section 30 of this Act. These funds shall

 

 

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1 be available until expended and shall not revert to the General
2 Revenue Fund or to any other State account.
3     (e) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the
4 expenditure of set-aside funds authorized by this Section shall
5 be supplemental to any current appropriation or other moneys
6 made available for these purposes and shall not constitute an
7 offset of any previously existing appropriation or other
8 funding source. In no way shall this imply that the
9 appropriation for the Blind Vendors Program may never be
10 decreased, rather that the new funds shall not be used as an
11 offset.
12     (f) An amount equal to 10% of the wages paid by a blind
13 vendor to any employee who is blind or otherwise disabled shall
14 be deducted from any set-aside charge paid by the vendor each
15 month, in order to encourage vendors to employ blind and
16 disabled workers and to set an example for industry and
17 government. No deduction shall be made for any employee paid
18 less than the State or federal minimum wage.
 
19     Section 30. Vending machine income and compliance.
20     (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this
21 Section, after July 1, 2010, all vending machine income, as
22 defined by this Act, from vending machines on State property
23 shall accrue to (1) the blind vendor operating the vending
24 facilities on the property or (2) in the event there is no
25 blind vendor operating a facility on the property, the Blind

 

 

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1 Vendors Trust Fund for use exclusively as set forth in
2 subsection (a) of Section 25 of this Act.
3     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of
4 this Section, in the event there is no blind vendor operating a
5 vending facility on the State property, all vending machine
6 income, as defined in this Act, from vending machines on the
7 State property of the Department of Corrections and the
8 Department of Juvenile Justice shall accrue to the State agency
9 and be allocated in accordance with the commissary provisions
10 in the Unified Code of Corrections.
11     (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of
12 this Section, in the event a blind vendor is operating a
13 vending facility on the State property of the Department or
14 Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, a commission
15 shall be paid to the State agency equal to 10% of the net
16 proceeds from vending machines servicing State employees and
17 25% of the net proceeds from vending machines servicing
18 visitors on the State property.
19     (d) The Secretary, directly or by delegation of authority,
20 shall ensure compliance with this Section and Section 15 of
21 this Act with respect to buildings, installations, facilities,
22 roadside rest stops, and any other State property, and shall be
23 responsible for the collection of, and accounting for, all
24 vending machine income on this property. The Secretary shall
25 enforce these provisions through litigation, arbitration, or
26 any other legal means available to the State, and each State

 

 

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1 agency in control of this property shall be subject to the
2 enforcement. State agencies or departments failing to comply
3 with an order of the Department may be held in contempt in any
4 court of general jurisdiction.
5     (e) Any limitation on the placement or operation of a
6 vending machine by a State agency based on a determination that
7 such placement or operation would adversely affect the
8 interests of the State must be explained in writing to the
9 Secretary. The Secretary shall promptly determine whether the
10 limitation is justified. If the Secretary determines that the
11 limitation is not justified, the State agency seeking the
12 limitation shall immediately remove the limitation.
13     (f) The amount of vending machine income accruing from
14 vending machines on State property that may be used for the
15 functions of the Committee shall be determined annually by a
16 two-thirds vote of the Committee, except that no more than 25%
17 of the annual vending machine income may be used by the
18 Committee for this purpose, based upon the income accruing to
19 the Blind Vendors Trust Fund in the preceding year. The
20 Committee may establish its budget and expend funds through
21 contract or otherwise without the approval of the Department.
 
22     Section 40. Licenses.
23     (a) Licenses shall be issued only to blind persons who are
24 qualified to operate vending facilities. The continuing
25 eligibility of a vendor as a blind person shall be reviewed

 

 

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1 biennially for partially sighted individuals or whenever the
2 Director has information indicating the vendor is no longer
3 blind as defined under this Act.
4     (b) Following agreement by the Secretary, the Director, and
5 the Committee, the Secretary shall adopt and publish rules
6 providing for (1) the requirements for licensure as a blind
7 vendor; (2) a curriculum for training, in-service training, and
8 upward mobility training for blind vendors; and (3) a regular
9 schedule for offering the training, classes to be offered at
10 least once per year.
11     (c) Each license issued pursuant to this Section shall be
12 for an indefinite period as described by rule. The license of a
13 blind vendor may be terminated or suspended for good cause, but
14 only after affording the licensee an opportunity for a full and
15 fair hearing in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
 
16     Section 45. Committee of Blind Vendors.
17     (a) The Secretary, through the Director, shall provide for
18 the biennial election of the Committee, which shall be fully
19 representative of all blind licensees in the State. There shall
20 be no fewer than one Committee member for each 15 licensed
21 blind vendors in the State.
22     (b) The Committee is empowered to hire staff; contract for
23 consultants including, but not limited to, legal counsel; set
24 agendas and call meetings; create a constitution and bylaws,
25 subcommittees, and budgets; and do any other thing a

 

 

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1 not-for-profit organization may do through the use of the Blind
2 Vendors Trust Fund. At the discretion of the Committee major
3 issues may be referred for initial consideration to a
4 subcommittee, or to all blind vendors in order to ascertain
5 their views.
6     (c) The Secretary shall ensure that the Committee jointly
7 participates with the State in the development and
8 implementation of all policies, plans, program development,
9 and major administrative and management decisions affecting
10 the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. The Secretary,
11 through the Director, shall provide to the Committee all
12 relevant financial information and data, including quarterly
13 and annual financial reports, on the operation of the vending
14 facility program in order that the Committee may fully
15 participate in budget development and formulation, the
16 establishment of set-aside levels, and other program
17 requirements. A copy of all completed audits, reports, and
18 investigations affecting the Business Enterprise Program for
19 the Blind shall be distributed to the Committee in a timely
20 manner. Any implementation of changes in administrative policy
21 or program development that are within the discretion of the
22 Department shall occur only after Committee review.
 
23     Section 50. Hearings; arbitration.
24     (a) Any blind vendor dissatisfied with any act or omission
25 arising from the operation or administration of the vending

 

 

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1 facility program may submit to the Secretary a request for a
2 full evidentiary hearing. This hearing shall be provided in a
3 timely manner by the Department. Damages, including
4 compensatory damages, attorney's fees, and expenses, must be
5 paid to any operator who prevails in the full evidentiary
6 hearing; however, payment of damages may not be paid from any
7 program funds, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund, or federal
8 rehabilitation funds. If the blind vendor is dissatisfied with
9 any action taken or decision rendered as a result of the
10 hearing, that vendor may file a complaint for arbitration with
11 the Secretary.
12     (b) If the Secretary determines that any State agency has
13 failed to comply with the requirements of this Act, the
14 Secretary must establish a panel to arbitrate the dispute and
15 the decision of the panel shall be final and binding on the
16 parties. Any arbitration panel convened by the Secretary shall
17 be composed of 3 members, appointed as follows:
18         (1) one individual appointed by the Secretary;
19         (2) one individual appointed by the State agency
20     determined by the Secretary to be in noncompliance with the
21     Act; and
22         (3) one individual, who shall serve as chairperson,
23     jointly designated by the members appointed under items (1)
24     and (2); provided that, if within 30 days following the
25     Secretary's determination of noncompliance either party
26     fails to appoint a panel member, or if the parties are

 

 

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1     unable to agree on the appointment of the chairperson, the
2     Secretary shall select the final panel member or may
3     designate a hearing officer of the Department who shall
4     preside.
5     (c) The Secretary may issue a letter of reprimand to a
6 blind vendor who violates program rules or policy. Depending
7 upon the seriousness of the alleged violation, the letter of
8 reprimand may indicate the intention to suspend or terminate
9 the license of the vendor. All reprimand letters shall be sent
10 in a medium accessible by the vendor, and shall be sent by
11 certified mail, return receipt requested. The Secretary must
12 make every reasonable effort to assist the subject vendor to
13 correct the problem for which the vendor is reprimanded. No
14 process to suspend or terminate a license shall be initiated
15 before the vendor is accorded the opportunity for a full
16 evidentiary hearing as provided under subsection (a). A vendor
17 may be summarily removed from a facility only in an emergency.
 
18     Section 60. General provisions.
19     (a) Blind vendors operating vending facilities are subject
20 to the applicable license or permit requirements of the county
21 or municipality in which the facility is located necessary for
22 the conduct of their business.
23     (b) Vendors licensed pursuant to this Act are authorized to
24 keep guide animals with them while operating vending facilities
25 subject to public health laws and rules.

 

 

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1     (c) The Secretary, the Director, and the Committee shall
2 cooperate in the development of rules to be promulgated by the
3 Department regarding life standards for vending facility
4 equipment. Such rules shall include, but are not limited to,
5 the life expectancy of equipment; time periods within which
6 equipment should be replaced; exceptions to the replacement
7 time periods for equipment with no service problem history; and
8 replacement schedules for equipment subject to excessive
9 failures not the fault of the vendor.
10     (d) The Secretary, through the Director, shall assign
11 adequate personnel to carry out duties related to the
12 administration and management of this Act. In selecting
13 personnel to fill any program position under this subsection,
14 the Secretary shall ensure that the Committee has full advance
15 opportunity to review the selections, to submit comments
16 thereon, and to assess the adequacy of staffing levels for the
17 program.
18     (e) The Secretary shall provide each vendor access to: all
19 financial information, his or her performance ratings, and all
20 other individual personnel documents and data maintained by the
21 Department. This includes providing each vendor a written copy
22 of all rules and policies adopted pursuant to this Act. Upon
23 request, the information shall be furnished in the medium most
24 accessible by the vendor.
25     (f) The surviving spouse of a current Illinois licensed
26 blind vendor who dies may continue to operate the facility for

 

 

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1 a period of 6 months following the death of the vendor,
2 provided that the surviving spouse is qualified by experience
3 or training to manage the facility.
4     (g) The Secretary shall, by rule, require licensed blind
5 vendors to obtain additional training to operate a blind
6 vending facility for State property determined by a State
7 agency to be high security property.
 
8     Section 65. Program rules.
9     (a) The Secretary shall promulgate and adopt necessary
10 rules, and do all things necessary and proper to carry out this
11 Act. The Secretary by delegation shall review these rules with
12 the Committee at least every 3 years.
13     (b) The rules shall include, but are not limited to, the
14 following: (1) uniform procedures for vendor licensing and
15 termination; (2) criteria and standards for selecting vendors
16 and matching them to facilities to ensure that the most
17 qualified person is selected; (3) equipment life standards and
18 service standards for the inventory, repair, and purchase of
19 equipment; (4) minimum requirements for the establishment of a
20 vending facility; (5) standards for training, in-service
21 training, and upward mobility; and (6) policies and procedures
22 for the collection, deposit, reimbursement, and use of all
23 program income, including vending machine income.
 
24     Section 70. Property Survey and Report.

 

 

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1     (a) The Department shall survey and report on State
2 property and vending facilities not later than December 31,
3 2010. The report shall contain the following information:
4         (1) A list of all State property or other property
5     within the State that does or reasonably could accommodate
6     a vending facility as provided for in this Act or as
7     provided for in the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act.
8         (2) For the buildings or locations that have vending
9     facilities or vending machines in place, an indication of
10     the facilities operated by licensed blind vendors under the
11     Business Enterprise Program for the Blind and an indication
12     of the facilities operated by private entities.
13         (3) For the vending facilities or vending machines
14     operated by private entities, an indication of the
15     facilities from which commissions for the Business
16     Enterprise Program for the Blind have been or are being
17     collected.
18         (4) For the buildings or other property that do not
19     have vending facilities in place, an indication of the
20     locations where a vending facility could appropriately be
21     placed, or the reasons why a vending facility is not
22     feasible in the building or property.
23     (b) The Department shall obtain all available information
24 and conduct a survey, before June 30 of every odd-numbered year
25 after the effective date of this Act. This survey shall
26 identify but not be limited to the following information:

 

 

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1         (1) The number and identity of the buildings owned,
2     leased, acquired, or occupied by the State.
3         (2) The number and identity of the State buildings
4     where vending facilities or vending machines are located.
5         (3) The number of employees located in or visiting
6     these buildings during normal working hours.
7         (4) The usable interior square footage of the building;
8     and
9         (5) Any other information the Department may determine
10     to be useful in expanding the Business Enterprise Program
11     for the Blind to the maximum extent feasible consistent
12     with the purposes of this Act.
13     (c) All State agencies controlling State property or parts
14 thereof where vending machines or vending facilities are
15 located must cooperate with the Department by providing
16 information on the vending machines or facilities at those
17 locations. This information shall include, but is not limited
18 to, the terms of contracts for vending, including financial
19 terms, and the disbursement practices for vending machine
20 income. The Department shall incorporate this information in
21 its reports and updates.
22     (d) The Department shall use the reports and updates
23 mandated by this Section to develop greater opportunities for
24 the placement of blind vendors, to increase vending machine
25 income to the program, and to aid in establishing vending
26 machines and facilities on State property.

 

 

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1     (e) The reports and surveys prepared pursuant to this
2 Section shall be provided to the Committee and to the
3 appropriate committees of the General Assembly.
 
4     (20 ILCS 2420/Act rep.)
5     Section 90. The Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities
6 Act is repealed.".