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| Public Act 102-1049 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning healthy food access.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Healthy Food Program Development Act. | ||||
Section 5. Definitions. In this Act: | ||||
"Corner store" means a retail establishment that sells | ||||
grocery products and has less than 5,000 square feet of | ||||
selling area. | ||||
"Department" means the Department of Human Services. | ||||
"Eligible area" means a historically underutilized | ||||
business zone, as defined by 15 U.S.C. 632(p)(1). | ||||
"Farmers' market" means a public market at which farmers | ||||
and other producers sell fresh produce and healthy foods. | ||||
"Grocery store" means a retail establishment that has: (1) | ||||
a primary business of selling grocery products; (2) has at | ||||
least 5,000 square feet of selling area that is used for a | ||||
general line of food and non-food grocery products; and (3) | ||||
meets the eligibility requirements for the federal | ||||
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. | ||||
"Small food retailer" means a small business that is not a | ||||
grocery store. | ||||
Section 10. Healthy Food Development Program. | ||
(a) The Department may coordinate with the Department of | ||
Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish a Healthy Food | ||
Development Program to expand access to healthy foods in | ||
eligible areas in the State by providing assistance to grocery | ||
stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food | ||
retailers. | ||
(b) The Department of Public Health, Environmental | ||
Protection Agency, and other relevant State agencies shall | ||
coordinate with the Department and the Department of Commerce | ||
and Economic Opportunity upon request to establish the Healthy | ||
Food Development Program. | ||
Section 15. The Healthy Food Development Program benefits. | ||
(a) The Healthy Food Development Program may provide a | ||
combination of any or all of the following benefits to grocery | ||
stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, or other small food | ||
retailers in eligible areas: | ||
(1) grants; | ||
(2) loans; | ||
(3) State tax credits; | ||
(4) equipment; | ||
(5) other financial assistance; and | ||
(6) technical assistance. | ||
(b) The benefits provided in subsection (a) shall be | ||
awarded to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, | ||
and other small food retailers in eligible areas on a | ||
competitive basis, with priority given to projects with the | ||
greatest potential impact to expand access to healthy foods in | ||
eligible areas that are underserved by retail sales of healthy | ||
food in this State. | ||
(c) Grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and | ||
other small food retailers are encouraged to work | ||
cooperatively to expand access to healthy foods in eligible | ||
areas in this State. | ||
(d) The Department and the Department of Commerce and | ||
Economic Opportunity may contract with non-profit | ||
organizations to promote and implement this program. | ||
Section 20. Requirements. | ||
(a) Grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and | ||
other small retailers participating in the Healthy Food | ||
Development Program shall be strongly encouraged to: | ||
(1) apply and accept benefits from the federal | ||
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); | ||
(2) apply and accept benefits from the federal Women, | ||
Infants, and Children (WIC) program; and | ||
(3) employ residents of this State. | ||
(b) Resources may be provided to assist grocery stores, | ||
corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food | ||
retailers in acquiring the necessary technology to accept SNAP | ||
and WIC benefits. | ||
(c) As a condition of participating in the Healthy Food | ||
Development Program, persons or entities operating grocery | ||
stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food | ||
retailers shall agree in writing to sell produce or other | ||
healthy foods for at least 3 years; provided that this | ||
requirement is not applicable if the individual or entity, or | ||
its successor ceases all of its retail food sales operations. | ||
Section 25. Grocery ambassador. | ||
(a) The Department shall designate a grocery ambassador to | ||
assist retailers of healthy foods in this State by: (1) | ||
providing research and data on eligible areas with | ||
insufficient grocery access; (2) coordinating with the | ||
Department and the Department of Commerce and Economic | ||
Opportunity and other relevant State agencies; (3) providing | ||
assistance to small grocery retailers in this State, including | ||
obtaining and expediting regulatory procedures; and (4) | ||
providing other assistance as needed. | ||
(b) The Department and the Department of Commerce and | ||
Economic Opportunity may issue grants, on a competitive basis, | ||
for the establishment of a commercial distribution system for | ||
fresh produce and healthy foods.
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