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| Public Act 094-0216 |
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AN ACT concerning agriculture.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Illinois
AgrAbility Act.
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Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the | ||||
following:
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(1) Illinois is one of the leading | ||||
agricultural-producing
states in the nation. By being | ||||
involved in such a diverse
and highly mechanized industry, | ||||
the more than 500,000 agricultural
workers in Illinois are | ||||
susceptible to any one of a number of work-related
injuries | ||||
and chronic health problems that limit an individual's | ||||
ability to safely continue farming.
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(2) Available estimates indicate that, each year in
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Illinois, more than 200 farm workers sustain injuries, | ||||
which result
in permanent physical disabilities affecting | ||||
their future income.
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(3) It is estimated that nationwide more than 200,000 | ||||
farmers,
ranchers, and other agricultural workers | ||||
experience injuries that
result in lost work time. Of these | ||||
injuries, 5% have serious or
permanent results.
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(4) According to the most recent census data, | ||||
approximately 5,000 Illinois farmers have permanent | ||||
disabilities as a result of accidents, health related | ||||
ailments, and age.
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(5) Farm operators and workers are typically highly | ||||
skilled individuals and the loss of these individuals to a | ||||
disability negatively impacts the Illinois farm economy. | ||||
The AgrAbility Project established by the U. S. Department | ||||
of
Agriculture has been successful in helping agricultural | ||||
workers who suffer from
a disability continue to farm. A | ||||
similar program established by the State and working with | ||
the existing AgrAbility Unlimited Program will assist even | ||
more
Illinois citizens in receiving the assistance that | ||
they need and will benefit
the State agriculture industry.
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Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
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"AgrAbility Unlimited" means the joint program of the | ||
University of Illinois
Extension and the Easter Seals of | ||
Central Illinois established
in accordance with the AgrAbility | ||
Program established by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
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"Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
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"Director" means the Director of Agriculture.
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"Production agriculture" has the meaning set forth in | ||
Section 3-35
of the Use Tax Act.
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Section 15. Illinois AgrAbility Program established.
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(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department, in | ||
cooperation with the University of Illinois Extension,
shall | ||
contract with a non-profit disability service provider or other | ||
entity that assists disabled farmers, to establish and | ||
administer the Illinois AgrAbility Program in order to assist
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individuals who are engaged in farming or an | ||
agriculture-related activity and
who have been affected by | ||
disability.
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(b) Services provided by the Illinois AgrAbility Program | ||
shall
include, but are not limited to, the following:
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(1) A toll-free information and referral hotline.
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(2) The establishment of networks with local
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agricultural and rehabilitation professionals.
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(3) The coordination of community resources.
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(4) The establishment of networks with local | ||
agricultural and health care professionals to
help | ||
identify individuals who may be eligible for assistance and | ||
to help
identify the best method of providing that | ||
assistance.
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(5) The provision of information on and assistance | ||
regarding equipment
modification.
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(6) Job restructuring.
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(7) The provision of information on and assistance | ||
regarding the development of alternative jobs.
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In order to provide these services, the Illinois AgrAbility | ||
Program shall
cooperate and share resources, facilities, and | ||
employees with AgrAbility
Unlimited, the University of | ||
Illinois Extension, and the Office of Rehabilitation Services | ||
of the Department of
Human Services.
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The costs of the program, including any related | ||
administrative expenses from the Department, may be paid from | ||
any funds specifically appropriated or otherwise available to | ||
the Department for that purpose. The Department may pay the | ||
costs of the Illinois AgrAbility program by making grants to | ||
the operating entity, by making grants directly to service | ||
providers, by paying reimbursements for services provided, or | ||
in any other appropriate manner. | ||
(c) The Department has the power to enter into any | ||
agreements that are necessary and appropriate for the | ||
establishment, operation, and funding of the Illinois | ||
AgrAbility Program. The Department may adopt any rules that it | ||
determines necessary for the establishment, operation, and | ||
funding of the Illinois AgrAbility Program.
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Section 20. Eligibility. To be eligible to receive | ||
assistance under
this Act, an individual must meet all of the | ||
following:
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(1) Be a resident of Illinois.
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(2) Derive at least a portion of his or her income from
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production agriculture.
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(3) Be affected by a disability. | ||
(4) Meet any additional eligibility requirements set
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forth by the Department, in conjunction with the University | ||
of Illinois
Extension.
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Section 25. The Illinois AgrAbility Fund.
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(a) The Illinois AgrAbility Fund is created as a special | ||
appropriated fund
within the State treasury.
The Director shall | ||
also accept and deposit into the Fund all gifts,
grants, | ||
transfers, and other amounts from any legal source,
public or | ||
private, that are designated for deposit into the Fund. All | ||
interest
earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into | ||
the Fund.
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(b) Subject to appropriation and as directed by the | ||
Director, moneys
in the Illinois AgrAbility Fund may be | ||
expended for the Illinois AgrAbility
Program and for no other | ||
purpose.
No more than 15% of the moneys expended in a fiscal | ||
year for the Program
may be expended for administrative costs.
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Section 30. Reports. Unless otherwise required by federal | ||
law, the
University of Illinois
Extension must provide the | ||
Department with a copy of any report or other
document that it | ||
provides to the U.S. Department of Agriculture concerning
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AgrAbility Unlimited.
The non-profit disability service | ||
provider or other entity awarded a contract under Section 15 | ||
must annually up-date the University of Illinois Extension and | ||
the Department in writing on the status of the Illinois | ||
AgrAbility Program.
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Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding | ||
Section
5.640 as follows:
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(30 ILCS 105/5.640 new)
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Sec. 5.640. The Illinois AgrAbility Fund. | ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law. | ||