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Public Act 096-0644 |
SB2045 Enrolled |
LRB096 11226 WGH 21634 b |
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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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 Blind |
Vendors Act. |
Section 5. Definitions.
As used in this Act: |
"Blind licensee" means a blind person licensed by the |
Department to operate a vending facility on State, federal, or |
other
property. |
"Blind person" means a person whose central visual acuity |
does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses |
or whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, is accompanied |
by a limit to the field of vision in the better eye to such a |
degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle of no greater |
than 20 degrees. In determining whether an individual is blind, |
there shall be an examination by a physician skilled in |
diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist, whichever the |
individual shall select. |
"Building" means only the portion of a structure owned or |
leased by the State or any State agency. |
"Cafeteria" means a food dispensing facility capable of |
providing
a broad variety of prepared foods and beverages |
(including hot meals)
primarily through the use of a line where |
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the customer serves himself
or herself from displayed |
selections. A cafeteria may be fully automatic or some
limited |
waiter or waitress service may be available and provided within
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a cafeteria and table or booth seating facilities are always |
provided.
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"Committee" means the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, |
an independent representative body for blind vendors |
established by the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act. |
"Department" means the Department of Human Services. |
"Director" means the Bureau Director of the Bureau for the |
Blind in the Department of Human Services. |
"Federal property" means any structure, land, or other real
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property owned, leased, or occupied by any department, agency |
or
instrumentality of the United States (including the |
Department of
Defense and the U.S. Postal Service), or any |
other instrumentality
wholly owned by the United States, or by |
any department or agency of the
District of Columbia or any |
territory or possession of the United
States. |
"License" means a written instrument issued by the |
Department to a blind person, authorizing such person to |
operate a vending
facility on State, federal, or other |
property.
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"Net proceeds" means the amount remaining from the sale of
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articles or services of vending facilities, and any vending |
machine or
other income accruing to blind vendors after |
deducting the cost of such
sale and other expenses (excluding |
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any set-aside charges required to be paid
by the blind |
vendors). |
"Normal working hours" means an 8-hour work period between |
the
approximate hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through |
Friday. |
"Other property" means property that is not State or |
federal property and
on which vending facilities are |
established or operated by the use of
any funds derived in |
whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the
operation of |
vending facilities on any State or federal property. |
"Priority" means the right of a blind person licensed by |
the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation |
Services, to operate a vending facility on any and all State |
property in the State of Illinois, in the same manner and to |
the same extent as the priority is provided to blind licensees |
on federal property under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 U.S.C. |
107, and federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. 395.30. |
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services. |
"Set-aside funds" means funds that accrue to the Department |
from an assessment against the net income of each vending
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facility in the State's vending facility program and any income |
from
vending machines on State or federal property that accrues |
to the Department. |
"State agency" means any department, board, commission, or |
agency created by the Constitution or Public Act, whether in |
the executive, legislative, or judicial branch. |
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"State property" means all property owned, leased, or |
rented by any State agency. For purposes of this Act, "State |
property" does not include property owned or controlled by a |
unit of local government, a public school district, or a public |
university, college, or community college. |
"Vending facility" means automatic vending machines,
snack |
bars, cart service, counters, rest areas, and such other |
appropriate
auxiliary equipment that may be operated by blind |
vendors and that
is necessary for the sale of newspapers, |
periodicals, confections,
tobacco products, foods, beverages, |
and notions
dispensed automatically or manually and prepared on |
or off the premises
in accordance with all applicable health |
laws, and including the vending
and payment of any lottery |
tickets or shares authorized by State law and
conducted by a |
State agency within the State. "Vending facility" does not |
include cafeterias, restaurants, the Department of |
Corrections' non-vending machine commissaries, the Department |
of
Juvenile Justice's non-vending machine commissaries, or |
commissaries and employment programs of the Division of Mental |
Health or Division of Developmental Disabilities that are |
operated by residents or State employees. |
"Vending machine", for the purpose of assigning vending |
machine
income under this Act, means a coin, currency, or debit |
card operated machine that
dispenses articles or services, |
except that those machines operated by
the United States Postal |
Service for the sale of postage stamps or other
postal products |
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and services, machines providing services of a
recreational |
nature, and telephones shall not be considered to be
vending |
machines. |
"Vending machine income" means the commissions or fees paid |
to the State from vending machine operations on State property |
where the machines are operated, serviced,
or maintained by, or |
with the approval of, a State agency by a commercial or |
not-for-profit vending concern that operates, services, and |
maintains vending machines.
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"Vendor" means a blind licensee who is operating a vending
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facility on State, federal, or other property.
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Section 10. Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. |
(a) The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind is |
created for the purposes of providing blind persons with |
remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities |
of the blind, and stimulating the blind to greater efforts in |
striving to make themselves self-supporting. In order to |
achieve these goals, blind persons licensed under this Act |
shall be authorized to operate vending facilities on any |
property within this State as provided by this Act. |
It is the intent of the General Assembly that the |
Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 U.S.C. Sections 107-107f, and the |
federal regulations for its administration set forth in Part |
395 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shall serve |
as a model for minimum standards for the operation of the |
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Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. The federal |
Randolph-Sheppard Act provides employment opportunities for |
individuals who are blind or visually impaired through the |
Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Under the |
Randolph-Sheppard Act, all federal agencies are required to |
give priority to licensed blind vendors in the operation of |
vending facilities on federal property. It is the intent of |
this Act to provide the same priority to licensed blind vendors |
on State property by requiring State agencies to give priority |
to licensed blind vendors in the operation of vending |
facilities on State property and preference to licensed blind |
vendors in the operation of cafeteria facilities on State |
property. Furthermore it is the intent of this Act that all |
State agencies, particularly the Department of Central |
Management Services, promote and advocate for the Business |
Enterprise Program for the Blind. |
(b) The Secretary, through the Director, shall continue, |
maintain, and promote the Business Enterprise Program for the |
Blind. Some or all of the functions of the program may be |
provided by the Department of Human Services. The Business |
Enterprise Program for the Blind must provide that: |
(1) priority is given to blind vendors in the operation |
of vending facilities on State property; |
(2) tie bid preference is given to blind vendors in the |
operation of cafeterias on State property, unless the |
cafeteria operations are operated by employees of a State |
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agency; |
(3) vending machine income from all vending machines on |
State property is assigned as provided for by Section 30 of |
this Act; |
(4) no State agency may impose any commission, service |
charge, rent, or utility charge on a licensed blind vendor |
who is operating a vending facility on State property |
unless
approved by the Department; |
(5) the Department shall approve a commission to the |
State agency from a blind vendor operating a vending |
facility on the State property of the Department of |
Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice in the |
amount of 10% of the net proceeds from vending machines |
servicing State employees and 25% of the net proceeds from |
vending machines servicing visitors on the State property; |
and |
(6) vending facilities operated by the Program use |
reasonable and necessary means and methods to maintain fair |
market pricing in relation to each facility's given |
demographic, geographic, and other circumstances. |
(c) With respect to vending facilities on federal property |
within this State, priority shall be given as provided in the |
federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 U.S.C. Sections 107-107f, |
including any amendments thereto. This Act, as it applies to |
federal property, is intended to conform to the federal Act, |
and is to be of no force or effect if, and to the extent that, |
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any provision of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act is |
in conflict with the federal Act. Nothing in this subsection |
shall be construed to impose limitations on the operation of |
vending facilities on State property, or property other than |
federal property, or to allow only those activities |
specifically enumerated in the Randolph-Sheppard Act. |
(d) The Secretary shall actively pursue all commissions |
from vending facilities not operated by blind vendors as |
provided in Section 30 of this Act, and shall propose new |
placements of vending facilities on State property where a |
facility is not yet in place. |
(e) Partnerships and teaming arrangements between blind |
vendors and private industry, including franchise operations, |
shall be fostered and encouraged by the Department. |
Section 15. Vending facilities on State property. |
(a) In order to ensure that priority is given to blind |
vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State |
property as provided in Section 10, the Secretary, directly or |
by delegation to the Director, and the Committee shall jointly |
develop rules to ensure the following: |
(1) That priority is given to blind persons licensed |
under this Act or under its predecessor Act (the Blind |
Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act, 20 ILCS 2420/), |
including the assignment of vending machine income as |
provided in this Act. |
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(2) That one or more vending facilities shall be |
established on all State property to the extent feasible. |
Where a larger vending facility is determined by the |
Director and the Committee to be infeasible, every effort |
shall be made to place vending machines on the property |
whenever possible. The Director and the Committee shall |
take into account the following criteria when determining |
whether establishment of a vending facility is feasible: |
(A) the number of State employees, visitors, and |
other potential facility customers on the property in a |
given period; |
(B) the size, in square feet, of the area owned, |
leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by the |
State; |
(C) the duration the property is expected to be |
leased or occupied by the State; |
(D) whether establishment of a vending facility |
would adversely affect the interests of the State; and |
(E) the likelihood that the vending facility would |
produce an adequate net income for a blind vendor as |
determined by the average income of all blind vendors |
in the State. |
(b) Any determination by the Director, or by the State |
agency controlling the property, that the placement or |
operation of a vending facility is not feasible, or that the |
placement or operation would adversely affect the interests of |
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the State shall be in writing and shall be transmitted to the |
Committee for review and ratification or rejection. |
(c) The Secretary, through the Director, subject to the |
rules developed and adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this |
Section and the requirements of federal law and regulations, is |
authorized to select a location for a vending facility and the |
type of facility to be provided. |
(d) Beginning January 1, 2010, all State agencies that: |
(1) undertake to acquire any property, in whole or in |
part, by ownership, rent, or lease, or that undertake to |
relocate to any property, shall request a determination |
from the Director or his or her designee as to whether the |
new property includes a satisfactory site or sites for the |
location and operation of a blind vendor vending facility; |
or |
(2) undertake to occupy a building that is to be |
constructed, substantially altered, or renovated, or in |
the case of a building that is already occupied by the |
State agency, undertake to substantially alter or renovate |
that building for use by the State agency; |
shall request a determination from the Director or his or her |
designee as to whether that building includes a satisfactory |
site or sites for the location and operation of a blind vendor |
vending facility. |
Upon receiving a request for a determination under this |
subsection (d), the Director or his or her designee and the |
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Committee shall have 10 days in which to notify that requesting |
State agency as to whether the new property or building is |
satisfactory or not satisfactory for the operation of a blind |
vendor vending facility. A site shall be deemed to be a |
satisfactory site by examining the potential customer base, |
including, but not limited to, State employees, State |
contractual employees, and the general public. The |
determination shall be based upon a site survey or any other |
reasonable means enabling an accurate assessment of the |
location. If the property has an existing private vendor, |
bottler, or vending machine operator, then the property shall |
be presumed to be a satisfactory site. If the Director, in |
consultation with the Committee, determines that the number of |
people using the location is or will be insufficient to support |
a vending facility, then the Director shall determine the |
property to be not satisfactory. |
Upon a determination by the Director or his or her designee |
and the Committee that the new property or building is |
satisfactory for the operation of a blind vendor vending |
facility, the Director, in consultation with the head of the |
State agency and in accordance with the rules developed |
pursuant to subsection (a), shall inform the agency to comply |
with the priority established for the operation of vending |
facilities by blind persons under this Act. |
(e) All State agencies shall fully cooperate with the |
Department to ensure that priority is given to blind vendors in |
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the operation of vending facilities on State property. This |
includes notifying the Department prior to the expiration of |
existing contracts or agreements for vending facilities or when |
such contracts or agreements are considered for renewal |
options. The notification must be given, when feasible, no |
later than 6 months prior to the potential expiration or |
renewal of the existing vending facility contract or agreement. |
Section 25. Set-aside funds; Blind Vendors Trust Fund. |
(a) The Department may provide, by rule, for set-asides |
similar to those provided in Section 107d-3 of the |
Randolph-Sheppard Act. If any funds are set aside, or caused to |
be set aside, from the net proceeds of the operation of vending |
facilities by blind vendors, the funds shall be set aside only |
to the extent necessary in a percentage amount not to exceed |
that determined jointly by the Director and the Committee and |
published in State rule, and that these funds may be used only |
for the following purposes: (1) maintenance and replacement of |
equipment; (2) purchase of new equipment; (3) construction of |
new vending facilities; (4) funding the functions of the |
Committee, including legal and other professional services; |
and (5) retirement or pension funds, health insurance, paid |
sick leave, and vacation time for blind licensees, so long as |
these benefits are approved by a majority vote of all Illinois |
licensed blind vendors that occurs after the Department |
provides these vendors with information on all matters relevant |
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to these purposes. |
(b) No set-aside funds shall be collected from a blind |
vendor when the monthly net proceeds of that vendor are less |
than $1,000. This amount may be adjusted annually by the |
Director and the Committee to reflect changes in the cost of |
living. |
(c) The Department shall establish, with full |
participation by the Committee, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund as |
a separate account managed by the Department for the State's |
blind vendors. |
(d) Set-aside funds collected from the operation of all |
vending facilities administered by the Business Enterprise |
Program for the Blind shall be placed in the Blind Vendors |
Trust Fund, which shall include set-aside funds from facilities |
on federal property. The Fund must provide separately |
identified sub-accounts for moneys from (i) federal and (ii) |
State and other facilities, as well as vending machine income |
generated pursuant to Section 30 of this Act. These funds shall |
be available until expended and shall not revert to the General |
Revenue Fund or to any other State account.
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(e) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the |
expenditure of set-aside funds authorized by this Section shall |
be supplemental to any current appropriation or other moneys |
made available for these purposes and shall not constitute an |
offset of any previously existing appropriation or other |
funding source. In no way shall this imply that the |
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appropriation for the Blind Vendors Program may never be |
decreased, rather that the new funds shall not be used as an |
offset. |
(f) An amount equal to 10% of the wages paid by a blind |
vendor to any employee who is blind or otherwise disabled shall |
be deducted from any set-aside charge paid by the vendor each |
month, in order to encourage vendors to employ blind and |
disabled workers and to set an example for industry and |
government. No deduction shall be made for any employee paid |
less than the State or federal minimum wage. |
Section 30. Vending machine income and compliance. |
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), |
and (i) of this Section, after July 1, 2010, all vending |
machine income, as defined by this Act, from vending machines |
on State property shall accrue to (1) the blind vendor |
operating the vending facilities on the property or (2) in the |
event there is no blind vendor operating a facility on the |
property, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund for use exclusively as |
set forth in subsection (a) of Section 25 of this Act. |
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of |
this Section, all State university cafeterias and vending |
machines are exempt from this Act. |
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of |
this Section, all vending facilities at the Governor Samuel H. |
Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee are exempt from this |
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Act. |
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of |
this Section, in
the event there is no blind vendor operating a |
vending facility on the
State property, all vending machine |
income, as defined in this Act, from
vending machines on the |
State property of the Department of Corrections
and the |
Department of Juvenile Justice shall accrue to the State agency
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and be allocated in accordance with the commissary provisions |
in the Unified Code of Corrections. |
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of |
this Section, in the event a blind vendor is operating a |
vending facility on
the State property of the Department or |
Corrections or the Department of
Juvenile Justice, a commission |
shall be paid to the State agency equal to
10% of the net |
proceeds from vending machines servicing State employees
and |
25% of the net proceeds from vending machines servicing |
visitors on
the State property. |
(f) The Secretary, directly or by delegation of authority, |
shall ensure compliance with this Section and Section 15 of |
this Act with respect to buildings, installations, facilities, |
roadside rest stops, and any other State property, and shall be |
responsible for the collection of, and accounting for, all |
vending machine income on this property. The Secretary shall |
enforce these provisions through litigation, arbitration, or |
any other legal means available to the State, and each State |
agency in control of this property shall be subject to the |
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enforcement. State agencies or departments failing to comply |
with an order of the Department may be held in contempt in any |
court of general jurisdiction. |
(g) Any limitation on the placement or operation of a |
vending machine by a State agency based on a determination that |
such placement or operation would adversely affect the |
interests of the State must be explained in writing to the |
Secretary. The Secretary shall promptly determine whether the |
limitation is justified. If the Secretary determines that the |
limitation is not justified, the State agency seeking the |
limitation shall immediately remove the limitation. |
(h) The amount of vending machine income accruing from |
vending machines on State property that may be used for the |
functions of the Committee shall be determined annually by a |
two-thirds vote of the Committee, except that no more than 25% |
of the annual vending machine income may be used by the |
Committee for this purpose, based upon the income accruing to |
the Blind Vendors Trust Fund in the preceding year. The |
Committee may establish its budget and expend funds through |
contract or otherwise without the approval of the Department. |
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of |
this Section, with respect to vending machines located on any |
facility or property controlled or operated by the Division of |
Mental Health or the Division of Developmental Disabilities |
within the Department of Human Services: |
(1) Any written contract in place as of the effective |
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date of this Act between the Division and the Business |
Enterprise Program for the Blind shall be maintained and |
fully adhered to including any moneys paid to the |
individual facilities. |
(2) With respect to existing vending machines with no |
written contract or agreement in place as of the effective |
date of this Act between the Division and a private vendor, |
bottler, or vending machine supplier, the Business |
Enterprise Program for the Blind has the right to provide |
the vending services as provided in this Act, provided that |
the blind vendor must provide 10% of gross sales from those |
machines to the individual facilities.
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Section 40. Licenses. |
(a) Licenses shall be issued only to blind persons who are |
qualified to operate vending facilities. The continuing |
eligibility of a vendor as a blind person shall be reviewed |
biennially for partially sighted individuals or whenever the |
Director has information indicating the vendor is no longer |
blind as defined under this Act. |
(b) Following agreement by the Secretary, the Director, and |
the Committee, the Secretary shall adopt and publish rules |
providing for (1) the requirements for licensure as a blind |
vendor; (2) a curriculum for training, in-service training, and |
upward mobility training for blind vendors; and (3) a regular |
schedule for offering the training, classes to be offered at |
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least once per year. |
(c) Each license issued pursuant to this Section shall be |
for an indefinite period as described by rule. The license of a |
blind vendor may be terminated or suspended for good cause, but |
only after affording the licensee an opportunity for a full and |
fair hearing in accordance with the provisions of this Act. |
Section 45. Committee of Blind Vendors. |
(a) The Secretary, through the Director, shall provide for |
the biennial election of the Committee, which shall be fully |
representative of all blind licensees in the State. There shall |
be no fewer than one Committee member for each 15 licensed |
blind vendors in the State. |
(b) The Committee is empowered to hire staff; contract for |
consultants including, but not limited to, legal counsel; set |
agendas and call meetings; create a constitution and bylaws, |
subcommittees, and budgets; and do any other thing a |
not-for-profit organization may do through the use of the Blind |
Vendors Trust Fund. At the discretion of the Committee major |
issues may be referred for initial consideration to a |
subcommittee, or to all blind vendors in order to ascertain |
their views. |
(c) The Secretary shall ensure that the Committee jointly |
participates with the State in the development and |
implementation of all policies, plans, program development, |
and major administrative and management decisions affecting |
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the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. The Secretary, |
through the Director, shall provide to the Committee all |
relevant financial information and data, including quarterly |
and annual financial reports, on the operation of the vending |
facility program in order that the Committee may fully |
participate in budget development and formulation, the |
establishment of set-aside levels, and other program |
requirements. A copy of all completed audits, reports, and |
investigations affecting the Business Enterprise Program for |
the Blind shall be distributed to the Committee in a timely |
manner. Any implementation of changes in administrative policy |
or program development that are within the discretion of the |
Department shall occur only after Committee review. |
Section 50. Hearings; arbitration. |
(a) Any blind vendor dissatisfied with any act or omission |
arising from the operation or administration of the vending |
facility program may submit to the Secretary a request for a |
full evidentiary hearing. This hearing shall be provided in a |
timely manner by the Department. Damages, including |
compensatory damages, attorney's fees, and expenses, must be |
paid to any operator who prevails in the full evidentiary |
hearing; however, payment of damages may not be paid from any |
program funds, the Blind Vendors Trust Fund, or federal |
rehabilitation funds. If the blind vendor is dissatisfied with |
any action taken or decision rendered as a result of the |
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hearing, that vendor may file a complaint for arbitration with |
the Secretary. |
(b) If the Secretary determines that any State agency has |
failed to comply with the requirements of this Act, the |
Secretary must establish a panel to arbitrate the dispute and |
the decision of the panel shall be final and binding on the |
parties. Any arbitration panel convened by the Secretary shall |
be composed of 3 members, appointed as follows: |
(1) one individual appointed by the Secretary; |
(2) one individual appointed by the State agency |
determined by the Secretary to be in noncompliance with the |
Act; and |
(3) one individual, who shall serve as chairperson, |
jointly designated by the members appointed under items (1) |
and (2); provided that, if within 30 days following the |
Secretary's determination of noncompliance either party |
fails to appoint a panel member, or if the parties are |
unable to agree on the appointment of the chairperson, the |
Secretary shall select the final panel member or may |
designate a hearing officer of the Department who shall |
preside. |
(c) The Secretary may issue a letter of reprimand to a |
blind vendor who violates program rules or policy. Depending |
upon the seriousness of the alleged violation, the letter of |
reprimand may indicate the intention to suspend or terminate |
the license of the vendor. All reprimand letters shall be sent |
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in a medium accessible by the vendor, and shall be sent by |
certified mail, return receipt requested. The Secretary must |
make every reasonable effort to assist the subject vendor to |
correct the problem for which the vendor is reprimanded. No |
process to suspend or terminate a license shall be initiated |
before the vendor is accorded the opportunity for a full |
evidentiary hearing as provided under subsection (a). A vendor |
may be summarily removed from a facility only in an emergency. |
Section 60. General provisions. |
(a) Blind vendors operating vending facilities are subject |
to the applicable license or permit requirements of the county |
or municipality in which the facility is located necessary for |
the conduct of their business. |
(b) Vendors licensed pursuant to this Act are authorized to |
keep guide animals with them while operating vending facilities |
subject to public health laws and rules. |
(c) The Secretary, the Director, and the Committee shall |
cooperate in the development of rules to be promulgated by the |
Department regarding life standards for vending facility |
equipment. Such rules shall include, but are not limited to, |
the life expectancy of equipment; time periods within which |
equipment should be replaced; exceptions to the replacement |
time periods for equipment with no service problem history; and |
replacement schedules for equipment subject to excessive |
failures not the fault of the vendor. |
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(d) The Secretary, through the Director, shall assign |
adequate personnel to carry out duties related to the |
administration and management of this Act. In selecting |
personnel to fill any program position under this subsection, |
the Secretary shall ensure that the Committee has full advance |
opportunity to review the selections, to submit comments |
thereon, and to assess the adequacy of staffing levels for the |
program. |
(e) The Secretary shall provide each vendor access to: all |
financial information, his or her performance ratings, and all |
other individual personnel documents and data maintained by the |
Department. This includes providing each vendor a written copy |
of all rules and policies adopted pursuant to this Act. Upon |
request, the information shall be furnished in the medium most |
accessible by the vendor. |
(f) The surviving spouse of a current Illinois licensed |
blind vendor who dies may continue to operate the facility for |
a period of 6 months following the death of the vendor, |
provided that the surviving spouse is qualified by experience |
or training to manage the facility. |
(g) The Secretary shall, by rule, require licensed blind |
vendors to obtain additional training to operate a blind |
vending facility for State property determined by a State |
agency to be high security property. |
Section 65. Program rules. |
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(a) The Secretary shall promulgate and adopt necessary |
rules, and do all things necessary and proper to carry out this |
Act. The Secretary by delegation shall review these rules with |
the Committee at least every 3 years. |
(b) The rules shall include, but are not limited to, the |
following: (1) uniform procedures for vendor licensing and |
termination; (2) criteria and standards for selecting vendors |
and matching them to facilities to ensure that the most |
qualified person is selected; (3) equipment life standards and |
service standards for the inventory, repair, and purchase of |
equipment; (4) minimum requirements for the establishment of a |
vending facility; (5) standards for training, in-service |
training, and upward mobility; and (6) policies and procedures |
for the collection, deposit, reimbursement, and use of all |
program income, including vending machine income. |
Section 70. Property Survey and Report. |
(a) The Department shall survey and report on State |
property and vending facilities not later than December 31, |
2010. The report shall contain the following information: |
(1) A list of all State property or other property |
within the State that does or reasonably could accommodate |
a vending facility as provided for in this Act or as |
provided for in the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act. |
(2) For the buildings or locations that have vending |
facilities or vending machines in place, an indication of |
|
the facilities operated by licensed blind vendors under the |
Business Enterprise Program for the Blind and an indication |
of the facilities operated by private entities. |
(3) For the vending facilities or vending machines |
operated by private entities, an indication of the |
facilities from which commissions for the Business |
Enterprise Program for the Blind have been or are being |
collected. |
(4) For the buildings or other property that do not |
have vending facilities in place, an indication of the |
locations where a vending facility could appropriately be |
placed, or the reasons why a vending facility is not |
feasible in the building or property. |
(b) The Department shall obtain all available information |
and conduct a survey, before June 30 of every odd-numbered year |
after the effective date of this Act. This survey shall |
identify but not be limited to the following information: |
(1) The number and identity of the buildings owned, |
leased, acquired, or occupied by the State. |
(2) The number and identity of the State buildings |
where vending facilities or vending machines are located. |
(3) The number of employees located in or visiting |
these buildings during normal working hours. |
(4) The usable interior square footage of the building; |
and |
(5) Any other information the Department may determine |
|
to be useful in expanding the Business Enterprise Program |
for the Blind to the maximum extent feasible consistent |
with the purposes of this Act. |
(c) All State agencies controlling State property or parts |
thereof where vending machines or vending facilities are |
located must cooperate with the Department by providing |
information on the vending machines or facilities at those |
locations. This information shall include, but is not limited |
to, the terms of contracts for vending, including financial |
terms, and the disbursement practices for vending machine |
income. The Department shall incorporate this information in |
its reports and updates. |
(d) The Department shall use the reports and updates |
mandated by this Section to develop greater opportunities for |
the placement of blind vendors, to increase vending machine |
income to the program, and to aid in establishing vending |
machines and facilities on State property. |
(e) The reports and surveys prepared pursuant to this |
Section shall be provided to the Committee and to the |
appropriate committees of the General Assembly.
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(20 ILCS 2420/Act rep.)
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Section 90. The Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities |
Act is repealed.
|