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| Public Act 096-1088 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning public aid.
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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 | ||||
Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Program Act. | ||||
Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act: | ||||
"Farmers' market" means a nontraditional fresh food | ||||
market, licensed by the United States Department of | ||||
Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service to accept SNAP | ||||
benefits, where farmers or growers sell a variety of fresh | ||||
fruits and vegetables and other locally-grown farm products | ||||
directly to consumers. | ||||
"LINK card" means an electronic benefits transfer card | ||||
issued by the Department of Human
Services for the purpose of | ||||
enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP (formerly known as | ||||
food stamps) benefits or cash.
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Section 10. Farmers' Market Technology Improvement | ||||
Program. | ||||
(a) The Department of Human Services and the Department of | ||||
Agriculture shall implement a Farmers' Market Technology | ||||
Improvement Program. The purpose of this program is to increase | ||||
access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other LINK eligible | ||||
food products, including quality meat and dairy, for all | ||
Illinois residents by allowing LINK program participants to | ||
redeem their SNAP benefits at farmers' markets. The Department | ||
of Human Services and the Department of Agriculture shall | ||
solicit federal and State funding for the purpose of | ||
implementing this program. | ||
(b) The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Fund is | ||
created as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose | ||
of implementing the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement | ||
Program. All monies received pursuant to this Act shall be | ||
deposited into the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement | ||
Fund. Funding for the program must be used for one or more of | ||
the following purposes: | ||
(1) The purchase or rental of wireless point of sale | ||
terminals capable of processing
SNAP benefits disbursed | ||
under the LINK program. | ||
(2) Monthly or transaction fees associated with LINK | ||
card transactions. No fees related to credit or debit | ||
transactions will be reimbursed. | ||
(3) Outreach to LINK program participants.
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Section 15. Implementation of regulations. The Department | ||
of Human Services shall adopt necessary rules and shall | ||
implement the program by March 31, 2011. | ||
Section 20. The State Finance Act is amended by adding | ||
Section 5.755 as follows: | ||
(30 ILCS 105/5.755 new) | ||
Sec. 5.755. The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement | ||
Fund. | ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2010. | ||