HB 54

Abstract

Amends the Agricultural Experiences Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 505 ILCS 10/1 Adds reference to: New Act 30 ILCS 105/5.990 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Agriculture shall develop and administer an annual Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program to enhance local food processing, aggregation, and distribution within the State. Establishes eligibility requirements for the grants. Provides that all grant funding must be used for the purchasing, leasing to own, renting, building, or installation of infrastructure that will increase market access of Illinois communities to Illinois agricultural products. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department shall create an independent Local Food Infrastructure Steering Committee to guide the implementation and evaluation of the grant. Provides that the committee shall be selected by the Director. Provides that the committee shall include, but is not limited to, at least 3 farmers, including one specialty crop farmer, one livestock farmer, and one farmer of color; one representative from the local food processing industry, one representative from a non-profit organization serving farmers of color, one representative from a non-profit organization serving farmers at large, and one representative from the Department. Provides that the Director must file with the Governor and General Assembly, and publish publicly on or before March 1 of each year, a written report detailing the impact of the Local Food Infrastructure Grant for the previous calendar year. The report must include a complete list of (1) all applications for grants under the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program during the previous calendar year; (2) all persons that were awarded the Local Food Infrastructure Grant and the nature and amount of their awards in the previous calendar year; and (3) the economic impact of the grant from the previous calendar year, which may include jobs created, local food sales increases, and communities served. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.