Public Act 103-0412
 
HB2879 EnrolledLRB103 29913 KTG 56325 b


  
    AN ACT concerning hunger relief.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program Act.
 
    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
    "Agricultural entity" means a grower, producer, or 
processor of farm or dairy products, meat, poultry, fruits and 
agricultural products that are grown, raised, harvested, or 
processed in Illinois.
    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
    "Food bank" means a public or charitable institution that 
maintains an established operation involving the provision of 
food or edible commodities to food pantries, soup kitchens, 
hunger relief centers, or other feeding programs that, as an 
integral part of their normal activities, provide meals or 
food to needy persons.
    "Program" means the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program.
    "Program participant" means a food bank that receives food 
under the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program to distribute to 
food pantries, soup kitchens, hunger relief centers, or other 
feeding programs that provide meals or food to needy persons.
    "Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services. 
 
    Section 10. Establishment of the Illinois Farm to Food 
Bank Program. 
    (a) A program to help expand the availability of 
nutritious, locally grown, raised, or processed foods for 
Illinois' emergency food system, known as Illinois Farm to 
Food Bank Program, is hereby established within the Department 
of Human Services. The program shall: 
        (1) acquire and distribute agricultural products from 
    Illinois agricultural entities or aggregators to Illinois' 
    emergency food system, and
        (2) provide grants to improve capacity of the 
    emergency food system to allow for the proper 
    transportation, storage, or distribution of agricultural 
    products to underserved areas.
    (b) The program shall target fruits, vegetables, meat and 
poultry, dairy, and eggs produced in Illinois. Foods shall be 
surplus, seconds, or market-grade quality levels and must be 
safe for consumption. 
    (c) The Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program is subject to 
appropriation and shall dedicate no less than 75% of available 
funds to acquisition and distribution of food.
 
    Section 15. Administering entity.  
    (a) The Secretary shall engage a not-for-profit entity 
from Illinois' emergency food system to administer the 
program. The administering entity shall have statewide reach 
and represent multiple food banks that source and distribute 
food to Illinois food pantries and soup kitchens under the 
same authorities and standards as the Emergency Food 
Assistance Program administered by the Department. 
    (b) The duties of the administering entity shall include, 
but are not limited to: 
        (1) developing an annual plan outlining anticipated 
    needs, outreach efforts, potential challenges, and any 
    changes that may affect the program from the prior year; 
        (2) issuing an annual report that summarizes the 
    activity from the prior year, including meeting the 
    capacity-building and equity goals of the program; 
        (3) identifying program participants and their food 
    needs; 
        (4) building relationships with Illinois agricultural 
    entities that address those needs, including socially 
    disadvantaged farmers; 
        (5) coordinating the acquisition and distribution of 
    agricultural commodities to food banks; and
        (6) distributing capacity-building grants. 
 
    Section 20. Advisory Council.  
    (a) The Farm to Food Bank Advisory Council is created, 
consisting of the following members:
        (1) The Secretary of Human Services or the Secretary's 
    designee, who shall serve as chair.
        (2) The Director of Agriculture or the Director's 
    designee.
        (3) Three representatives from food banks, including 
    at least 2 representatives from food banks that 
    participate in the Emergency Food Assistance Program 
    administered by the Department of Human Services, selected 
    by the Department.
        (4) Three representatives from the agricultural 
    industry, selected by the Department.
        (5) A representative from an academic institution with 
    expertise in agricultural systems, selected by the 
    Department.
    (b) The Advisory Council shall provide support to the 
program through the following activities:
        (1) facilitating relationship-building and 
    partnerships between the Illinois agricultural sector and 
    the emergency food system;
        (2) approving of a proposed annual budget by the 
    administering entity;
        (3) reviewing and providing feedback on the 
    administering entity's annual plans and annual reports; 
        (4) promoting the program; and
        (5) providing feedback or recommendations as needed to 
    the administering entity.
 
    Section 25. Participation requirements.  
    (a) The Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program may distribute 
food to food banks with the infrastructure to accept, store, 
and distribute foods through the emergency food system in 
compliance with federal, State, or local health and food 
safety requirements and with the capacity to serve significant 
geographic areas within Illinois. Foods may be sourced 
directly from an agricultural entity or via Illinois-based 
aggregators as long as the foods meet program requirements. 
    (b) Program participants shall match Farm to Food Bank 
resources with non-state funds. The match can be met through 
cash or in-kind contributions.
    (c) All food distributed under the program must be 
distributed in Illinois, regardless of the service area of the 
program participant. 
 
    Section 30. Capacity-building grants.  The Illinois Farm 
to Food Bank Program shall distribute capacity-building grants 
for facility upgrades, equipment, or other investments 
necessary to support the objectives of the program and allow 
for the proper pickup, storage, or processing of agricultural 
products that expand the ability of Illinois' emergency food 
system to access these products and better reach underserved 
areas and underserved populations.
 
    Section 35. Rulemaking.   The Department shall adopt rules 
to implement the program. These rules shall include, but are 
not limited to: 
        (1) eligible costs related to acquisition and 
    distribution of food, including, but not limited to, 
    picking, packing, processing, and transportation;  
        (2) health and safety requirements for program 
    participants, farmers, and transportation;
        (3) food quality standards;
        (4) program requirements for the capacity-building 
    grant program, including eligibility, allowable expenses, 
    and reporting;
        (5) contracting requirements and purchasing options;
        (6) goals, preferences, and incentives to advance 
    equity, especially racial equity, in the farm industry;
        (7) data collection, evaluation, and annual plan and 
    reporting requirements; and
        (8) any other rules necessary to implement the 
    program.
  
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.