Rep. Sonya M. Harper
Filed: 3/17/2023
 
 

 

 

 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2557 




2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2557 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:

 
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Farmer Equity and Innovation Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
7    "Limited resource farmer"

means a farmer who  has a total 
8household income at or below the national poverty level for a 
9family of 4, or less than 50% of the county median household 
10income in each of the previous 2 years. 
11    "Socially disadvantaged farmer" means a  farmer who has 
12been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices because of their 
13identity as a member of a group without regard to their 
14individual qualities.
 
15    Section 10. Farmer Equity and Innovation Center.
 
 
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1    (a) Subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and 
2approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, the 
3Farmer Equity and Innovation Center is created at the 
4University of Illinois Extension.
5    (b)  The Farmer Equity and Innovation Center shall:
6        (1)  ensure the continued economic viability of 
7    small-scale and moderate-scale diversified farms by 
8    creating a coordinated, statewide program to support the 
9    operators of those farms, prioritizing limited resource 
10    farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers;
11        (2) establish a Farmer Equity and Innovation Program 
12    administered by the Center;
13        (3) utilize the  University of Illinois Small Farm 
14    Advisors, and require the University to increase its Small 
15    Farm Advisor positions to 6 in number;
16        (4) include applied research on specified subjects 
17    concerning farming in Illinois, outreach regarding those 
18    subjects, and informational services on assistance 
19    provided by or through the Center or nonprofit 
20    organizations designated by the Center;
21        (5) authorize the Program to include special training 
22    for new and beginning farmers, with priority given to 
23    socially disadvantaged farmers; and
24        (6) conduct a study to determine and issue an annual  
25    report to the Governor and General Assembly  containing a 
26    demographic breakdown of farmers who participate in the 
 
 
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1    Program.".