Signed by Governor JB Pritzker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes the state government to declare food deserts.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity within the Illinois state government to declare food deserts (Sec. 1).

• Defines “food deserts” for the purpose of this bill as a census urban or rural tract that meets one of the following poverty and population standards including (Sec. 5):

• With a poverty rate of at least 20% in census tracts;

• Not located within a metropolitan statistical area and has a median family income less than or equal to 80% of the statewide median household income in census tracts;

• Not located within a metropolitan statistical area and has a median family income less than or equal to 80% of the greater of the statewide median household or family income in census tracts;

• With at least 33% of the population or 500 residents more than 10 miles from the nearest grocery store in rural tracts; or

• With at least 33% of the population of the tract or at least 500 residents outside of a half-mile from the nearest grocery store in an urban tract.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 99).

Full Bill Text