Section 20 ILCS 605/605-600 - Buy Illinois ProgramThe Department shall have the authority to establish and administer a Buy Illinois Program, which may include, but is not limited to, the following powers and duties:
(1) To accept grants, loans, or appropriations from the federal government or the State or any agency or instrumentality thereof, and to assess fees for any services performed under the Buy Illinois Program, to carry out the program. (2) To form a Buy Illinois Council, made up of Illinois large firms and small firms, to provide advice and counsel in directing a statewide program. (3) To publicize and advertise to Illinois firms and government agencies the importance and benefits of buying goods and services provided by vendors located within the State. (4) To secure the cooperation of Illinois' large firms, federal, State and local governments, non-profit agencies, international organizations, and others to carry out this program. (5) To match the needs for products and services by business firms and government agencies with the capabilities of small Illinois firms that can provide those needed goods and services. (6) To hold purchasing agent seminars, fairs, conferences and workshops to aid small Illinois businesses in obtaining contracts for goods and services from larger firms and government agencies within the State. (7) To assist business firms and government agencies to analyze their buying activities and to find ways to carry out those activities in an effective and economical manner, while promoting subcontract activity with small Illinois firms. (8) To establish manual and electronic buying directories, including stand alone computer data bases that list qualified vendors and procurement opportunities. (9) To promote through other means the use by international agencies, government agencies, and larger businesses of products and services produced by small Illinois firms. (10) To subcontract, grant funds, or otherwise participate with qualified private firms, existing procurement centers, or other organizations that have designed programs approved in accordance with procedures determined by the Department, that are aimed at assisting small Illinois firms in obtaining contracts for products and services from local government agencies and larger Illinois businesses. (11) To develop and administer guidelines for projects that provide assistance to the Department in connection with the Buy Illinois Program. (12) To form the Illinois Food Systems Policy Council to develop policies around food access and security, improve individual health and well-being, promote economic incentives for Illinois farmers, agri-businesses, and other private enterprises, and encourage public/private partnerships around healthy food options. Membership on the Council shall include the Director or Secretary, or his or her designee, of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Central Management Services, the State Board of Education, and the Food Nutrition and Education Program. The Council shall consult with farmers and farm associations, businesses and business associations, including agri-businesses and food processing businesses, and community based organizations, including those working on food access, security, and delivery and on obesity prevention. Administration of the Council and its functions shall be shared among the Council members pursuant to an interagency agreement from funds appropriated for this purpose or from existing funds within the budgets of the Council's members. The Council may submit, in consultation and collaboration with the associations, businesses, organizations, and entities listed in this Section, an annual report to the General Assembly describing the Council's work, which may include performance indicators to measure the impact of policies and practices adopted by the Council.Amended by P.A. 094-0077, § 5, eff. 1/1/2006. P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.