CLOCC Watch List for Policy and Legislation

This page will serve as the rally point for CLOCC partners and the childhood obesity-prevention community to learn about new and pending legislation with the potential to impact the health and well-being of Illinois’ children. The State of Illinois’ 101st General Assembly will extend to May 31st. Please bookmark and check this page often for advocacy opportunities, and be sure that you are subscribed for CLOCC updates. 

Updated February 15, 2022

State Legislation

  • House Bill 4813: Amends the School Code, Eliminates Low Bid Contracts for School Meals. Exempts from contract bidding requirements contracts for goods, services, or management in the operation of a school’s food service, including a school that participates in any of the United States Department of Agriculture’s child nutrition programs.

    STATUS: CLOCC SUPPORTS
    Witness Slip Opportunity: Wednesday, February 16, 2022

    • lllinois procurement code requires school districts to accept food contracts based on the lowest bid. The current low bid structure:

      • Places more restrictions on schools participating in the National School Lunch Program which have higher rates of socially disadvantaged students and students of color, making it more difficult for these schools to improve lunch for their students
      • Limits the use of local produce and farm produce from Illinois.
      • Lowers staffing pay and benefits and prevents hiring of trained staff in the school kitchen.
      • Severely limits scratch cooking in schools.
      • Does not allow students, parents and staff to taste test and rate the food from a potential vendor.
      • Does not allow for an appropriate ranking of vendors on criteria such as whether the food is local, healthy, fair, humane, or sustainable– only by price.

 

  • House Bill 4640: Creates the Access to Public Health Data Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services shall, at the request of a local health department in Illinois, make any and all public health data related to residents of that local health department’s jurisdiction available to that local health department for the purposes of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability. Provides that the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Contains other provisions. Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Provides that emergency access to medical or health information, records, or data shall include access to electronic health records, provided that the local health authority shall be unable to alter the electronic health records. Provides that a person, facility, institution, or agency providing information under the provisions may withhold a patient’s mental or behavioral health history. Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that no rule adopted by the Department of Public Health shall be construed as restricting access to vital records by any municipality, county, multicounty, public health district, or regional health officer recognized by the Department for the purposes described in specified provisions. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health may release specified confidential information to a certified local health department engaged in the performance of epidemiological studies, the application of data science methods, or other analytic models that protect and promote public health. Makes other changes.

    STATUS: CLOCC SUPPORTS


*Witness Slips

    When a bill is reviewed in committee, the State provides Illinois citizens with an opportunity to record their support or opposition to the legislation using an online form called a witness slip. This has been a valuable tactic for grassroots and community organizations to rally support from around the State and make their voice heard in Springfield.