Bill Text: IL SB0167 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning the School Code, provides that halal and kosher lunch options shall be available as lunch options as part of a school board's lunch program to a student who submits a request at the time of registration (instead of having a halal or kosher food service program). Provides that the school board shall make accommodations to provide a halal or kosher lunch option upon finding a vendor or the school district itself is able to provide the lunch option. Removes provisions regarding certification of a vendor. Sets forth requirements for selecting a vendor, reimbursement, and compliance. In provisions concerning the Halal Food Act, provides that after an individual submits a request for a halal or kosher option, the state-owned or state-operated facility shall make accommodations for the request as soon as the state-owned or state-operated facility is able to provide the meals. Removes provisions regarding State-certification. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Makes substantially similar changes as to kosher food options at State facilities. Moves the definition of "kosher".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-05-11 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB0167 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB0167-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB0167 Introduced 1/31/2023, by Sen. Ram Villivalam SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-20.85 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.82 new
410 ILCS 637/25 new
410 ILCS 645/1.5 new
410 ILCS 645/2 from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 288.2
Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to provide for a program by which both halal and kosher food options are offered in public school cafeterias by request. Provides further requirements concerning the provision of halal and kosher food in public schools. Amends the Halal Food Act. Defines "State-owned or State-operated facility". Provides that any State-owned or State-operated facility that provides food services or cafeteria services for which food products are provided or offered for sale also shall offer, upon request provided with reasonable notice, halal food options at the State-owned or State-operated facility. Provides that any halal food product offered shall be certified as halal by a State-approved organization or purchased from a State-approved halal-certified vendor. Provides that any person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalties under the Act. Provides for the adoption of rules. Provides that the amendatory provisions shall not infringe upon or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in effect on or before the amendatory Act's effective date. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Makes substantially similar changes as to kosher food options at State facilities, defines "kosher", and provides that a violation of the provisions concerning State facility kosher food services is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent offense. Effective June 1, 2024.
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A BILL FOR
SB0167 LRB103 05208 CPF 50224 b
AN ACT concerning health.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
10-20.85 and 34-18.82 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.85 new)
Sec. 10-20.85. Halal and kosher food services.
(a) Each school board shall provide for a program by which
both halal and kosher food options that comply with federal
and State nutritional guidelines are offered in public school
cafeterias by request. Any halal or kosher food product
offered under this Section shall be certified as halal or
kosher by a State-approved organization or purchased from a
State-approved halal-certified or kosher-certified vendor. Any
person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food
product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as
a halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalty under the
Halal Food Act. Any person, organization, or vendor falsely
representing a food product it provides as kosher or falsely
representing itself as a kosher-certified vendor shall be
subject to penalty under the Kosher Food Act. As used in this
Section, "halal" has the same meaning as provided under
Section 5 of the Halal Food Act. As used in this Section,

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"kosher" means supervised, prepared under, and maintained in
strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Jewish
religion, including, but not limited to, (i) the laws and
customs of shechita requiring the slaughter of animals
according to appropriate Jewish law and (ii) as expressed by
reliable, recognized Orthodox Jewish entities and Orthodox
Jewish rabbis.
(b) The provisions of this Section shall not infringe upon
or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in
effect on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 103rd General Assembly.
(105 ILCS 5/34-18.82 new)
Sec. 34-18.82. Halal and kosher food services.
(a) The board shall provide for a program by which both
halal and kosher food options that comply with federal and
State nutritional guidelines are offered in school cafeterias
by request. Any halal or kosher food product offered under
this Section shall be certified as halal or kosher by a
State-approved organization or purchased from a State-approved
halal-certified or kosher-certified vendor. Any person,
organization, or vendor falsely representing a food product it
provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a
halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalty under the
Halal Food Act. Any person, organization, or vendor falsely
representing a food product it provides as kosher or falsely

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representing itself as a kosher-certified vendor shall be
subject to penalty under the Kosher Food Act. As used in this
Section, "halal" has the same meaning as provided under
Section 5 of the Halal Food Act. As used in this Section,
"kosher" means supervised, prepared under, and maintained in
strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Jewish
religion, including, but not limited to, (i) the laws and
customs of shechita requiring the slaughter of animals
according to appropriate Jewish law and (ii) as expressed by
reliable, recognized Orthodox Jewish entities and Orthodox
Jewish rabbis.
(b) The provisions of this Section shall not infringe upon
or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in
effect on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 103rd General Assembly.
Section 15. The Halal Food Act is amended by adding
Section 25 as follows:
(410 ILCS 637/25 new)
Sec. 25. State facility halal food services.
(a) In this Section, "State-owned or State-operated
facility" means either of the following:
(1) A hospital that is organized under the University
of Illinois Hospital Act.
(2) A penal institution, as that term is defined under

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Section 2-14 of the Criminal Code of 2012, that is owned or
operated by the State.
(b) Any State-owned or State-operated facility that
provides food services or cafeteria services for which food
products are provided or offered for sale also shall offer,
upon request provided with reasonable notice, halal food
options that comply with federal and State nutritional
guidelines at the State-owned or State-operated facility.
(c) Any halal food product offered under this Section
shall be certified as halal by a State-approved organization
or purchased from a State-approved halal-certified vendor. Any
person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food
product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as
a halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalties under
Section 10 or 15 of this Act.
(d) The Department of Central Management Services and all
other relevant State agencies shall adopt all rules necessary
for the implementation of this Section.
(e) The provisions of this Section shall not infringe upon
or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in
effect on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 103rd General Assembly.
Section 20. The Kosher Food Act is amended by adding
Section 1.5 and by changing Section 2 as follows:

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(410 ILCS 645/1.5 new)
Sec. 1.5. State facility kosher food services.
(a) In this Section:
"Kosher" means supervised, prepared under, and maintained
in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Jewish
religion, including, but not limited to, (i) the laws and
customs of shechita requiring the slaughter of animals
according to appropriate Jewish law and (ii) as expressed by
reliable, recognized Orthodox Jewish entities and Orthodox
Jewish rabbis.
"State-owned or State-operated facility" means either of
the following:
(1) A hospital that is organized under the University
of Illinois Hospital Act.
(2) A penal institution, as that term is defined under
Section 2-14 of the Criminal Code of 2012, that is owned or
operated by the State.
(b) Any State-owned or State-operated facility that
provides food services or cafeteria services for which food
products are provided or offered for sale also shall offer,
upon request provided with reasonable notice, kosher food
options that comply with federal and State nutritional
guidelines at the State-owned or State-operated facility.
(c) Any kosher food product offered under this Section
shall be certified as kosher by a State-approved organization
or purchased from a State-approved kosher-certified vendor.

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Any person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a
food product it provides as kosher or falsely representing
itself as a kosher-certified vendor shall be subject to
penalties under Section 2 of this Act.
(d) The Department of Central Management Services and all
other relevant State agencies shall adopt all rules necessary
for the implementation of this Section.
(e) The provisions of this Section shall not infringe upon
or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in
effect on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 103rd General Assembly.
(410 ILCS 645/2) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 288.2)
Sec. 2. Any person convicted of violating Section 1 or 1.5
of this Act, shall for the first offense, be guilty of a Class
C misdemeanor and for the second and each subsequent offense
shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 77-2510.)