SB2045: Blind Vendors Act - Summary

• Establishes the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind to provide employment opportunities for blind persons through vending facilities on State, federal, and other property in Illinois.

• Requires State agencies to give priority to licensed blind vendors for vending facilities on State property and tie-bid preference for cafeteria operations, modeled on the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act.

• Directs all vending machine income from State property to accrue to either the operating blind vendor or the Blind Vendors Trust Fund (if no blind vendor operates the facility), with specific exceptions for universities, corrections facilities, and other designated locations.

• Establishes the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors as an independent representative body with authority to hire staff, create budgets, and jointly participate with the State in all major policy and administrative decisions affecting the program.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to conduct property surveys every odd-numbered year and provide full financial information to the Committee, while ensuring blind vendors receive full evidentiary hearings for disputes and access to all personnel documents.