SB0167 Summary

• School boards must offer both halal and kosher food options in public school cafeterias upon request, with all food products certified by State-approved organizations or vendors and complying with federal and State nutritional guidelines.

• State-owned or State-operated facilities (University of Illinois hospitals and State-owned penal institutions) that provide food services must offer halal and kosher food options upon request with reasonable notice.

• False representation of food products as halal or kosher, or falsely claiming to be a halal or kosher-certified vendor, is subject to penalties under the Halal Food Act and Kosher Food Act respectively.

• Defines "kosher" as food supervised and prepared in strict compliance with Jewish religious laws and customs, including proper animal slaughter methods, as recognized by Orthodox Jewish entities and rabbis.

• The bill becomes effective June 1, 2024, and does not affect existing contracts entered into before the effective date.