HB0664 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 11849 AWJ 17185 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0664

Introduced 2/8/2021, by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

70 ILCS 3605/51

Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that on and after January 1, 2022, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Chicago Transit Board shall be provided without charge to high school students that are eligible for free or reduced price meals and free milk under specified federal programs on days when school is in session. Provides that Chicago School District shall reimburse the Chicago Transit Board for the regular fare for each free fare provided to a student and the State shall, subject to appropriation, reimburse the Chicago School District any moneys the District paid to the Board. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is amended by changing Section 51 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3605/51)

Sec. 51. Free and reduced services; eligibility.

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is implemented, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region (as such term is defined in 70 ILCS 3615/1.03) aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section. Nothing in this Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on and after January 1, 2022, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to high school students that are eligible for free or reduced price meals and free milk under the federal National School Lunch Program or the Commodity School Program on days when school is in session. The Chicago School District shall reimburse the Board for the regular fare for each free fare provided to a student under this subsection. The State shall, subject to appropriation, reimburse the Chicago School District any moneys the District paid to the Board under this subsection.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.