SB3745 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37871 MXP 68002 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3745

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Donald P. DeWitte

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/8.3
430 ILCS 30/2	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 700-2
430 ILCS 30/3	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 700-3
625 ILCS 5/18b-101	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-101
625 ILCS 5/18b-102	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-102
625 ILCS 5/18b-104	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-104
625 ILCS 5/18b-104.5 new
625 ILCS 5/18b-109	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-109

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, beginning fiscal year 2024, no road fund money shall be appropriated to the Illinois State Police, except money appropriated each fiscal year to implement and fulfill the requirements of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, not to exceed the annual allocation plus 25% from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Amends the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to provide that the Illinois State Police (instead of the Department of Transportation) shall administer the Act. Amends the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois State Police (instead of the Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Illinois State Police) shall administer the Law. Effective July 1, 2024.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by changing Section 8.3 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/8.3)

Sec. 8.3. Money in the Road Fund shall, if and when the State of Illinois incurs any bonded indebtedness for the construction of permanent highways, be set aside and used for the purpose of paying and discharging annually the principal and interest on that bonded indebtedness then due and payable, and for no other purpose. The surplus, if any, in the Road Fund after the payment of principal and interest on that bonded indebtedness then annually due shall be used as follows:

first -- to pay the cost of administration of Chapters 2 through 10 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, except the cost of administration of Articles I and II of Chapter 3 of that Code, and to pay the costs of the Executive Ethics Commission for oversight and administration of the Chief Procurement Officer appointed under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 10-20 of the Illinois Procurement Code for transportation; and

secondly -- for expenses of the Department of Transportation for construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance, operation, and administration of highways in accordance with the provisions of laws relating thereto, or for any purpose related or incident to and connected therewith, including the separation of grades of those highways with railroads and with highways and including the payment of awards made by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission under the terms of the Workers' Compensation Act or Workers' Occupational Diseases Act for injury or death of an employee of the Division of Highways in the Department of Transportation; or for the acquisition of land and the erection of buildings for highway purposes, including the acquisition of highway right-of-way or for investigations to determine the reasonably anticipated future highway needs; or for making of surveys, plans, specifications, and estimates for and in the construction and maintenance of flight strips and of highways necessary to provide access to military and naval reservations, to defense industries and defense-industry sites, and to the sources of raw materials and for replacing existing highways and highway connections shut off from general public use at military and naval reservations and defense-industry sites, or for the purchase of right-of-way, except that the State shall be reimbursed in full for any expense incurred in building the flight strips; or for the operating and maintaining of highway garages; or for patrolling and policing the public highways and conserving the peace; or for the operating expenses of the Department relating to the administration of public transportation programs; or, during fiscal year 2023, for the purposes of a grant not to exceed $8,394,800 to the Regional Transportation Authority on behalf of PACE for the purpose of ADA/Para-transit expenses; or, during fiscal year 2024, for the purposes of a grant not to exceed $9,108,400 to the Regional Transportation Authority on behalf of PACE for the purpose of ADA/Para-transit expenses; or for any of those purposes or any other purpose that may be provided by law.

Appropriations for any of those purposes are payable from the Road Fund. Appropriations may also be made from the Road Fund for the administrative expenses of any State agency that are related to motor vehicles or arise from the use of motor vehicles.

Beginning with fiscal year 1980 and thereafter, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the following Departments or agencies of State government for administration, grants, or operations; but this limitation is not a restriction upon appropriating for those purposes any Road Fund monies that are eligible for federal reimbursement:

1. Department of Public Health;

2. Department of Transportation, only with respect to subsidies for one-half fare Student Transportation and Reduced Fare for Elderly, except fiscal year 2023 when no more than $17,570,000 may be expended and except fiscal year 2024 when no more than $19,063,500 may be expended;

3. Department of Central Management Services, except for expenditures incurred for group insurance premiums of appropriate personnel;

4. Judicial Systems and Agencies.

Beginning with fiscal year 1981 and thereafter, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the following Departments or agencies of State government for administration, grants, or operations; but this limitation is not a restriction upon appropriating for those purposes any Road Fund monies that are eligible for federal reimbursement:

1. Illinois State Police, except for expenditures with respect to the Division of Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation;

2. Department of Transportation, only with respect to Intercity Rail Subsidies, except fiscal year 2023 when no more than $55,000,000 may be expended and except fiscal year 2024 when no more than $60,000,000 may be expended, and Rail Freight Services.

Beginning with fiscal year 1982 and thereafter, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the following Departments or agencies of State government for administration, grants, or operations; but this limitation is not a restriction upon appropriating for those purposes any Road Fund monies that are eligible for federal reimbursement: Department of Central Management Services, except for awards made by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission under the terms of the Workers' Compensation Act or Workers' Occupational Diseases Act for injury or death of an employee of the Division of Highways in the Department of Transportation.

Beginning with fiscal year 1984 and thereafter, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the following Departments or agencies of State government for administration, grants, or operations; but this limitation is not a restriction upon appropriating for those purposes any Road Fund monies that are eligible for federal reimbursement:

1. Illinois State Police, except not more than 40% of the funds appropriated for the Division of Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation;

2. State Officers.

Beginning with fiscal year 1984 and thereafter, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to any Department or agency of State government for administration, grants, or operations except as provided hereafter; but this limitation is not a restriction upon appropriating for those purposes any Road Fund monies that are eligible for federal reimbursement. It shall not be lawful to circumvent the above appropriation limitations by governmental reorganization or other methods. Appropriations shall be made from the Road Fund only in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

Money in the Road Fund shall, if and when the State of Illinois incurs any bonded indebtedness for the construction of permanent highways, be set aside and used for the purpose of paying and discharging during each fiscal year the principal and interest on that bonded indebtedness as it becomes due and payable as provided in the Transportation Bond Act, and for no other purpose. The surplus, if any, in the Road Fund after the payment of principal and interest on that bonded indebtedness then annually due shall be used as follows:

first -- to pay the cost of administration of Chapters 2 through 10 of the Illinois Vehicle Code; and

secondly -- no Road Fund monies derived from fees, excises, or license taxes relating to registration, operation and use of vehicles on public highways or to fuels used for the propulsion of those vehicles, shall be appropriated or expended other than for costs of administering the laws imposing those fees, excises, and license taxes, statutory refunds and adjustments allowed thereunder, administrative costs of the Department of Transportation, including, but not limited to, the operating expenses of the Department relating to the administration of public transportation programs, payment of debts and liabilities incurred in construction and reconstruction of public highways and bridges, acquisition of rights-of-way for and the cost of construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and operation of public highways and bridges under the direction and supervision of the State, political subdivision, or municipality collecting those monies, or during fiscal year 2023 for the purposes of a grant not to exceed $8,394,800 to the Regional Transportation Authority on behalf of PACE for the purpose of ADA/Para-transit expenses, or during fiscal year 2024 for the purposes of a grant not to exceed $9,108,400 to the Regional Transportation Authority on behalf of PACE for the purpose of ADA/Para-transit expenses, and the costs for patrolling and policing the public highways (by the State, political subdivision, or municipality collecting that money) for enforcement of traffic laws. The separation of grades of such highways with railroads and costs associated with protection of at-grade highway and railroad crossing shall also be permissible.

Appropriations for any of such purposes are payable from the Road Fund or the Grade Crossing Protection Fund as provided in Section 8 of the Motor Fuel Tax Law.

Except as provided in this paragraph, beginning with fiscal year 1991 and thereafter, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the Illinois State Police for the purposes of this Section in excess of its total fiscal year 1990 Road Fund appropriations for those purposes unless otherwise provided in Section 5g of this Act. For fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 only, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the Department of State Police for the purposes of this Section in excess of $97,310,000. For fiscal year 2008 only, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the Department of State Police for the purposes of this Section in excess of $106,100,000. For fiscal year 2009 only, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the Department of State Police for the purposes of this Section in excess of $114,700,000. Beginning in fiscal year 2025 2010, no Road Fund road fund moneys shall be appropriated to the Illinois State Police, except money appropriated from the General Assembly each fiscal year to implement and fulfill the requirements of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, not to exceed the annual allocation plus 25% from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It shall not be lawful to circumvent this limitation on appropriations by governmental reorganization or other methods unless otherwise provided in Section 5g of this Act.

In fiscal year 1994, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Section in excess of the total fiscal year 1991 Road Fund appropriations to the Secretary of State for those purposes, plus $9,800,000. It shall not be lawful to circumvent this limitation on appropriations by governmental reorganization or other method.

Beginning with fiscal year 1995 and thereafter, no Road Fund monies shall be appropriated to the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Section in excess of the total fiscal year 1994 Road Fund appropriations to the Secretary of State for those purposes. It shall not be lawful to circumvent this limitation on appropriations by governmental reorganization or other methods.

Beginning with fiscal year 2000, total Road Fund appropriations to the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Section shall not exceed the amounts specified for the following fiscal years:

For fiscal year 2010, no road fund moneys shall be appropriated to the Secretary of State.

Beginning in fiscal year 2011, moneys in the Road Fund shall be appropriated to the Secretary of State for the exclusive purpose of paying refunds due to overpayment of fees related to Chapter 3 of the Illinois Vehicle Code unless otherwise provided for by law.

It shall not be lawful to circumvent this limitation on appropriations by governmental reorganization or other methods.

No new program may be initiated in fiscal year 1991 and thereafter that is not consistent with the limitations imposed by this Section for fiscal year 1984 and thereafter, insofar as appropriation of Road Fund monies is concerned.

Nothing in this Section prohibits transfers from the Road Fund to the State Construction Account Fund under Section 5e of this Act; nor to the General Revenue Fund, as authorized by Public Act 93-25.

The additional amounts authorized for expenditure in this Section by Public Acts 92-0600, 93-0025, 93-0839, and 94-91 shall be repaid to the Road Fund from the General Revenue Fund in the next succeeding fiscal year that the General Revenue Fund has a positive budgetary balance, as determined by generally accepted accounting principles applicable to government.

The additional amounts authorized for expenditure by the Secretary of State and the Illinois Department of State Police in this Section by Public Act 94-91 shall be repaid to the Road Fund from the General Revenue Fund in the next succeeding fiscal year that the General Revenue Fund has a positive budgetary balance, as determined by generally accepted accounting principles applicable to government.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 1-1-24; revised 12-12-23.)

Section 10. The Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act is amended by changing Sections 2 and 3 as follows:

(430 ILCS 30/2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 700-2)

Sec. 2. It is the finding of the General Assembly that hazardous materials are essential for various industrial, commercial and other purposes; that their transportation is a necessary incident to their use; and that such transportation is required for the employment and economic prosperity of the People of the State of Illinois.

It is therefore declared to be the policy of the General Assembly to improve the regulatory and enforcement authority of the Illinois State Police Department of Transportation to protect the People of the State of Illinois against the risk to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials over highways by keeping such risk to a minimum consistent with technical feasibility and economic reasonableness.

It is not the intent of the General Assembly to regulate the movement of hazardous materials in such quantities that would not pose a substantial danger to the public health and safety, such as fuels, fertilizer and agricultural chemicals while being used in a normal farming operation or in transit to the farm.

(Source: P.A. 80-351.)

(430 ILCS 30/3) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 700-3)

Sec. 3. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, as used in this Act:

"Commerce" means trade, traffic, commerce or transportation within the State;

"Department" means the Illinois State Police Department of Transportation;

"Discharge" means leakage, seepage, or other release;

"Hazardous material" means a substance or material in a quantity and form determined by the United States Department of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property when transported in commerce;

"Knowingly" means a person has actual knowledge of the facts giving rise to the violation or a reasonable person acting in the circumstances and exercising due care would have such knowledge;

"Law Enforcement Officials" means the Illinois State Police or any duly authorized employees of a local governmental agency who are primarily responsible for prevention or detection of crime and enforcement of the criminal code and the highway and traffic laws of this State or any political subdivision of such State;

"Local road" means any State or local highway except for (i) a highway with 4 or more lanes, or (ii) an interstate highway.

"Person" means any natural person or individual, governmental body, firm, association, partnership, copartnership, joint venture, company, corporation, joint stock company, trust, estate, or any other legal entity or their legal representative, agent, or assigns;

"Transports" or "transportation" means any movement of property over the highway and any loading, unloading, or storage incidental to such movement.

(Source: P.A. 102-513, eff. 8-20-21.)

Section 15. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 18b-101, 18b-102, 18b-104, and 18b-109 and by adding Section 18b-104.5 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/18b-101) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-101)

Sec. 18b-101. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, as used in this Chapter:

"Agricultural commodities" means any agricultural commodity, non-processed food, feed, fiber, or livestock, including insects.

"Agricultural operations" means the operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting agricultural commodities or farm supplies for agricultural purposes.

"Air mile" means a nautical mile, which is equivalent to 6,076 feet or 1,852 meters. Accordingly, 100 air miles are equivalent to 115.08 statute miles or 185.2 kilometers.

"Commercial motor vehicle" means any self propelled or towed vehicle used on public highways in interstate and intrastate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight, a gross vehicle weight rating, a gross combination weight, or a gross combination weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds; or the vehicle is used or designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver; or the vehicle is designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers and is operated by a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State; or the vehicle is used or designed to transport between 9 and 15 passengers, including the driver, for direct compensation; or the vehicle is used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act. This definition shall not include farm machinery, fertilizer spreaders, and other special agricultural movement equipment described in Section 3-809 nor implements of husbandry as defined in Section 1-130.

"Covered farm vehicle", for purposes of this Chapter and rule-making under this Chapter, means a straight truck or articulated vehicle, excluding vehicles transporting hazardous materials of a type or quantity that requires the vehicle to be placarded in accordance with the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, registered in this State or another state and equipped with a special license plate or other designation by the state in which the vehicle is registered identifying the vehicle as a covered farm vehicle for law enforcement personnel and:

(1) is operated by a farm or ranch owner or operator, or an employee or family member of the farm or ranch owner or operator; and

(2) is being used to transport the following to or from a farm or ranch:

(A) agricultural commodities;

(B) livestock; or

(C) machinery or supplies; and

(3) if registered in this State, is:

(A) registered as a farm truck under subsection (c) of Section 3-815 of this Code; or

(B) operated in combination as an articulated vehicle when the truck in the combination is registered for 12,000 lbs. or less as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code or subsection (a) of Section 3-818 of this Code and contains in the cab of the motor vehicle a registration designating the vehicle as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code and the trailer in the combination is registered as a farm trailer under subsection (a) of Section 3-819 of this Code and displays a farm registration license plate; or

(C) a truck registered for 12,000 lbs. or less as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code or subsection (a) of Section 3-818 of this Code containing in the cab of the motor vehicle a registration designating the vehicle as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code that is towing an implement of husbandry as part of a farming operation; and

(4) is not used in for-hire motor carrier operations; however, for-hire motor carrier operations do not include the operation of a vehicle meeting the definition of a covered farm vehicle by a tenant pursuant to a crop share farm lease agreement to transport the landlord's portion of the crops under that agreement; and

(5) has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), a gross combination weight rating (GCWR), or a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle combination weight, whichever is greater, that is:

(A) 26,001 lbs. or less, for vehicles operating in interstate commerce; or

(B) greater than 26,001 lbs., operating in interstate commerce and registered in this State; or

(C) greater than 26,001 lbs. and traveling interstate within 150 air miles of the farm or ranch for which the vehicle is being operated, regardless of whether it is registered in this State; or

(D) greater than 10,000 lbs. and traveling intrastate.

"Department" means the Illinois State Police.

"Direct compensation" means payment made to the motor carrier by the passengers or a person acting on behalf of the passengers for the transportation services provided, and not included in a total package charge or other assessment for highway transportation services.

"Farm supplies for agricultural purposes" means products directly related to the growing or harvesting of agricultural commodities and livestock feed at any time of the year.

"Livestock" means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry (including egg-producing poultry), fish used for food, and other animals designated by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (at his or her sole discretion) that are part of a foundation herd (including producing dairy cattle) or offspring.

"Officer" means Illinois State Police Officer.

"Person" means any natural person or individual, governmental body, firm, association, partnership, copartnership, joint venture, company, corporation, joint stock company, trust, estate, or any other legal entity or their legal representative, agent, or assigns.

(Source: P.A. 97-795, eff. 1-1-13; 98-882, eff. 8-13-14.)

(625 ILCS 5/18b-102) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-102)

Sec. 18b-102. Authority of Department. To the extent necessary to administer this Chapter, the Department is authorized to:

(a) Adopt by reference all or any portion of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations of the United States Department of Transportation, as they are now or hereafter amended.

(b) Conduct investigations; make reports; issue subpoenas; conduct hearings; require the production of relevant documents, records and property; take depositions; and, in conjunction with the Illinois State Police, conduct, directly or indirectly, research, development, demonstrations, and training activities.

(c) Authorize any officer or Department employee to enter upon, inspect, and examine at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, the records and properties of persons to the extent such records and properties relate to the transportation by motor vehicle of persons or property.

(d) Conduct a continuing review of all aspects of the transportation of persons and property by motor vehicle in order to determine and recommend appropriate steps to assure safe transportation by motor vehicle in Illinois.

(e) Administer and enforce the provisions of this Chapter and any rules and regulations issued under this Chapter. Only the Department Illinois State Police shall be authorized to stop and inspect any commercial motor vehicle or driver at any time for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this Chapter or rules and regulations issued under this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 90-89, eff. 1-1-98.)

(625 ILCS 5/18b-104) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-104)

Sec. 18b-104. Cooperation with State Agencies - Records and Data - Availability. The Department shall cooperate with other State agencies regulating transportation by motor vehicles and may enter into interagency agreements for the purpose of sharing data. The Department shall enter into an interagency agreement with the Illinois State Police for the purpose of enforcing any provisions of this Chapter and the rules and regulations issued under this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 86-611.)

(625 ILCS 5/18b-104.5 new)

Sec. 18b-104.5. Personnel transfers. The personnel responsible for administering this Chapter are transferred from the transferring agency designated by the Governor to the Illinois State Police. The status and rights of the employees and the State or its transferring agency under the Personnel Code, the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, and applicable collective bargaining agreements or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. Under the direction of the Governor, the Director, in consultation with the transferring agencies and labor organizations representing the affected employees, shall identify each position and employee who is engaged in the performance of functions transferred to the Department, or engaged in the administration of a law the administration of which is transferred to the Department, to be transferred to the Department. An employee engaged primarily in providing administrative and investigative support to the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program may be considered engaged in the performance of functions transferred to the Department.

(625 ILCS 5/18b-109) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-109)

Sec. 18b-109. Enforcement of Rules and Regulations. Only the Department Illinois State Police shall enforce the rules and regulations issued under this Chapter against drivers and persons other than drivers. The Department and the Illinois State Police shall enforce the rules and regulations issued under this Chapter against persons other than drivers.

(Source: P.A. 86-611.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2024.