093_SB1529

 
                                     SRS093 00068 ARK 00068 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to highways.

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

 4        Section 5.  The Toll Highway Act  is  amended  by  adding
 5    Section 21.1 as follows:

 6        (605 ILCS 10/21.1 new)
 7        Sec.   21.1.  Binding  referendum  on  abolition  of  the
 8    Authority. In each county in which any portion  of  the  toll
 9    highway system is located, a binding referendum shall be held
10    at  the general primary election in 2004 to determine whether
11    the electors of the county favor abolishing the Authority  in
12    exchange  for  an  increase  in  the  motor fuel tax in those
13    counties to  maintain  the  system.  The  question  shall  be
14    certified  under  Section  28-5  of  the  Election Code.  The
15    question shall be in substantially the following form:
16        "Recognizing that in 2002,  the  Illinois  Department  of
17    Transportation  received an additional $47.5 million from the
18    federal government due to the fact that Illinois included the
19    tollways within  the  Illinois  highway  system  for  federal
20    reporting  purposes,  shall the motor fuel tax imposed by the
21    State of Illinois in each county in which any portion of  the
22    toll  highway  system is located, be increased by 5 cents per
23    gallon, with the proceeds going to the Illinois Department of
24    Transportation to pay for the maintenance of the current toll
25    highway system, in exchange for abolishing the Illinois State
26    Toll Highway Authority?"
27        The votes shall be recorded as "yes" or "no".
28        Six months after the approval  of  the  referendum  by  a
29    majority  of the voters voting on the question, the Authority
30    shall be abolished and a 5 cents per gallon  motor  fuel  tax
31    shall be imposed for the purposes provided in the referendum.
 
                            -2-      SRS093 00068 ARK 00068 b
 1        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 2    becoming law.