102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3775

 

Introduced 2/22/2021, by Rep. Aaron M. Ortiz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 3605/30  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 330
70 ILCS 3610/8.6
70 ILCS 3615/3A.15
70 ILCS 3615/3B.14

    Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, the Local Mass Transit District Act, and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the various transportation authorities shall provide free transportation during general election days, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the respective authorities.


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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is
5amended by changing Section 30 as follows:
 
6    (70 ILCS 3605/30)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 330)
7    Sec. 30. The Board shall make all rules and regulations
8governing the operation of the transportation system, shall
9determine all routings and change the same whenever it is
10deemed advisable by the Board, subject to the provisions of
11any ordinance granting rights to the Authority. Except as
12provided in Sections 2.04 and 4.11(b)(5) of the Regional
13Transportation Authority Act, the Board shall fix rates, fares
14and charges for transportation, provided that they shall be at
15all times sufficient in the aggregate to provide revenues (a)
16for the payment of the interest on and principal of all bonds,
17certificates and other obligations payable from said revenues
18and to meet all other charges upon such revenues as provided by
19any trust agreement executed by the Authority in connection
20with the issuance of bonds or certificates under this Act, (b)
21for the payment of all operating costs including all charges
22which may be incurred pursuant to Sections 29 and 39 of this
23Act and all other costs and charges incidental to the

 

 

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1operation of the transportation system, (c) for the payment of
2all costs and charges incurred pursuant to Sections 37 and 38
3of this Act and any other costs and charges for acquisition,
4installation, construction or for replacement or
5reconstruction of equipment, structures or rights of way not
6financed through issuance of bonds or certificates under
7Section 12 of this Act, and (d) for any compensation required
8to be paid to any municipality for the use of streets, subways
9and other public ways. The Board may provide free
10transportation within any municipality in and by which they
11are employed for firemen and public health nurses, when in
12uniform, and policemen when in uniform or, when not in
13uniform, upon presentation of identification as policemen, and
14shall provide free transportation to sworn law enforcement
15personnel of the Cook County Sheriff's Department when in
16uniform or, when not in uniform, upon presentation of
17identification as sworn law enforcement personnel of the Cook
18County Sheriff's Department, and may provide free
19transportation for employees of the Authority when in uniform
20or upon presentation of identification as such employees, and
21may enter into agreements with the United States Post Office
22Department for the transportation of mail, and the payment of
23compensation to the Authority in lieu of fares for the
24transportation of letter carriers, when in uniform at all
25times.
26    The Board may also provide free transportation, or

 

 

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1transportation at reduced fares, to all or designated classes
2of pupils in attendance at public schools of school districts
3within or partly within the territorial limits of the
4Authority, or in attendance at private schools offering grades
5of instruction comparable to those offered in public schools,
6under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board,
7and, if otherwise authorized by law, the Board may contract
8with public school boards and representatives of private
9schools, for reimbursement of pupil transportation costs from
10public funds.
11    The Board shall provide free transportation to all
12residents within the territorial limits of the Authority
13during general election days, under such conditions as shall
14be prescribed by the Board.
15(Source: P.A. 97-85, eff. 7-7-11.)
 
16    Section 10. The Local Mass Transit District Act is amended
17by changing Section 8.6 as follows:
 
18    (70 ILCS 3610/8.6)
19    Sec. 8.6. Free services; eligibility.
20    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
2160 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of
22the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is
23implemented, any fixed route public transportation services
24provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts

 

 

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1of, every District shall be provided without charge to all
2senior citizens of the District aged 65 and older, under such
3conditions as shall be prescribed by the District.
4    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
5180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act
6of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public
7transportation services provided by, or under grant or
8purchase of service contracts of, every District shall be
9provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older
10who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in
11subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and
12Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such
13conditions as shall be prescribed by the District. The
14Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably
15necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of
16individuals who are eligible for services without charge under
17this Section. Nothing in this Section shall relieve the
18District from providing reduced fares as may be required by
19federal law.
20    (c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any fixed
21route public bus transportation services provided by, or under
22grant or purchase of services contracts of, every District
23shall be provided without charge to all District residents
24during general election days, under such conditions as shall
25be prescribed by the District.
26(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
 

 

 

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1    Section 15. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
2amended by changing Sections 3A.15 and 3B.14 as follows:
 
3    (70 ILCS 3615/3A.15)
4    Sec. 3A.15. Free services; eligibility.
5    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
660 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of
7the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is
8implemented, any fixed route public transportation services
9provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts
10of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to
11all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and
12older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
13Suburban Bus Board.
14    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
15180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act
16of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public
17transportation services provided by, or under grant or
18purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall
19be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and
20older who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in
21subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and
22Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such
23conditions as shall be prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board.
24The Department on Aging shall furnish all information

 

 

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1reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including
2updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services
3without charge under this Section. Nothing in this Section
4shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from providing reduced
5fares as may be required by federal law.
6    (c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any fixed
7route public bus transportation services provided by, or under
8grant or purchase of services contracts of, the Suburban Bus
9Board shall be provided without charge to all residents of the
10Metropolitan Region during general election days, under such
11conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board.
12(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
 
13    (70 ILCS 3615/3B.14)
14    Sec. 3B.14. Free services; eligibility.
15    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
1660 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of
17the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is
18implemented, any fixed route public transportation services
19provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts
20of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge
21to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and
22older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
23Commuter Rail Board.
24    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
25180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act

 

 

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1of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public
2transportation services provided by, or under grant or
3purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board
4shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65
5and older who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth
6in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and
7Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such
8conditions as shall be prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board.
9The Department on Aging shall furnish all information
10reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including
11updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services
12without charge under this Section. Nothing in this Section
13shall relieve the Commuter Rail Board from providing reduced
14fares as may be required by federal law.
15    (c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any fixed
16route public commuter rail transportation services provided
17by, or under grant or purchase of services contracts of, the
18Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to all
19residents of the Metropolitan Region during general election
20days, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
21Board.
22(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)