103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5016

 

Introduced 2/8/2024, by Rep. Hoan Huynh

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 3605/51
70 ILCS 3615/3A.15
70 ILCS 3615/3B.14

    Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Chicago Transit Authority, Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of the income eligibility limitation set forth in specified provisions of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act (rather than who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in that Act).


LRB103 38113 AWJ 68245 b

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5016LRB103 38113 AWJ 68245 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
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 51 as follows:
 
6    (70 ILCS 3605/51)
7    Sec. 51. Free and reduced fare services; eligibility.
8    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
960 days following January 18, 2008 (the effective date of
10Public Act 95-708) this amendatory Act of the 95th General
11Assembly and until subsection (b) is implemented, any fixed
12route public transportation services provided by, or under
13grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be
14provided without charge to all senior citizens of the
15Metropolitan Region (as such term is defined in Section 1.03
16of the Regional Transportation Authority Act 70 ILCS
173615/1.03) aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall
18be prescribed by the Board.
19    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
20180 days following February 14, 2011 (the effective date of
21Public Act 96-1527) this amendatory Act of the 96th General
22Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services
23provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts

 

 

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1of, the Board shall be provided without charge to senior
2citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of
3who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in
4subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and
5Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such
6conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department
7on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to
8determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals
9who are eligible for services without charge under this
10Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made,
11an individual's eligibility for free services shall
12automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the
13Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued
14identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in
15this Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced
16fares as may be required by federal law.
17    (c) The Board shall partner with the City of Chicago to
18provide transportation at reduced fares for participants in
19programs that offer employment and internship opportunities to
20youth and young adults ages 14 through 24.
21(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24; 103-281, eff. 1-1-24;
22revised 12-12-23.)
 
23    Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
24amended by changing Sections 3A.15 and 3B.14 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (70 ILCS 3615/3A.15)
2    Sec. 3A.15. Free services; eligibility.
3    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
460 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of
5the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is
6implemented, any fixed route public transportation services
7provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts
8of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to
9all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and
10older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
11Suburban Bus Board.
12    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
13180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act
14of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public
15transportation services provided by, or under grant or
16purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall
17be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and
18older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the income
19eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of
20Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities
21Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be
22prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board. The Department on Aging
23shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to
24determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals
25who are eligible for services without charge under this
26Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made,

 

 

HB5016- 4 -LRB103 38113 AWJ 68245 b

1an individual's eligibility for free services shall
2automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the
3Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued
4identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in
5this Section shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from
6providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.
7(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
8    (70 ILCS 3615/3B.14)
9    Sec. 3B.14. Free services; eligibility.
10    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
1160 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of
12the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is
13implemented, any fixed route public transportation services
14provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts
15of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge
16to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and
17older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
18Commuter Rail Board.
19    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
20180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act
21of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public
22transportation services provided by, or under grant or
23purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board
24shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65
25and older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the

 

 

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1income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of
2Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities
3Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be
4prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board. The Department on Aging
5shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to
6determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals
7who are eligible for services without charge under this
8Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made,
9an individual's eligibility for free services shall
10automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the
11Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued
12identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in
13this Section shall relieve the Commuter Rail Board from
14providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.
15(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24.)