95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB2536

 

Introduced 2/15/2008, by Sen. Susan Garrett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 3615/5.01   from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 705.01

    Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, with respect to any increase in fares or charges for public transportation, a public hearing must be held in each county in which the fare increase takes effect. Provides that notice of the hearing must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the region and must be sent to the Governor and to each member of the General Assembly whose district overlaps in whole or in part with the area in which the increase takes effect. Provides that certain information must be included in the notice. Effective immediately.


LRB095 19869 HLH 46268 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2536 LRB095 19869 HLH 46268 b

1     AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
5 amended by changing Section 5.01 as follows:
 
6     (70 ILCS 3615/5.01)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 705.01)
7     Sec. 5.01. Hearings and Citizen Participation.
8     (a) The Authority shall provide for and encourage
9 participation by the public in the development and review of
10 public transportation policy, and in the process by which major
11 decisions significantly affecting the provision of public
12 transportation are made. The Authority shall coordinate such
13 public participation processes with the Chicago Metropolitan
14 Agency for Planning to the extent practicable.
15     (b) The Authority shall hold such public hearings as may be
16 required by this Act or as the Authority may deem appropriate
17 to the performance of any of its functions. The Authority shall
18 coordinate such public hearings with the Chicago Metropolitan
19 Agency for Planning to the extent practicable.
20     (c) Unless such items are specifically provided for either
21 in the Five-Year Capital Program or in the annual budget
22 program which has been the subject of public hearings as
23 provided in Sections 2.01 or 4.01 of this Act, the Board shall

 

 

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1 hold public hearings at which citizens may be heard prior to:
2         (i) the construction or acquisition of any public
3     transportation facility, the aggregate cost of which
4     exceeds $5 million; and
5         (ii) the extension of, or major addition to services
6     provided by the Authority or by any transportation agency
7     pursuant to a purchase of service agreement with the
8     Authority.
9     (d) Unless such items are specifically provided for in the
10 annual budget and program which has been the subject of public
11 hearing, as provided in Section 4.01 of this Act, the Board
12 shall hold public hearings at which citizens may be heard prior
13 to the providing for or allowing, by means of any purchase of
14 service agreement or any grant pursuant to Section 2.02 of this
15 Act, any general increase or series of increases in fares or
16 charges for public transportation, whether by the Authority or
17 by any transportation agency, which increase or series of
18 increases within any twelve months affects more than 25% of the
19 consumers of service of the Authority or of the transportation
20 agency; or so providing for or allowing any discontinuance of
21 any public transportation route, or major portion thereof,
22 which has been in service for more than a year.
23     (e) At least twenty days prior notice of any public
24 hearing, as required in this Section, shall be given by public
25 advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the
26 metropolitan region.

 

 

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1     (e-5) With respect to any increase in fares or charges for
2 public transportation, whether by the Authority or by any
3 Service Board or transportation agency, a public hearing must
4 be held in each county in which the fare increase takes effect.
5 A public hearing under this subsection must be separate from
6 any other hearing or meeting scheduled by the Authority. Notice
7 of the public hearing shall be given at least 20 days prior to
8 the hearing and at least 30 days prior to the effective date of
9 any fare increase. Notice shall be given by public
10 advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the
11 metropolitan region and must also be sent to the Governor and
12 to each member of the General Assembly whose district overlaps
13 in whole or in part with the area in which the increase takes
14 effect. The notice must state the date, time, and place of the
15 hearing and must contain a description of the proposed
16 increase. The notice must also specify how interested persons
17 may obtain copies of any reports, resolutions, or certificates
18 describing the basis upon which the increase was calculated.
19     (f) The Authority may designate one or more Directors or
20 may appoint one or more hearing officers to preside over any
21 hearing pursuant to this Act. The Authority shall have the
22 power in connection with any such hearing to issue subpoenas to
23 require the attendance of witnesses and the production of
24 documents, and the Authority may apply to any circuit court in
25 the State to require compliance with such subpoenas.
26     (g) The Authority may require any Service Board to hold one

 

 

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1 or more public hearings with respect to any item described in
2 paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 5.01, notwithstanding
3 whether such item has been the subject of a public hearing
4 under this Section 5.01 or Section 2.01 or 4.01 of this Act.
5 (Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)
 
6     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
7 becoming law.