HB6716 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 22337 RLC 52663 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB6716

Introduced , by Rep. JoAnn D. Osmond

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

605 ILCS 5/7-203.3 new

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a municipality that is located partially or wholly in a county with a population greater than 500,000 but less than 3,000,000 under specified conditions may expend Motor Fuel Tax street or road funds (except Federal-aid funds) on streets or highways or sections of highways without prior review or approval of the Department of Transportation for routine maintenance activities as determined by the Department, including without limitation snow plowing, street cleaning, crack-sealing, and road patching; and routine and periodic roadway resurfacing activities (including grinding off the surface course of roads, but not involving expansions or reconstruction of more than 20% of the affected road bed). Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning the use of motor fuel tax funds.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Highway Code is amended by adding Section 7-203.3 as follows:

(605 ILCS 5/7-203.3 new)

Sec. 7-203.3. Alternative procedures for routine maintenance activities.

(a) For any municipality qualifying to participate under subsection (b) of this Section, such municipality may expend Motor Fuel Tax street or road funds (except Federal-aid funds) on streets or highways or sections of highways without prior review or approval of the Department for: (1) any routine maintenance activities as determined by the Department, including without limitation snow plowing, street cleaning, crack-sealing, and road patching; and (2) routine and periodic roadway resurfacing activities (including grinding off the surface course of roads, but not involving expansions or reconstruction of more than 20% of the affected road bed). Bidding for projects qualifying under clauses (1) and (2) of this subsection (a) shall comply with the requirements of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(b) A municipality is qualified to act under this Section if it meets all of the following requirements:

(1) it is located partially or wholly in a county with a population greater than 500,000 but less than 3,000,000;

(2) the municipality adopts an ordinance or resolution electing to proceed under this Section 7-203.3 and delivers such ordinance or resolution to the Department Secretary;

(3) the mayor or president of the municipality annually certifies to the Department that:

(A) the municipality has complied with Section 7-301;

(B) the municipality has appointed a full-time engineer or has retained a licensed professional engineer or professional engineering firm charged with overseeing the municipality's street, road, or highway construction and maintenance programs; and

(C) the municipality has expended Motor Fuel Tax funds only on activities authorized by this Article;

(4) the municipal engineer or engineering firm (as described in clause (3)(B) of this subsection (b) annually certifies to the Department that the municipality's activities undertaken with Motor Fuel Tax funds satisfied the requirements of clauses (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this Section and otherwise comported with applicable specifications of the Department relating to such activities; and

(5) the municipality annually submits a certified audit of its motor fuel tax fund to the Department establishing that the municipality has properly used its Motor Fuel Tax funds.

Any municipality that fails to comply with the requirements of this Section or whose audit is not found acceptable to the Department shall be barred from utilizing this Section for a period of 5 years, unless the Department approves the municipality's earlier participation under this Section.

(c) For activities not within the scope of subsection (a) of this Section, a municipality must comply with the general provisions of this Division 2 regarding the Department's review and approval of expenditure of Motor Fuel Tax funds.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.