Public Act 0241 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1892 Enrolled LRB103 29221 AWJ 55608 b

Public Act 103-0241

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 51 and 52 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3605/51)

Sec. 51. Free services; eligibility.

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is implemented, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region (as such term is defined in 70 ILCS 3615/1.03) aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, an individual's eligibility for free services shall automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in this Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(70 ILCS 3605/52)

Sec. 52. Transit services for individuals with disabilities. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, all fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contract of, the Board shall be provided without charge to all persons with disabilities who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such procedures as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, an individual's eligibility for free services shall automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued identification card validating Illinois residency. Individuals who have not submitted an Illinois Persons with a Disability Identification Card to the Authority shall also submit a document verifying the individual's disability.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 3A.15, 3A.16, 3B.14, and 3B.15 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3615/3A.15)

Sec. 3A.15. Free services; eligibility.

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is implemented, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, an individual's eligibility for free services shall automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in this Section shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3A.16)

Sec. 3A.16. Transit services for individuals with disabilities. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, all fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contract of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to all persons with disabilities who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such procedures as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, an individual's eligibility for free services shall automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued identification card validating Illinois residency. Individuals who have not submitted an Illinois Persons with a Disability Identification Card to the Authority shall also submit a document verifying the individual's disability.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3B.14)

Sec. 3B.14. Free services; eligibility.

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is implemented, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, an individual's eligibility for free services shall automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in this Section shall relieve the Commuter Rail Board from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3B.15)

Sec. 3B.15. Transit services for individuals with disabilities. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, all fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contract of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to all persons with disabilities who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such procedures as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, an individual's eligibility for free services shall automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued identification card validating Illinois residency. Individuals who have not submitted an Illinois Persons with a Disability Identification Card to the Authority shall also submit a document verifying the individual's disability.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2024