Bill Text: IL SB2015 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Failed) 2021-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SB2015 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SB2015-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 SB2015 Introduced 2/15/2019, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
30 ILCS 740/2-15.2
70 ILCS 3605/51
70 ILCS 3610/8.6
70 ILCS 3615/3A.15
70 ILCS 3615/3B.14
Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act, the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, the Local Mass Transit District Act, and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides for free fares for specified elementary and high school students on days when school is in session on public transportation. Provides for a continuing appropriation beginning in Fiscal Year 2020 to cover the free fares. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Downstate Public Transportation Act is
amended by changing Section 2-15.2 as follows:
(30 ILCS 740/2-15.2)
Sec. 2-15.2. 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, every participant, as defined in Section 2-2.02 (1)(a),
shall be provided without charge to all senior citizen
residents of the participant aged 65 and older, under such
conditions as shall be prescribed by the participant.
(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, every participant, as defined in
Section 2-2.02 (1)(a), shall be provided without charge to
senior citizens aged 65 and older who meet the income

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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 participant. 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. Nothing in this
Section shall relieve the participant from providing reduced
fares as may be required by federal law.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on and after
January 1, 2020, any fixed route public transportation services
provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts
of, a participant shall be provided without charge to
elementary or high school students that are eligible for free
or reduced price meals and free milk under the federal National
School Lunch Program or the Commodity School Program on days
when school is in session.
On the first December 31st after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly and on December
31st of each year thereafter, each participant shall certify to
the State Comptroller the annual amount necessary for payment
of expenses related to this subsection. Beginning in Fiscal
Year 2020, there is hereby appropriated, on an irrevocable and
continuing annual basis, from the Road Fund amounts equal to
the amount certified each year by each participant for payment
of expenses related to this subsection. The moneys appropriated

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under this subsection shall be paid to each participant in an
amount equal to the participant's certification for payment of
expenses related to this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
Section 10. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is
amended by changing Section 51 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

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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. Nothing in this
Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced fares as
may be required by federal law.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on and after
January 1, 2020, 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 elementary or
high school students that are eligible for free or reduced
price meals and free milk under the federal National School
Lunch Program or the Commodity School Program on days when
school is in session.
On the first December 31st after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly and on December
31st of each year thereafter, the Board shall certify to the
State Comptroller the annual amount necessary for payment of
expenses related to this subsection. Beginning in Fiscal Year
2020, there is hereby appropriated, on an irrevocable and
continuing annual basis, from the Road Fund an amount equal to
the amount certified each year by the Board for payment of
expenses related to this subsection. The moneys appropriated
under this subsection shall be paid to the Board in an amount

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equal to the Board's certification for payment of expenses
related to this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
Section 15. The Local Mass Transit District Act is amended
by changing Section 8.6 as follows:
(70 ILCS 3610/8.6)
Sec. 8.6. 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, every District shall be provided without charge to all
senior citizens of the District aged 65 and older, under such
conditions as shall be prescribed by the District.
(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, every District 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

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shall be prescribed by the District. 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. Nothing in this Section shall relieve the District
from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on and after
January 1, 2020, any fixed route public transportation services
provided by, or under grant or purchase of device contracts of,
each District shall be provided without charge to elementary or
high school students that are eligible for free or reduced
price meals and free milk under the federal National School
Lunch Program or the Commodity School Program on days when
school is in session.
On the first December 31st after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly and on December
31st of each year thereafter, each District shall certify to
the State Comptroller the annual amount necessary for payment
of expenses related to this subsection. Beginning in Fiscal
Year 2020, there is hereby appropriated, on an irrevocable and
continuing annual basis, from the Road Fund amounts equal to
the amount certified each year by each District for payment of
expenses related to this subsection. The moneys appropriated
under this subsection shall be paid to each District in an
amount equal to the District's certification for payment of
expenses related to this subsection.

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(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
Section 20. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
amended by changing Sections 3A.15 and 3B.14 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.

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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. Nothing in this Section
shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from providing reduced
fares as may be required by federal law.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on and after
January 1, 2020, 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
elementary or high school students that are eligible for free
or reduced price meals and free milk under the federal National
School Lunch Program or the Commodity School Program on days
when school is in session.
On the first December 31st after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly and on December
31st of each year thereafter, the Suburban Bus Board shall
certify to the State Comptroller the annual amount necessary
for payment of expenses related to this subsection. Beginning
in Fiscal Year 2020, there is hereby appropriated, on an
irrevocable and continuing annual basis, from the Road Fund an
amount equal to the amount certified each year by the Suburban
Bus Board for payment of expenses related to this subsection.
The moneys appropriated under this subsection shall be paid to
the Suburban Bus Board in an amount equal to the Suburban Bus
Board's certification for payment of expenses related to this

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subsection.
(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

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updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services
without charge under this Section. Nothing in this Section
shall relieve the Commuter Rail Board from providing reduced
fares as may be required by federal law.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on and after
January 1, 2020, 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
elementary and high school students that are eligible for free
or reduced price meals and free milk under the federal National
School Lunch Program or the Commodity School Program on days
when school is in session.
On the first December 31st after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly and on December
31st of each year thereafter, the Commuter Rail Board shall
certify to the State Comptroller the annual amount necessary
for payment of expenses related to this subsection. Beginning
in Fiscal Year 2020, there is hereby appropriated, on an
irrevocable and continuing annual basis, from the Road Fund an
amount equal to the amount certified each year by the Commuter
Rail Board for payment of expenses related to this subsection.
The moneys appropriated under this subsection shall be paid to
the Commuter Rail Board in an amount equal to the Commuter Rail
Board's certification for payment of expenses related to this
subsection.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

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