93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6579

 

Introduced 02/09/04, by Ricca Slone

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Act. Provides for a Commission composed of 4 members from each participating state and meeting at least once a year. Provides that the Commission is empowered to perform certain duties concerned with interstate passenger rail improvements. Provides that the Commission shall receive moneys necessary to carry out its functions as appropriated by the participating states. Provides that Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are eligible to join the compact as well as for a method for other states to join. Provides for a method of withdrawal and default from the compact.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning rail service.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Act.
 
6     Section 5. Agreement. Pursuant to terms and conditions of
7 this Act, the State of Illinois seeks to join with other states
8 and thus become a member of the Commission established to carry
9 out the duties specified in this Act.
 
10     Section 10. Ratification. The State of Illinois ratifies,
11 approves and adopts the following compact:
 
12
ARTICLE I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

 
13     The purposes of this compact are, through joint or
14 cooperative action:
15         (1) to promote the development and implementation of
16     improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the
17     Midwest;
18         (2) to coordinate interaction among Midwestern state
19     elected officials and their designees on passenger rail
20     issues;
21         (3) to promote development and implementation of
22     long-range plans for high speed rail passenger service in
23     the Midwest and among other regions of the United States;
24         (4) to work with the public and private sectors at the
25     federal, State, and local levels to ensure coordination
26     among the various entities having an interest in passenger
27     rail service and to promote Midwestern interests regarding
28     passenger rail; and
29         (5) to support efforts of transportation agencies

 

 

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1     involved in developing and implementing passenger rail
2     service in the Midwest.
 
3
ARTICLE II. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION

 
4     To further the purposes of the compact, a Commission is
5     created to carry out the duties specified in this compact.
 
6
ARTICLE III. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP

 
7     The manner of appointment of Commission members, terms of
8     office consistent with the terms of this compact, provisions
9     for removal and suspension, and manner of appointment to fill
10     vacancies shall be determined by each party state pursuant to
11     its laws, but each Commissioner shall be a resident of the
12     state of appointment. Commission members shall serve without
13     compensation from the Commission.
14     The Commission shall consist of 4 resident members of each
15     state as follows: the Governor or the Governor's designee who
16     shall serve during the tenure of office of the Governor, or
17     until a successor is named; one member of the private sector
18     who shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve during
19     the tenure of office of the Governor, or until a successor is
20     named; and 2 legislators, one from each legislative chamber (or
21     2 legislators from any unicameral legislature), who shall serve
22     2-year terms, or until successors are appointed, and who shall
23     be appointed by the appropriate appointing authority in each
24     legislative chamber. All vacancies shall be filled in
25     accordance with the laws of the appointing states. Any
26     Commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve until the
27     end of the incomplete term. Each member state shall have equal
28     voting privileges, as determined by the Commission bylaws.
 
29
ARTICLE IV. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION

 
30     The duties of the Commission are to:

 

 

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1         (1) advocate for the funding and authorization
2     necessary to make passenger rail improvements a reality for
3     the region;
4         (2) identify and seek to develop ways that states can
5     form partnerships, including with rail industry and labor,
6     to implement improved passenger rail in the region;
7         (3) seek development of a long-term, interstate plan
8     for high speed rail passenger service implementation;
9         (4) cooperate with other agencies, regions, and
10     entities to ensure that the Midwest is adequately
11     represented and integrated into national plans for
12     passenger rail development;
13         (5) adopt bylaws governing the activities and
14     procedures of the Commission and addressing, among other
15     subjects: the powers and duties of officers; the voting
16     rights of Commission members, voting procedures,
17     Commission business, and any other purposes necessary to
18     fulfill the duties of the Commission;
19         (6) expend such funds as required to carry out the
20     duties of the Commission; and
21         (7) report on the activities of the Commission to the
22     legislatures and governors of the member states on an
23     annual basis.
24      In addition to its exercise of these duties, the
25     Commission is empowered to:
26         (1) provide multistate advocacy necessary to implement
27     passenger rail systems or plans, as approved by the
28     Commission;
29         (2) work with local elected officials, economic
30     development planning organizations, and similar entities
31     to raise the visibility of passenger rail service benefits
32     and needs;
33         (3) educate other state officials, federal agencies,
34     other elected officials, and the public on the advantages
35     of passenger rail as an integral part of an intermodal
36     transportation system in the region;

 

 

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1         (4) work with federal agency officials and members of
2     Congress to ensure the funding and authorization necessary
3     to develop a long-term, interstate plan for high speed rail
4     passenger service implementation;
5         (5) make recommendations to member states;
6         (6) if requested by each state participating in a
7     particular project and under the terms of a formal
8     agreement approved by the participating states and the
9     Commission, implement or provide oversight for specific
10     rail projects;
11         (7) establish an office and hire staff as necessary;
12         (8) contract for or provide services;
13         (9) assess dues, in accordance with the terms of this
14     compact;
15         (10) conduct research; and
16         (11) establish committees.
 
17
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

 
18     The Commission shall annually elect from among its members
19 a chair, a vice-chair who shall not be a resident of the state
20 represented by the chair, and others as approved in the
21 Commission bylaws. The officers shall perform such functions
22 and exercise such powers as are specified in the Commission
23 bylaws.
 
24
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS AND COMMISSION ADMINISTRATION

 
25     The Commission shall meet at least once in each calendar
26 year, and at such other times as may be determined by the
27 Commission. Commission business shall be conducted in
28 accordance with the procedures and voting rights specified in
29 the bylaws.
 
30
ARTICLE VII. FINANCE

 

 

 

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1      Except as otherwise provided for, the moneys necessary to
2 finance the general operations of the Commission in carrying
3 forth its duties, responsibilities, and powers as stated herein
4 shall be appropriated to the Commission by the compacting
5 states, when authorized by the respective legislatures, by
6 equal apportionment among the compacting states. Nothing in
7 this compact shall be construed to commit a member state to
8 participate in financing a rail project except as provided by
9 law of a member state.
10      The Commission may accept, for any of its purposes and
11 functions, donations, gifts, grants, and appropriations of
12 money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services from the
13 federal government, from any party state or from any
14 department, agency, or municipality thereof, or from any
15 institution, person, firm, or corporation. All expenses
16 incurred by the Commission in executing the duties imposed upon
17 it by this compact shall be paid by the Commission out of the
18 funds available to it. The Commission shall not issue any debt
19 instrument. The Commission shall submit to the officer
20 designated by the laws of each party state, periodically as
21 required by the laws of each party state, a budget of its
22 actual past and estimated future expenditures.
 
23
ARTICLE VIII. ENACTMENT, EFFECTIVE DATE, AND AMENDMENTS

 
24     The States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,
25 Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South
26 Dakota, and Wisconsin are eligible to join this compact. Upon
27 approval of the Commission according to its bylaws, other
28 states may also be declared eligible to join the compact. As to
29 any eligible party state, this compact shall become effective
30 when its legislature shall have enacted the same into law;
31 provided that it shall not become initially effective until
32 enacted into law by any 3 party states incorporating the
33 provisions of this compact into the laws of such states.
34 Amendments to the compact shall become effective upon their

 

 

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1 enactment by the legislatures of all compacting states.
 
2
ARTICLE IX. WITHDRAWAL, DEFAULT, AND TERMINATION

 
3     Withdrawal from this compact shall be by enactment of a
4 statute repealing the same and shall take effect one year after
5 the effective date of such statue. A withdrawing state shall be
6 liable for any obligations which it may have incurred prior to
7 the effective date of withdrawal.
8     If any compacting state shall at any time default in the
9 performance of any of its obligations, assumed or imposed, in
10 accordance with the provisions of this compact, all rights,
11 privileges, and benefits conferred by this compact or
12 agreements hereunder shall be suspended from the effective date
13 of such default as fixed by the Commission, and the Commission
14 shall stipulate the conditions and maximum time for compliance
15 under which the defaulting state may resume its regular status.
16 Unless such default shall be remedied under the stipulations
17 and within the time period set forth by the Commission, this
18 compact may be terminated with respect to such defaulting state
19 by affirmative vote of a majority of the other Commission
20 members. Any such defaulting state may be reinstated, upon vote
21 of the Commission, by performing all acts and obligations as
22 stipulated by the Commission.
 
23
ARTICLE X. CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

 
24     The provisions of this compact entered into hereunder shall
25 be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision
26 of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution
27 of any compacting state or of the United States or the
28 applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or
29 circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of
30 this compact and the applicability thereof to any government,
31 agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected hereby.
32 If this compact entered into hereunder shall be held contrary

 

 

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1 to the constitution of any compacting state, the compact shall
2 remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and
3 in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all
4 severable matters. The provisions of this compact entered into
5 pursuant hereto shall be liberally construed to effectuate the
6 purposes thereof.