SJ0077 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0077 LRB098 21162 GRL 59728 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Since 2000, gas tax revenues have declined significantly as a result of less driving, increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing purchasing power; while motor fuel prices have increased dramatically over the last several years, the total amount of motor fuel consumed in Illinois has remained relatively stagnant over the same time frame; and

WHEREAS, Since reaching its current rate structure in 1996, revenue from the State's motor fuel tax has experienced relatively limited growth; in 2000, $1.384 billion in revenue was generated from the State's motor fuel tax; in Fiscal Year 2011, the total amount collected was $1.347 billion; and

WHEREAS, As gas tax revenues dwindle, policymakers throughout the nation have had to divert billions from the general fund and other non-transportation funds to pay for infrastructure; this is increasing pressure on transportation policy makers to search for new, viable road financing mechanisms; and

WHEREAS, Mileage-based user fees are an alternative way to finance the construction and maintenance of roads; rather than the current gas tax method, which is based on the amount of fuel purchased at the pump, a vehicle miles traveled tax is based on how many miles are driven; and

WHEREAS, A mileage-based user fee system has been proposed in the United States and elsewhere in the world as an infrastructure funding mechanism to replace the gas tax; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Task Force on Sustainable Transportation Funding, to be comprised of the following members, with an emphasis on bipartisan and statewide legislative representation and diverse non-legislative stakeholder representation:

(1) one member of the Illinois House of Representatives and 2 members of the public who represent the transportation industry, the Illinois transportation research community, or national research and policy-making bodies appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) one member of the Illinois Senate and 2 members of the public who represent the transportation industry, the Illinois transportation research community, or national research and policy-making bodies appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) one member of the Illinois House of Representatives and 2 members of the public who represent the transportation industry, the Illinois transportation research community, or national research and policy-making bodies appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member of the Illinois Senate and 2 members of the public who represent the transportation industry, the Illinois transportation research community, or national research and policy-making bodies appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) one member who is currently employed by the Illinois Department of Transportation appointed by the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation; and

(6) one member who is currently employed by the Illinois Department of Revenue appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall be considered members with voting rights; a quorum of the Task Force shall consist of a simple majority of the members of the Task Force; all actions and recommendations of the Task Force must be approved by a simple majority vote of the members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet within 60 days of the adoption of this resolution; the Task Force shall elect one member as chairperson at its initial meeting through a simple majority vote of the Task Force and shall thereafter meet at the call of the chairperson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall:

(1) analyze the current trends between the infrastructure needs of Illinois and the revenue received from federal and State gas taxes and the level of highway and road investment that would reduce congestion, keep Illinois' economy competitive, and keep drivers safe; and

(2) analyze a user-fee based alternative to the current system of taxing highway use through motor vehicle fuel taxes; the Task Force shall gather public comment on the user-fee based alternative approach and make recommendations to the Department of Transportation, including recommendations on the creation of pilot programs to be used to test alternative approaches; the Task Force may also make recommendations to the Department on criteria to be used to evaluate pilot programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That when the Task Force is studying user-fee based alternatives to the current system of taxing highway use through motor vehicle fuel taxes and developing recommendations on the design of pilot programs to test alternative approaches, the Task Force shall, under consultation with highway users and transportation stakeholders, take into consideration:

(1) the availability, adaptability, reliability and security of methods that might be used in recording and reporting highway use;

(2) the protection of any personally identifiable information used in reporting highway use;

(3) the ease and cost of recording and reporting highway use;

(4) the ease and cost of administering the collection of taxes and fees as an alternative to the current system; and

(5) any effective methods of maintaining compliance; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2015.