97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1548

 

Introduced 2/15/2011, by Rep. Jack D. Franks

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 3605/1.5 new
70 ILCS 3615/1.01a new
70 ILCS 3615/1.01b new

    Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, by no later than July 1, 2012, the Regional Transportation Authority, Commuter Rail Division, Suburban Bus Division, and Chicago Transit Authority shall be consolidated into the Northeastern Transit Authority. Provides that the powers, duties, and obligations of the Regional Transportation Authority, Commuter Rail Division, Suburban Bus Division, and Chicago Transit Authority shall be exercised by the Northeastern Transit Authority. Creates the Northeastern Transit Authority. Sets forth the appointment and terms of the board members for the Northeastern Transit Authority. Provides that board members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1548LRB097 08601 RLJ 48728 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is
5amended by adding Section 1.5 as follows:
 
6    (70 ILCS 3605/1.5 new)
7    Sec. 1.5. Consolidation of the Regional Transportation
8Authority and the Service Boards. Notwithstanding any
9provision of law to the contrary, by no later than July 1,
102012, the Regional Transportation Authority, Commuter Rail
11Division, Suburban Bus Division, and Chicago Transit Authority
12shall be consolidated into the Northeastern Transit Authority
13created under Section 1.01b of the Regional Transportation
14Authority Act. The powers, duties, and obligations of the
15Regional Transportation Authority, Commuter Rail Division,
16Suburban Bus Division, and Chicago Transit Authority shall be
17vested in and exercised by the Northeastern Transit Authority.
18The terms of the members of the Chicago Transit Board serving
19on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th
20General Assembly end June 30, 2012 or when the Board of the
21Northeastern Transit Authority is fully constituted, whichever
22is earlier.
 

 

 

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1    Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
2amended by adding Sections 1.01a and 1.01b as follows:
 
3    (70 ILCS 3615/1.01a new)
4    Sec. 1.01a. Consolidation of the Regional Transportation
5Authority and the Service Boards. Notwithstanding any
6provision of law to the contrary, beginning July 1, 2012, the
7Regional Transportation Authority, Commuter Rail Division,
8Suburban Bus Division, and Chicago Transit Authority shall be
9consolidated into the Northeastern Transit Authority created
10under Section 1.01b. The powers, duties, and obligations of the
11Regional Transportation Authority, Commuter Rail Division,
12Suburban Bus Division, and Chicago Transit Authority shall be
13vested in and exercised by the Northeastern Transit Authority.
14The terms of the directors of the Regional Transportation
15Authority Board, Commuter Rail Board, and Suburban Bus Board
16serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
1797th General Assembly end June 30, 2012 or when the Board of
18the Northeastern Transit Authority is fully constituted,
19whichever is earlier.
 
20    (70 ILCS 3615/1.01b new)
21    Sec. 1.01b. Northeastern Transit Authority; board members.
22    (a) The Northeastern Transit Authority is created to
23exercise the powers, duties, and obligations of the Regional
24Transportation Authority and each of the Service Boards.

 

 

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1    (b) The governing body of the Northeastern Transit
2Authority shall be a board consisting of 16 members. The board
3members shall be appointed as follows:
4        (1) 5 members appointed by the Mayor of the City of
5    Chicago with the advice and consent of the City Council of
6    the City of Chicago. Each appointee must reside within the
7    City of Chicago.
8        (2) 5 members appointed by the President of the Cook
9    County Board with the advice and consent of the members of
10    the Cook County Board. Each appointee must reside within
11    that part of Cook County outside of the corporate
12    boundaries of the City of Chicago.
13        (3) 5 members appointed by the Chairpersons of the
14    County Boards of DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry Counties
15    and the County Executive of Will County, as follows:
16            (A) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the
17        Kane County Board with the advice and consent of the
18        Kane County Board. The member must reside within Kane
19        County.
20            (B) One member appointed by the County Executive of
21        Will County with the advice and consent of the Will
22        County Board. The member must reside within Will
23        County.
24            (C) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the
25        DuPage County Board with the advice and consent of the
26        DuPage County Board. The member must reside within

 

 

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1        DuPage County.
2            (D) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the
3        Lake County Board with the advice and consent of the
4        Lake County Board. The member must reside within Lake
5        County.
6            (E) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the
7        McHenry County Board with the advice and consent of the
8        McHenry County Board. The member must reside within
9        McHenry County.
10    (c) The chairperson of the Board shall be appointed by the
11other members, by the affirmative vote of at least 11 of the
12members with at least 2 affirmative votes from members who
13reside within the City of Chicago, at least 2 affirmative votes
14from members who reside within Cook County outside the City of
15Chicago, and at least 2 affirmative votes from members who
16reside within the Counties of DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, or
17McHenry. The chairperson shall not be appointed from among the
18other members. The chairperson must reside within the
19metropolitan region.
20    (d) Of the initial members, 5 members shall serve for a
212-year term, 5 members shall serve for a 3-year term, and 5
22members and the chairperson shall serve for a 5-year term, as
23determined by lot. Thereafter, all members shall serve for a
245-year term.
25    (e) A vacancy shall occur upon the resignation, death,
26conviction of a felony, or removal from office of a member. Any

 

 

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1member may be removed from office upon concurrence of not less
2than 11 members, on a formal finding of incompetence, neglect
3of duty, or malfeasance in office. Within 30 days after the
4office of any member becomes vacant for any reason, the
5appointing authorities of that member shall make an appointment
6to fill the vacancy. A vacancy shall be filled for the
7unexpired term.
8    (f) Board members shall serve without compensation, but may
9be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their
10official duties. Board members may not receive pension benefits
11or any other benefits for their service as a member of the
12Board.
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14becoming law.