HJ0029 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0029 LRB097 11548 JDS 54474 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Public transportation serves an important role in meeting the transportation needs of many State citizens; and

WHEREAS, The State may benefit from the consolidation of the mass transit services provided by the Regional Transportation Authority, the Commuter Rail Board, the Suburban Bus Board, and the Chicago Transit Authority; the consolidation of mass transit services may provide citizens with a more effective and cost efficient means of public transportation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Mass Transit Consolidation Commission is created for the purpose of researching and discussing whether the Regional Transportation Authority, the Commuter Rail Board, the Suburban Bus Board, and the Chicago Transit Authority should be consolidated under one governmental structure; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall be composed of 16 voting members as follows:

(1) 2 members of the Illinois House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and one appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(2) 2 members of the Illinois Senate, one appointed by the Senate President and one appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(3) 2 public members appointed by the Governor;

(4) 5 members whose residences are located in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will County, one appointed by the county chairperson in each of those counties;

(5) 2 members whose residences are located in Cook County, each appointed by the chairperson of Cook County;

(6) 2 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, each appointed by the Governor; and

(7) one member whose residence is located in the area served by the Suburban Bus Board appointed by the chairperson of the Suburban Bus Board; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor of the State of Illinois shall appoint one non-voting member to serve as the chair of the Commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a person appointed as a public member of the Commission must have expertise and experience in the area of public transportation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a member of the Commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while transacting Commission business; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall meet at least monthly at the times and places that the chair designates; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a majority of the members of the Commission constitute a quorum for transacting Commission business; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall prepare and issue a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 1, 2012, setting forth the findings and conclusions of the Commission concerning whether viable and sustainable transit service can be provided for the northeast region of the State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the report must include an outline of the Commission's meetings and any recommendations for legislation that may be necessary to implement the consolidation of mass transit services if the Commission finds that consolidation is necessary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission must hold at least one public hearing in each of the counties served by the Regional Transportation Authority, the Commuter Rail Board, the Suburban Bus Board, and the Chicago Transit Authority in order to receive public input concerning the consolidation of mass transit services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission.