70 ILCS 3615/ Regional Transportation Authority Act.

(70 ILCS 3615/2.39)

Sec. 2.39. Prioritization process for Northeastern Illinois transit projects.

(a) The Authority shall develop a transparent prioritization process for Northeastern Illinois transit projects receiving State capital funding. The prioritization process must consider, at a minimum: (1) access to key destinations such as jobs, retail, healthcare, and recreation, (2) reliability improvement, (3) capacity needs, (4) safety, (5) state of good repair, (6) racial equity and mobility justice, and (7) economic development. All State capital funding awards shall be made by the Regional Transportation Authority in accordance with the prioritization process. An appropriate public input process shall be established. The Authority shall make a report to the General Assembly each year describing the prioritization process and its use in funding awards.

(b) A summary of the project evaluation process, measures, program, and scores or prioritization criteria for all candidate projects shall be published on the Authority's website in a timely manner.

(c) Starting April 1, 2022, no project shall be included in the 5-year capital program, or amendments to that program, without being evaluated under the selection process described in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-573, eff. 8-24-21.)

(70 ILCS 3615/2.40)

Sec. 2.40. Suspension of riding privileges and confiscation of fare media.

(a) As used in this Section, "demographic information" includes, but is not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, gender, and housing status, as that term is defined under Section 10 of the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act.

(b) Suspension of riding privileges and confiscation of fare media are limited to:

(1) violations where the person's conduct places transit employees or transit passengers in reasonable apprehension of a threat to their safety or the safety of others, including assault and battery, as those terms are defined under Sections 12-1 and 12-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012;

(2) violations where the person's conduct places transit employees or transit passengers in reasonable apprehension of a threat of a criminal sexual assault, as that term is defined under Section 11-1.20 of the Criminal Code of 2012; and

(3) violations involving an act of public indecency, as that term is defined in Section 11-30 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(c) Written notice shall be provided to an individual regarding the suspension of the individual's riding privileges or confiscation of fare media. The notice shall be provided in person at the time of the alleged violation, except that, if providing notice in person at the time of the alleged violation is not practicable, then the Authority shall make a reasonable effort to provide notice to the individual by personal service, by mailing a copy of the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, and first-class mail to the person's current address, or by emailing a copy of the notice to an email address on file, if available. If the person is known to be detained in jail, service shall be made as provided under Section 2-203.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The written notice shall be sufficient to inform the individual about the following:

(1) the nature of the suspension of riding privileges or confiscation of fare media;

(2) the person's rights and available remedies to contest or appeal the suspension of riding privileges or confiscation of fare media and to apply for reinstatement of riding privileges; and

(3) the procedures for adjudicating whether a suspension or confiscation is warranted and for applying for reinstatement of riding privileges, including the time and location of any hearing.

The process to determine whether a suspension or riding privileges or confiscation of fare media is warranted and the length of the suspension shall be concluded within 30 business days after the individual receives notice of the suspension or confiscation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no person shall be denied the ability to contest or appeal a suspension of riding privileges or confiscation of fare media, or to attend a hearing to determine whether a suspension or confiscation was warranted, because the person was detained in a jail.

(d) Each Service Board shall create an administrative suspension hearing process as follows:

(1) A Service Board shall designate an official to oversee the administrative process to decide whether a suspension is warranted and the length of the suspension.

(2) The accused and related parties, including legal counsel, may attend this hearing in person, by telephone, or virtually.

(3) The Service Board shall present the suspension-related evidence and outline the evidence that supports the need for the suspension.

(4) The accused or the accused's legal counsel can present and may make an oral or written presentation and offer documents, including affidavits, in response to the Service Board's evidence.

(5) The Service Board's designated official shall make a finding on the suspension.

(6) The value of unexpended credit or unexpired passes shall be reimbursed upon suspension of riding privileges or confiscation of fare media.

(7) The alleged victims of the violation and related parties, including witnesses who were present, may attend this hearing in person, by telephone, or virtually.

(8) The alleged victims of the violation and related parties, including witnesses who were present, can present and may make an oral or written presentation and offer documents, including affidavits, in response to the Service Board's evidence.

(e) Each Service Board shall create a process to appeal and reinstate ridership privileges. This information shall be provided to the suspended rider at the time of the Service Board's findings. A suspended rider is entitled to 2 appeals after the Service Board's finding to suspend the person's ridership. A suspended rider may petition the Service Board to reinstate the person's ridership privileges one calendar year after the Service Board's suspension finding if the length of the suspension is more than one year.

(f) Each Service Board shall collect, report, and make publicly available in a quarterly timeframe the number and demographic information of people subject to suspension of riding privileges or confiscation of fare media, the conduct leading to the suspension or confiscation, as well as the location and description of the location where the conduct occurred, such as identifying the transit station or transit line, date, and time of day, a citation to the statutory authority for which the accused person was arrested or charged, the amount, if any, on the fare media, and the length of the suspension.

(Source: P.A. 103-281, eff. 1-1-24.)

(70 ILCS 3615/2.41)

Sec. 2.41. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Regional Transit Authority Public Transportation Assistance Program.

(a) No later than 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Authority shall create the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Regional Transit Authority Public Transportation Assistance Program to serve residents of the Authority.

Through this Program, the Authority shall issue monetarily preloaded mass transit cards to The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence for survivor and victim use of public transportation through Chicago Transit Authority, the Suburban Bus Division, and the Commuter Rail Division.

The Authority shall coordinate with The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence to issue no less than 25,000 monetarily preloaded mass transit cards with a value of $20 per card for distribution to domestic violence and sexual assault service providers throughout the Authority's jurisdiction, including the counties of Cook, Kane, DuPage, Will, Lake, and McHenry.

The mass transit card shall be plastic or laminated and wallet-sized, contain no information that would reference domestic violence or sexual assault services, and have no expiration date. The cards shall also be available electronically and shall be distributed to domestic violence and sexual assault direct service providers to distribute to survivors.

The total number of mass transit cards shall be distributed to domestic violence and sexual assault service providers throughout the Authority's region based on the average number of clients served in 2021 and 2022 in comparison to the total number of mass transit cards granted by the Authority.

(b) The creation of the Program shall include an appointment of a domestic violence or sexual assault program service provider or a representative of the service provider's choosing to the Authority's Citizen Advisory Board.

The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence shall provide an annual report of the program, including a list of service providers receiving the mass transit cards, the total number of cards received by each service provider, and an estimated number of survivors and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault participating in the program. The report shall also include survivor testimonies of the program and shall include program provided recommendations on improving implementation of the Program. The report shall be provided to the Regional Transit Authority one calendar year after the creation of the Program.

In partnership with The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, the Authority shall report this information to the Board and the Citizen Advisory Board and compile an annual report of the Program to the General Assembly and to domestic violence and sexual assault service providers in the service providers' jurisdiction and include recommendations for improving implementation of the Program.

(Source: P.A. 103-281, eff. 7-28-23.)

(70 ILCS 3615/2.42)

Sec. 2.42. Youth and young adults internships and employment. By January 1, 2024, the Suburban Bus Board and the Commuter Rail Board shall create or partner with a youth jobs program to provide internship or employment opportunities to youth and young adults.

(Source: P.A. 103-281, eff. 7-28-23.)

(70 ILCS 3615/Art. III heading) ARTICLE III. ORGANIZATION.

(70 ILCS 3615/3.01) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703.01)

Sec. 3.01. Board of Directors. The corporate authorities and governing body of the Authority shall be a Board consisting of 13 Directors until April 1, 2008, and 16 Directors thereafter, appointed as follows:

(a) Four Directors appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago, with the advice and consent of the City Council of the City of Chicago, and, only until April 1, 2008, a fifth director who shall be the Chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority. After April 1, 2008, the Mayor of the City of Chicago, with the advice and consent of the City Council of the City of Chicago, shall appoint a fifth Director. The Directors appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall not be the Chairman or a Director of the Chicago Transit Authority. Each such Director shall reside in the City of Chicago.

(b) Four Directors appointed by the votes of a majority of the members of the Cook County Board elected from districts, a majority of the electors of which reside outside Chicago. After April 1, 2008, a fifth Director appointed by the President of the Cook County Board with the advice and consent of the members of the Cook County Board. Each Director appointed under this subparagraph shall reside in that part of Cook County outside Chicago.

(c) Until April 1, 2008, 3 Directors appointed by the Chairmen of the County Boards of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties, as follows:

(i) Two Directors appointed by the Chairmen of the county boards of Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties, with the concurrence of not less than a majority of the Chairmen from such counties, from nominees by the Chairmen. Each such Chairman may nominate not more than 2 persons for each position. Each such Director shall reside in a county in the metropolitan region other than Cook or DuPage Counties.

(ii) One Director appointed by the Chairman of the DuPage County Board with the advice and consent of the DuPage County Board. Such Director shall reside in DuPage County.

(d) After April 1, 2008, 5 Directors appointed by the Chairmen of the County Boards of DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties and the County Executive of Will County, as follows:

(i) One Director appointed by the Chairman of the Kane County Board with the advice and consent of the Kane County Board. Such Director shall reside in Kane County.

(ii) One Director appointed by the County Executive of Will County with the advice and consent of the Will County Board. Such Director shall reside in Will County.

(iii) One Director appointed by the Chairman of the DuPage County Board with the advice and consent of the DuPage County Board. Such Director shall reside in DuPage County.

(iv) One Director appointed by the Chairman of the Lake County Board with the advice and consent of the Lake County Board. Such Director shall reside in Lake County.

(v) One Director appointed by the Chairman of the McHenry County Board with the advice and consent of the McHenry County Board. Such Director shall reside in McHenry County.

(vi) To implement the changes in appointing authority under this subparagraph (d) the three Directors appointed under subparagraph (c) and residing in Lake County, DuPage County, and Kane County respectively shall each continue to serve as Director until the expiration of their respective term of office and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified or a vacancy occurs in the office. Thereupon, the appointment shall be made by the officials given appointing authority with respect to the Director whose term has expired or office has become vacant.

(e) The Chairman serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly shall continue to serve as Chairman until the expiration of his or her term of office and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified or a vacancy occurs in the office. Upon the expiration or vacancy of the term of the Chairman then serving upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the Chairman shall be appointed by the other Directors, by the affirmative vote of at least 11 of the then Directors with at least 2 affirmative votes from Directors who reside in the City of Chicago, at least 2 affirmative votes from Directors who reside in Cook County outside the City of Chicago, and at least 2 affirmative votes from Directors who reside in the Counties of DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, or McHenry. The chairman shall not be appointed from among the other Directors. The chairman shall be a resident of the metropolitan region.

(f) Except as otherwise provided by this Act no Director shall, while serving as such, be an officer, a member of the Board of Directors or Trustees or an employee of any Service Board or transportation agency, or be an employee of the State of Illinois or any department or agency thereof, or of any municipality, county, or any other unit of local government or receive any compensation from any elected or appointed office under the Constitution and laws of Illinois; except that a Director may be a member of a school board.

(g) Each appointment made under this Section and under Section 3.03 shall be certified by the appointing authority to the Board, which shall maintain the certifications as part of the official records of the Authority.

(h) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 98-709, eff. 7-16-14.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3.02) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703.02)

Sec. 3.02. Chairman and Other Officers. The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Board, and shall be entitled to vote on all matters. The Board shall select a Secretary and a Treasurer and may select persons to fill such other offices of the Authority and to perform such duties as it shall from time to time determine. The Secretary, Treasurer and other officers of the Authority may, but need not be, members of the Board.

(Source: P.A. 83-886.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3.03) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703.03)

Sec. 3.03. Terms, vacancies. Each Director shall hold office for a term of 5 years, and until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. A vacancy shall occur upon resignation, death, conviction of a felony, or removal from office of a Director. Any Director may be removed from office (i) upon concurrence of not less than 11 Directors, on a formal finding of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office or (ii) by the Governor in response to a summary report received from the Executive Inspector General in accordance with Section 20-50 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, provided he or she has an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel prior to removal. Within 30 days after the office of any member becomes vacant for any reason, the appointing authorities of such member shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.

Whenever a vacancy for a Director, except as to the Chairman or those Directors appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago, exists for longer than 4 months, the new Director shall be chosen by election by all legislative members in the General Assembly representing the affected area. In order to qualify as a voting legislative member in this matter, the affected area must be more than 50% of the geographic area of the legislative district.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08; 96-1528, eff. 7-1-11.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3.04) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703.04)

Sec. 3.04. Compensation. Each Director including the Chairman, except for the Chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority who shall not be compensated by the Authority, shall be compensated at the rate of $25,000 per year.

Officers of the Authority shall not be required to comply with the requirements of "An Act requiring certain custodians of public moneys to file and publish statements of the receipts and disbursements thereof", approved June 24, 1919, as now or hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 83-885; 83-886.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3.05) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703.05)

Sec. 3.05. Meetings. The Board shall prescribe the times and places for meetings and the manner in which special meetings may be called. The Board shall comply in all respects with the "Open Meetings Act", approved July 11, 1957, as now or hereafter amended. All records, documents and papers of the Authority, other than those relating to matters concerning which closed sessions of the Board may be held, shall be available for public examination, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Board may adopt.

A majority of the Directors holding office shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the affirmative votes of at least 9 Directors shall be necessary for approving any contract or agreement, adopting any rule or regulation, and any other action required by this Act to be taken by resolution or ordinance.

The Board shall meet with the Regional Citizens Advisory Board at least once every 4 months.

Open meetings of the Board shall be broadcast to the public and maintained in real-time on the Board's website using a high-speed Internet connection. Recordings of each meeting broadcast shall be posted to the Board's website within a reasonable time after the meeting and shall be maintained as public records to the extent practicable, as determined by the Board. Compliance with the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly does not relieve the Board of its obligations under the Open Meetings Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-1139, eff. 6-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3.06) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703.06)

Sec. 3.06. Territory and Annexation. The initial territory of the Authority shall be Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties, Illinois. Any other county or portion thereof in Illinois contiguous to the metropolitan region may be annexed to the Authority on such conditions as the Authority shall by ordinance prescribe, by ordinance adopted by the county board of such county, and by approval by the Authority. Upon such annexation, a certificate of such action shall be filed by the Secretary of the Authority with the County Clerk of the county so annexing to the Authority and with the Secretary of State of Illinois and the State Department of Revenue.

No area may be annexed to the Authority except upon the approval of a majority of the electors of such area voting on the proposition so to annex, which proposition may be presented at any regular election as provided by the county board or boards of the county or counties in which the area in question is located. Such county board or boards shall cause certification of such proposition to be given in accordance with the general election law to the proper election officers who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)