MORROW-GASH. 605 ILCS 5/4-219 new 605 ILCS 10/40 new Amends the Illinois Highway Code and the Toll Highway Act. Abolishes the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority on January 1, 2000. Provides that at that time, all duties, obligations, property, assets, and powers, including the power to issue bonds, shall be transferred to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Provides that the Department shall take over the management and operation of the existing toll highways in the State. Provides that all employees of the Authority on December 31, 1999 shall become employees of the Department, subject to layoff or reorganization by the Department. Provides for distribution of the assets of the Authority's employee pension plan. Provides that on and after January 1, 2000, the committee that advises the Authority on the toll highway system shall advise the Department instead. Requires the advisory committee to provide recommendations to the Department regarding the existing toll highways becoming freeways by January 1, 2011 or sooner. Effective immediately. PENSION NOTE (Pension Laws Commission) HB 575 would not affect the accrued liabilities or annual costs of any State retirement system or pension fund. FISCAL NOTE (Department of Transportation) DOT would be annually responsible for up to $35 million for maintenance expenses, excluding toll booth operations, plus up to $2 million for capital improvements. FISCAL NOTE (State Toll Highway Authority) There would be approximately $100 million in increased debt payments on the current outstanding bond debt of approximately $900 million; this $900 million would become a contingent liability and subject the credit rating to a possible further downgrade. PENSION NOTE (Pension Laws Commission) There would be no fiscal impact on any retirement system or pension fund created under the Pension Code. 99-02-03 H FIRST READING 99-02-03 H REFERRED TO HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE RULES 99-02-10 H ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE APP-GEN SERVS 99-02-11 H ADDED AS A JOINT SPONSOR GASH 99-02-18 H PENSION NOTE FILED 99-02-18 H COMMITTEE APP-GEN SERVS 99-02-24 H FISCAL NOTE FILED 99-02-24 H COMMITTEE APP-GEN SERVS 99-02-25 H FISCAL NOTE FILED 99-02-25 H COMMITTEE APP-GEN SERVS 99-03-05 H RE-REFERRED TO RULES COMM/RULE 19(A) RULES HRUL 99-03-15 H PENSION NOTE FILED 99-03-15 H COMMITTEE RULES 01-01-09 H SESSION SINE DIE END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Summary