Senate Sponsors: LUECHTEFELD-WATSON-WOOLARD. House Sponsors: BOST-JONES,JOHN-FOWLER-FORBY-REITZ Short description: DOWNSTATE RURAL TRANSIT FUNDS Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act. Includes in the definition of "participant" a local mass transit district organized under the Local Mass Transit Act serving a nonurbanized area and receiving federal rural public transportation assistance during Fiscal Year 2001 (rather than on the effective date of the amendatory Act of 1993). Makes an exception to the 10% limit on the increase in funding per year for a participant that received an initial appropriation in Fiscal Year 2002. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 740/2-7 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 667 Includes in the definition of "participant" a local mass transit district receiving federal rural public transportation assistance on or before June 30, 2002 (rather than during Fiscal Year 2001). Replaces the language making exceptions for the 10% cap on increases in operating expenses with language that provides that with respect to any mass transit district participant that has increased its district boundaries by annexing counties since 1998 and is maintaining a level of local financial support equal to or greater than the level in the State fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, the maximum eligible operating expenses for any State fiscal year after 2002 shall be the amount appropriated for that participant for the State fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, plus, in each State fiscal year, a 10% increase over the preceding State fiscal year. Provides that with respect to a participant that receives an initial appropriation in State fiscal year 2002, the maximum eligible operating expenses for any State fiscal year after 2003 shall be the amount appropriated for that participant for the State fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, plus, in each year, a 10% increase over the preceding year and that for State fiscal year 2003, the maximum eligible operating expenses shall be the amount of projected operating expenses upon which the appropriation for that participant for State fiscal year 2003 is based. Further amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act. Provides that the quarterly reports of any Metro-East Transit District participant must be filed no later than 60 days after the end of each quarter (rather than no later than 30 days after the end of each month) of any fiscal year. Provides that any Metro-East Transit District may either monthly or quarterly for any fiscal year file a request for the participant's eligible share of the amounts transferred into the Metro-East Public Transportation Fund (rather than providing that the Department of Transportation shall pay the participant its allocated share after determining that the operating deficits were incurred in conformity with the terms of the Act). Provides that any payments from the Fund that exceed the eligible deficit of the participant (rather than any discrepancy between the grants paid and the approved program amount) shall be reconciled by appropriate payment or credit. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 92-0464 Last action date: AUG-22-2001 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status