HJ0010 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0010 LRB098 08767 GRL 38893 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, As the population of the State of Illinois continues to age, the State is seeing an increasing number of senior drivers on the roads each year; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Transportation, in their latest published report showing 2009 data, reports there were 1,230,503 licensed drivers over the age of 65 in Illinois, which accounts for roughly 14% of all licensed drivers in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Transportation 2009 report also shows there were 35,672 total crashes involving drivers of the age 65 or older, providing for a crash rate of 29 out of every 1,000 drivers age 65 or older; and

WHEREAS, Drivers age 65 or older have a higher fatality rate in Illinois than any other age group when involved in a motor vehicle accident; and

WHEREAS, Senior drivers should never be discriminated against, but their safety and protection should be reflected in State law; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is hereby created the Senior Drivers Safety Task Force that shall study safety issues seniors face while driving in Illinois, with particular attention to what can be done to prevent accidents involving senior citizens in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of 13 members, consisting of the Secretary of State or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair; the Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee; the Director of the State Police or his or her designee; the President of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police or his or her designee; the President of the Illinois Medical Society or his or her designee; two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; two members appointed by the President of the Senate; and two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Office of the Secretary of State shall provide administrative and other support to the task force; the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from funds appropriated to the Office of the Secretary of State for that purpose; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet no fewer than three times and shall present its report and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2014.