HR0992 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0992 LRB098 20847 MST 58233 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 2013, over 107,000 vehicles were tested by Illinois's emissions testing program; and

WHEREAS, $16,000,000 was spent on administering Illinois's emissions testing program by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of State and $14,000,000 on a private contractor to conduct the testing, for a total of $30,000,000 being spent in just 3 regions of the State - Chicago, the collar counties, and the Metro East St. Louis area; and

WHEREAS, Illinois will spend an estimated total of $240,000,000 to conduct vehicle emissions testing throughout the upcoming 8-year contract effective April 1, 2015; this averages out to an estimated $280.00 per test in 2013 when including the cost to administer and conduct the testing; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is currently taking bids from private contractors ready to sign an 8-year contract with the State to conduct emissions testing effective May 1, 2015; and

WHEREAS, 20 other states have de-centralized their emissions testing program; only 2 other states, Washington and New Jersey, have similar testing programs such as Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we that we urge the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate the vehicle emissions testing program when the current contract expires March 31, 2015; and be it further

RESOLVED, We also urge the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency not to enter into a new contract nor renew any previous contract; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Bonnett, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.