093_SB0726enr

 
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 1        AN ACT in relation to executive agencies.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Department of Transportation Law  of  the
 5    Civil  Administrative  Code  of Illinois is amended by adding
 6    Section 2705-207 as follows:

 7        (20 ILCS 2705/2705-207 new)
 8        Sec. 2705-207.  Regional Transportation Task Force.
 9        (a)  The Regional Transportation Task  Force  is  created
10    within the Department.
11        (b)  The  Task  Force shall consist of 11 voting members,
12    as follows: 3 members appointed by the Governor, one of  whom
13    shall be designated as chair of the task force at the time of
14    appointment;  2  members  appointed  by  the President of the
15    Senate; 2 members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;  2
16    members   appointed   by   the   Speaker   of  the  House  of
17    Representatives;  and  2  members  appointed  by  the   House
18    Minority Leader.
19        The  following  shall  serve,  ex  officio, as non-voting
20    members:  the  Secretary  of   Transportation;   one   member
21    designated  by  the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS);
22    one member designated by the Northeastern  Illinois  Planning
23    Commission  (NIPC);  one  member  designated  by the Regional
24    Transportation Authority (RTA); one member designated by  the
25    Illinois  State  Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA); 2 members of
26    Congress  representing  Illinois  from  different   political
27    parties,  as  designated  by  the  Governor;  and  4  members
28    designated by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
29        If  a  vacancy  occurs  in the task force membership, the
30    vacancy shall be filled in the same  manner  as  the  initial
31    appointment.
 
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 1        (c)  The  task  force  may begin to conduct business upon
 2    the  appointment  of  a  majority  of  the  voting   members,
 3    including the chair.
 4        (d)  The  task  force  may  adopt bylaws; it must meet at
 5    least once  each  calendar  quarter;  and  it  may  establish
 6    committees  and  officers as it deems necessary. For purposes
 7    of task  force  meetings,  a  quorum  is  6  voting  members.
 8    Meetings  of  the task force are subject to the Open Meetings
 9    Act. The task force must afford  an  opportunity  for  public
10    comment at each of its meetings.
11        (e)  Task force members shall serve without compensation,
12    but  may  be  reimbursed for their reasonable travel expenses
13    from funds available for that purpose. The  Department  shall
14    provide staff and administrative support services to the task
15    force.  The  Department and the task force may accept donated
16    services and other resources from  registered  not-for-profit
17    organizations as may be necessary to complete the work of the
18    task force with minimal expense to the State of Illinois.
19        (f)  The  task  force  shall  gather information and make
20    recommendations to the Governor and to the  General  Assembly
21    regarding  metro area transportation programs in northeastern
22    Illinois, which includes, without limitation, the counties of
23    Cook,  DuPage,  Kane,  Lake,   McHenry,   and   Will.   These
24    recommendations must include, without limitation:
25             (1)  examining  the  feasibility  of  merging  CATS,
26        NIPC, RTA, and ISTHA into a single agency;
27             (2)  identifying  areas where functions of these and
28        other agencies are redundant or unnecessary;
29             (3)  identifying    methods    to    promote    cost
30        effectiveness, efficiency, and equality in  meeting  area
31        transportation needs; and
32             (4)  examining  regional  and  economic impact as it
33        relates to potential policy implementation.
34        (g)  The task force shall submit a report to the Governor
 
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 1    and the General Assembly by  March  1,  2004  concerning  its
 2    findings and recommendations.
 3        (h)  This Section is repealed on January 1, 2005.

 4        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 5    becoming law.