20 ILCS 2705/2705-375

(20 ILCS 2705/2705-375) (was 20 ILCS 2705/49.34)

Sec. 2705-375. Meigs Users Advisory Committee.

(a) The Meigs Users Advisory Committee is hereby created. The Meigs Users Advisory Committee shall be composed of the following members: (i) 4 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 of whom shall have extensive knowledge of business and corporate aviation and 2 of whom shall have extensive knowledge of general aviation; (ii) 4 members appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago, all of whom shall have extensive knowledge of general aviation; (iii) 4 members of the General Assembly, one each appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House; and (iv) the Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee, who shall serve as Chairperson. The members appointed by the Governor and the Mayor shall be users of Meigs Field.

(b) (1) The Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee shall serve during the Secretary's term of office.

(2) Members of the committee appointed under subdivision (a)(iii) shall serve for their terms of office, except that no such appointment shall be for a term of more than 3 years. If a committee member who was appointed under subdivision (a)(iii) ceases to be a member of the chamber of the General Assembly from which the member was appointed, he or she shall be replaced in accordance with the method for filling vacancies.

(3) The initial members of the committee who are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall be appointed as follows: one shall be appointed for a term of one year, 2 shall be appointed for terms of 2 years, and one shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. After the expiration of the initial terms, all members of the committee who are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall be appointed for terms of 3 years.

(4) The initial members of the committee who are appointed by the Governor shall be appointed as follows: one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, and 2 shall be appointed for terms of 3 years. After the expiration of the initial terms, all members of the committee who are appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of 3 years.

(5) Any member of the committee is eligible for reappointment unless he or she no longer meets the applicable qualifications. All members appointed to serve on the committee shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and confirmed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.

(6) If a vacancy in membership under subdivision (a)(i) occurs at a time when the Senate is not in session, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when he or she shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a person to fill that membership for the unexpired term. If the Senate is not in session when the initial appointments are made, those appointments shall be made as in the case of vacancies.

(7) The committee shall be deemed established on the date that a majority of the total number of members has been appointed, regardless of whether any of those initial members are then serving pursuant to appointment and confirmation or pursuant to temporary appointments that are made by the Governor as in the case of vacancies.

(c) The Committee shall have the power to inspect all books, records, contracts, financial data, agreements, and documents relating to the operation and maintenance of Meigs Field, including, without limitation, as-built plans for all buildings, runways, taxiways, and aprons, the control tower, terminal, and all related facilities, all security agreements, fire protection agreements, airline agreements, FOB agreements, concessionaire agreements, rental/lease agreements, service agreements, financial data and budget reports including revenues and expenditures, and any and all studies or plans regarding the land use of Meigs Field.

(d) The chairperson shall give notice to the members of the time and place for every meeting. The members of the committee shall receive no compensation or reimbursement of expenses in the performance of their duties. The Committee shall review and hold public hearings on any proposals or actions affecting the operation of Meigs Field. The Committee shall issue recommendations to the Governor, the Mayor of the City of Chicago, and the General Assembly with regard to these proposals or actions and any other matters concerning the operation of Meigs Field.

(Source: P.A. 90-6, eff. 6-3-97; 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)