SB3778ham002 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie

Filed: 1/7/2011

09600SB3778ham002 LRB096 20732 RLJ 44821 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3778

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3778, AS AMENDED, by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Downstate Public Transportation Act is amended by changing Section 2-15.2 as follows:

(30 ILCS 740/2-15.2)

Sec. 2-15.2. Free services; eligibility.

(a) (Blank). Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, every participant, as defined in Section 2-2.02 (1)(a), shall be provided without charge to all senior citizen residents of the participant aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the participant.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, every participant, as defined in Section 2-2.02 (1)(a), shall be provided without charge to any person aged 65 or older who meets the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the participant. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section.

(c) In addition, any fixed route public transportation services shall also be provided free of charge to any person aged 65 or older who possesses a valid fare card or other form of verification issued by the participant that authorizes the person to receive free services on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection, then the person may continue to receive free services until the expiration date on the fare card or other form of verification. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection but the valid fare card or other form of verification does not have an expiration date, then the person may continue to receive free services for 4 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. This subsection applies to persons aged 65 or older who do not qualify under subsection (b).

(d) Nothing in this Section shall relieve the participant from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

Section 10. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is amended by changing Section 51 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3605/51)

Sec. 51. Free services; eligibility.

(a) (Blank). Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region (as such term is defined in 70 ILCS 3615/1.03) aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to any person aged 65 or older who meets the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section.

(c) In addition, any fixed route public transportation services shall also be provided free of charge to any person aged 65 or older who possesses a valid fare card or other form of verification issued by the Board in conjunction with the Regional Transportation Authority that authorizes the person to receive free services on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection, then the person may continue to receive free services until the expiration date on the fare card or other form of verification. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection but the valid fare card or other form of verification does not have an expiration date, then the person may continue to receive free services for 4 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. This subsection applies to persons aged 65 or older who do not qualify under subsection (b).

(d) Nothing in this Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

Section 15. The Local Mass Transit District Act is amended by changing Section 8.6 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3610/8.6)

Sec. 8.6. Free services; eligibility.

(a) (Blank). Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, every District shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the District aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the District.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, every District shall be provided without charge to any person aged 65 or older who meets the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the District. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section.

(c) In addition, any fixed route public transportation services shall also be provided free of charge to any person aged 65 or older who possesses a valid fare card or other form of verification issued by any District that authorizes the person to receive free services on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection, then the person may continue to receive free services until the expiration date on the fare card or other form of verification. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection but the valid fare card or other form of verification does not have an expiration date, then the person may continue to receive free services for 4 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. This subsection applies to persons aged 65 or older who do not qualify under subsection (b).

(d) Nothing in this Section shall relieve any District from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

Section 20. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 3A.15 and 3B.14 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3615/3A.15)

Sec. 3A.15. Free services; eligibility.

(a) (Blank). Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to any person aged 65 or older who meets the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section.

(c) In addition, any fixed route public transportation services shall also be provided free of charge to any person aged 65 or older who possesses a valid fare card or other form of verification issued by the Suburban Bus Board that authorizes the person to receive free services on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection, then the person may continue to receive free services until the expiration date on the fare card or other form of verification. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection but the valid fare card or other form of verification does not have an expiration date, then the person may continue to receive free services for 4 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. This subsection applies to persons aged 65 or older who do not qualify under subsection (b).

(d) Nothing in this Section shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3B.14)

Sec. 3B.14. Free services; eligibility.

(a) (Blank). Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board.

(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to any person aged 65 or older who meets the income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board. The Department on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals who are eligible for services without charge under this Section.

(c) In addition, any fixed route public transportation services shall also be provided free of charge to any person aged 65 or older who possesses a valid fare card or other form of verification issued by the Commuter Rail Board that authorizes the person to receive free services on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection, then the person may continue to receive free services until the expiration date on the fare card or other form of verification. If a person meets the requirements of this subsection but the valid fare card or other form of verification does not have an expiration date, then the person may continue to receive free services for 4 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. This subsection applies to persons aged 65 or older who do not qualify under subsection (b).

(d) Nothing in this Section shall relieve the Commuter Rail Board from providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

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