103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5016
 
Introduced , by Rep. Hoan Huynh
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

70 ILCS 3605/51
70 ILCS 3615/3A.15
70 ILCS 3615/3B.14
 Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Chicago Transit Authority, Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of the income eligibility limitation set forth in specified provisions of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act (rather than who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in that Act).


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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB5016LRB103 38113 AWJ 68245 b


1 AN ACT concerning local government.

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

4 Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is 
5amended by changing Section 51 as follows:

6 (70 ILCS 3605/51)
7 Sec. 51. Free and reduced fare services; eligibility.
8 (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
960 days following January 18, 2008 (the effective date of 
10Public Act 95-708) this amendatory Act of the 95th General 
11Assembly and until subsection (b) is implemented, any fixed 
12route public transportation services provided by, or under 
13grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board shall be 
14provided without charge to all senior citizens of the 
15Metropolitan Region (as such term is defined in Section 1.03 
16of the Regional Transportation Authority Act 70 ILCS 
173615/1.03) aged 65 and older, under such conditions as shall 
18be prescribed by the Board.
19 (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
20180 days following February 14, 2011 (the effective date of 
21Public Act 96-1527) this amendatory Act of the 96th General 
22Assembly, any fixed route public transportation services 
23provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts 
 
 
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1of, the Board shall be provided without charge to senior 
2citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of 
3who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in 
4subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and 
5Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such 
6conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department 
7on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to 
8determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals 
9who are eligible for services without charge under this 
10Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, 
11an individual's eligibility for free services shall 
12automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the 
13Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued 
14identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in 
15this Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced 
16fares as may be required by federal law. 
17 (c) The Board shall partner with the City of Chicago to 
18provide transportation at reduced fares for participants in 
19programs that offer employment and internship opportunities to 
20youth and young adults ages 14 through 24. 
21(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24; 103-281, eff. 1-1-24; 
22revised 12-12-23.)

23 Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is 
24amended by changing Sections 3A.15 and 3B.14 as follows:

 
 
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1 (70 ILCS 3615/3A.15)
2 Sec. 3A.15. Free services; eligibility.
3 (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
460 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of 
5the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is 
6implemented, any fixed route public transportation services 
7provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts 
8of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to 
9all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and 
10older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the 
11Suburban Bus Board.
12 (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
13180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act 
14of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public 
15transportation services provided by, or under grant or 
16purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall 
17be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and 
18older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the income 
19eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of 
20Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities 
21Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be 
22prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board. The Department on Aging 
23shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to 
24determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals 
25who are eligible for services without charge under this 
26Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, 
 
 
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1an individual's eligibility for free services shall 
2automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the 
3Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued 
4identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in 
5this Section shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from 
6providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law. 
7(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24.)

8 (70 ILCS 3615/3B.14)
9 Sec. 3B.14. Free services; eligibility. 
10 (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
1160 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of 
12the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is 
13implemented, any fixed route public transportation services 
14provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts 
15of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge 
16to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and 
17older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the 
18Commuter Rail Board.
19 (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
20180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act 
21of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public 
22transportation services provided by, or under grant or 
23purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board 
24shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 
25and older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the 
 
 
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