Bill Text: IL HB5576 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the Northern Illinois Transit Authority may not withdraw moneys from the Authority's ADA Paratransit Fund unless the Authority: (1) implements a program to collect data about the reliability of paratransit services that evaluates each driver's performance; (2) requires regular training sessions, including training to assist visually impaired and deaf riders traveling door-to-door, for drivers who received poor evaluations; and (3) requires all reservation methods to permit caregivers to book rides for visually impaired and deaf riders.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-04-17 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5576 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB5576-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB5576 Introduced , by Rep. Sonya M. Harper SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
70 ILCS 3615/2.01d
Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the Northern Illinois Transit Authority may not withdraw moneys from the Authority's ADA Paratransit Fund unless the Authority: (1) implements a program to collect data about the reliability of paratransit services that evaluates each driver's performance; (2) requires regular training sessions, including training to assist visually impaired and deaf riders traveling door-to-door, for drivers who received poor evaluations; and (3) requires all reservation methods to permit caregivers to book rides for visually impaired and deaf riders.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
amended by changing Section 2.01d as follows:
(70 ILCS 3615/2.01d)
Sec. 2.01d. ADA Paratransit Fund.
(a) The Authority shall establish an ADA Paratransit Fund
and, each year, deposit into that Fund the following amounts:
(i) a base amount equal to $115,000,000 in 2012, and, each year
thereafter, an amount equal to the final budgeted funding for
ADA paratransit services for the current year, (ii) any funds
received from the State pursuant to appropriations for the
purpose of funding ADA paratransit services, and (iii) any
additional funds necessary to fund the budget or amended
budget for ADA paratransit services adopted or approved by the
Board for the current year. The amounts on deposit in the Fund
and interest and other earnings on those amounts shall be used
by the Authority to make grants to the Suburban Bus Board for
ADA paratransit services provided pursuant to plans approved
by the Authority under Section 2.30 of this Act. Funds
received by the Suburban Bus Board from the Authority's ADA
Paratransit Fund shall be used only to provide ADA paratransit

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services to individuals who are determined to be eligible for
such services by the Authority under the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 and its implementing regulations.
Revenues from and costs of services provided by the Suburban
Bus Board with grants made under this Section shall be
included in the Annual Budget and Two-Year Financial Program
of the Suburban Bus Board and shall be subject to all budgetary
and financial requirements under this Act that apply to ADA
paratransit services. Beginning in 2008, the Executive
Director shall, no later than August 15 of each year, provide
to the Board a written determination of the projected annual
costs of ADA paratransit services that are required to be
provided pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 and its implementing regulations for the current year.
The Authority shall conduct triennial financial, compliance,
and performance audits of ADA paratransit services to assist
in this determination.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
Authority may not withdraw moneys from the ADA Paratransit
Fund unless the Authority:
(1) implements a program to collect data about the
reliability of paratransit services that evaluates each
driver's performance;
(2) requires regular training sessions, including
training to assist visually impaired and deaf riders
traveling door-to-door, for drivers who received poor

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evaluations under paragraph (1);
(3) requires every method that allows a rider to use a
service provided by the Authority to allow caregivers to
reserve rides for visually impaired and deaf riders.
(Source: P.A. 97-399, eff. 8-16-11.)