Bill Text: IL HJR0064 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Paved Rural Highways Study Committee to conduct a study regarding the re-classification of rural highways from paved to unpaved status.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-08 - Resolution Adopted [HJR0064 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HJR0064-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, There is a trend in rural areas both inside and
outside of this State for local governments, including counties
and townships, to re-designate local rural highways from
paved-highway to unpaved status; and
WHEREAS, It is in the public interest to study this trend,
identify the advantages and disadvantages to transitioning a
road from pavement to gravel, and determine if changes to the
Motor Fuel Tax Fund allocation formula are warranted;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Paved Rural
Highways Study Committee, composed of 9 members, who shall be
appointed no later than August 31, 2012 in accordance with the
following requirements:
(i) the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
shall each appoint one member, who must be an owner or
operator of a farm or place of agricultural business and
have his or her principal place of residence outside the
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metropolitan Statistical Area,

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as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau;
(ii) the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader
of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
shall each appoint one member, who must be an elected
member of a county board, county commission, or township
board of trustees and have his or her principal place of
residence outside the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet
Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the U.S.
Census Bureau; and
(iii) The Director of the Illinois Department of
Transportation shall appoint the 9th member, who shall be
the chairperson of the committee; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Committee shall be staffed by the staff
of the Department of Transportation and shall receive no pay
except to reimburse the expenses of the members of the
Committee; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Committee shall investigate the trend in
rural areas both inside and outside Illinois for local
governments, including counties and townships, to re-designate
local rural highways including but not limited to highways
commonly designated as "farm-to-market roads", from
paved-highway to unpaved status; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the Committee shall meet at the call of the
chair and prepare a report containing:
(a) information on how much money per mile, in annual
upkeep costs, is saved by taxpayers through transitioning a
two-lane highway from pavement to gravel;
(b) the disadvantages to local Illinois citizens of
transitioning a road from pavement to gravel;
(c) information on the most recent annual totals
representing motor fuel taxes and State sales taxes on
motor fuel paid for by Illinois purchasers at points of
sale located outside the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet
Metropolitan Statistical Area; and
(d) a recommendation on what changes, if any, to the
Motor Fuel Tax Fund allocation formula would suffice to
prevent rural roads from being re-designated from pavement
to gravel in future years; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Committee shall submit its report to the
Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives by December
31, 2012.