104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3196
 
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
 
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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) and until subsection (b) is implemented, 
11any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or 
12under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board 
13shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the 
14Metropolitan Region (as such term is defined in Section 1.03 
15of the Regional Transportation Authority Act) aged 65 and 
16older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the 
17Board.
18    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
19180 days following February 14, 2011 (the effective date of 
20Public Act 96-1527), any fixed route public transportation 
21services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service 
22contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to 
23senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 
 
 
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1105% of who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth 
2in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and 
3Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such 
4conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department 
5on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to 
6determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals 
7who are eligible for services without charge under this 
8Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, 
9an individual's eligibility for free services shall 
10automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the 
11Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued 
12identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in 
13this Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced 
14fares as may be required by federal law. 
15    (c) The Board shall partner with the City of Chicago to 
16provide transportation at reduced fares for participants in 
17programs that offer employment and internship opportunities to 
18youth and young adults ages 14 through 24. 
19(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24; 103-281, eff. 1-1-24; 
20103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

21    Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is 
22amended by changing Sections 3A.15 and 3B.14 as follows:

23    (70 ILCS 3615/3A.15)
24    Sec. 3A.15. Free services; eligibility.
 
 
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1    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
260 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of 
3the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is 
4implemented, any fixed route public transportation services 
5provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts 
6of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to 
7all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and 
8older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the 
9Suburban Bus Board.
10    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
11180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act 
12of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public 
13transportation services provided by, or under grant or 
14purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall 
15be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and 
16older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the income 
17eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of 
18Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities 
19Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be 
20prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board. The Department on Aging 
21shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to 
22determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals 
23who are eligible for services without charge under this 
24Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, 
25an individual's eligibility for free services shall 
26automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the 
 
 
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1Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued 
2identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in 
3this Section shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from 
4providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law. 
5(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24.)

6    (70 ILCS 3615/3B.14)
7    Sec. 3B.14. Free services; eligibility. 
8    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
960 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of 
10the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is 
11implemented, any fixed route public transportation services 
12provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts 
13of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge 
14to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and 
15older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the 
16Commuter Rail Board.
17    (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than 
18180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act 
19of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public 
20transportation services provided by, or under grant or 
21purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board 
22shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 
23and older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the 
24income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of 
25Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities 
 
 
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1Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be 
2prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board. The Department on Aging 
3shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to 
4determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals 
5who are eligible for services without charge under this 
6Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made, 
7an individual's eligibility for free services shall 
8automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the 
9Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued 
10identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in 
11this Section shall relieve the Commuter Rail Board from 
12providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law. 
13(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24.)