(45 ILCS 77/1) (from Ch. 114, par. 901) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Interstate Rail Passenger Network Compact Act. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/5) (from Ch. 114, par. 905) Sec. 5. Compact member. The interstate rail passenger network compact is entered into by the State of Illinois with all other states joining the compact in the form substantially as this Act. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/10) (from Ch. 114, par. 910) Sec. 10. Compact policy. It is the policy of the states entering this compact to cooperate and share the administrative and financial responsibilities concerning the operation of an interstate rail passenger network system connecting major cities in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. The participating states agree that a rail passenger system would provide a beneficial service and would be enhanced if operated across state lines. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/15) (from Ch. 114, par. 915) Sec. 15. Impact study. (a) The states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, referred to in this Act as "participating states" agree, upon adoption of this compact by the respective states, to jointly conduct and participate in a rail passenger network financial and economic impact study. The study must do the following: (1) Continue research previously performed by the

national railroad passenger corporation (Amtrak) and the Evansville Amtrak task force that evaluated the "western route" which includes Chicago, Evansville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Macon, Waycross, and Jacksonville for purposes of evaluating a representative service schedule, train running times, and associated costs.

(2) Include consideration of the following: (A) The purchase of railroad equipment by a

participating state and the lease of the railroad equipment to Amtrak.

(B) The recommendation that a member of the

council serve on the Amtrak board of directors.

(C) The periodic review of projected passenger

traffic estimates on the western route.

(D) Any other matter related to the financial and

economic impact of a rail passenger network along the western route.

(b) Information and data collected during the study under subsection (a) that is requested by a participating state or a consulting firm representing a participating state or the compact may be made available to the state or firm. However, the information may not include matters not of public record or of a nature considered to be privileged and confidential unless the state providing the information agrees to waive the confidentiality. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/20) (from Ch. 114, par. 920) Sec. 20. Compact agreement. The participating states agree to do the following: (1) Make available to each other and to a consulting

firm representing a participating state or the compact assistance that is available, including personnel, equipment, office space, machinery, computers, engineering, and technical advice, and services.

(2) Provide financial assistance for the

implementation of the feasibility study that is available. Notwithstanding any other provision of the compact, the obligation of the State of Illinois to make funds available under the compact and to make payments under the compact shall be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/25) (from Ch. 114, par. 925) Sec. 25. Advisory council. The interstate rail passenger advisory council, referred to in this compact as the "council" is created. The membership of the council consists of 3 individuals from each participating state, except Illinois which shall have 20 members. The Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives from each state shall each appoint 3 members of the council, and in Illinois, the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the Senate shall also each appoint 4 members of the council. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/30) (from Ch. 114, par. 930) Sec. 30. Council duties. The council shall do the following: (1) Meet within 30 days after ratification of this

agreement by at least 2 participating states.

(2) Establish rules for the conduct of the council's

business, including the payment of the reasonable and necessary travel expenses of council members.

(3) Coordinate all aspects of the rail passenger

financial and economic impact study under Section 15 of this Act.

(4) Contract with persons, including institutions of

higher education, for performance of any part of the study under Section 15 of this Act.

(5) Upon approval of the study, determine the

proportionate share that each state will contribute toward the implementation and management of the proposed restoration of the interstate rail passenger system along the western route.

(6) Make recommendations to each participating state

legislature concerning the results of the study required by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/35) (from Ch. 114, par. 935) Sec. 35. Adoption by other states. This compact becomes effective upon the adoption of the compact into law by at least 2 of the participating states. Thereafter, the compact becomes effective for another participating state upon the enactment of the compact by the state. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/40) (from Ch. 114, par. 940) Sec. 40. Withdrawal from compact. This compact continues in force with respect to a participating state and remains binding upon the state until the state has given notice to each other participating state of the repeal of this Act. The withdrawal may not be construed to relieve a participating state from an obligation (in Illinois, an obligation that was expressly approved by the General Assembly) incurred before the end of the state's participation in the compact. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/45) (from Ch. 114, par. 945) Sec. 45. Construction; severability; and constitutionality. (a) This compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the compact's purposes. (b) The provisions of this compact are severable if: (1) a phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this

compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of a participating state or of the United States; or

(2) the applicability of this compact to a

government, an agency, a person, or a circumstance is held invalid.

The validity of the remainder of this compact and the compact's applicability to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is not affected. (c) If this compact is held contrary to the constitution of a participating state, the compact remains in effect for the remaining participating states and in effect for the state affected for all severable matters. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)

(45 ILCS 77/49) (from Ch. 114, par. 949) Sec. 49. This Act takes effect upon becoming law. (Source: P.A. 87-888.)