Urges commercial airlines operating in the United States to adopt reasonable minimum passenger seating standards that reflect modern body dimensions and support basic comfort, safety, and mobility for the general public. Calls upon federal aviation and transportation regulators to study and establish minimum standards for seat width, legroom, and pitch informed by public health data, disability access considerations, and passenger safety research. Encourages airlines to ensure seating practices do not discriminate against or unduly burden passengers with disabilities or health-related needs, and that reasonable accommodation not be treated as a premium add-on. Urges greater pricing and seating transparency, including clear disclosure of seat dimensions and legroom at the time of ticket purchase, so consumers can make informed travel decisions without surprise fees.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each taxpayer that makes a donation to an educational improvement organization for aviation during the taxable year may apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for an income tax credit in an amount not to exceed the amount of the taxpayer's donation that is used to provide scholarships for prospective pilots, airline and aerospace mechanics, and other aviation and aerospace professionals as part of a program that operates in this State. Requires educational improvement organizations for aviation to apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to be eligible to accept donations that qualify for the credit. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may award no more than $5,000,000 in credits under the program in any calendar year. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that a grant made by the Department of Transportation to municipalities and airport authorities for the renovation, construction, and development of airport facilities must include a condition that the renovation, construction, and development of airport facilities is covered by a project labor agreement entered into with the local building and construction trades council having geographic jurisdiction over the airport facilities. Amends the Airport Authorities Act. Provides that any contract entered into by an Airport Authority to construct, develop, expand, extend, or improve any airport or airport facility must include a project labor agreement entered into with the local building and construction trades council having geographic jurisdiction over the airport or airport facility. Defines "project labor agreement". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the Build Illinois Fund to the Department of Transportation for designing, planning, and the construction costs of a new community center at the Chicago Executive Airport, including an airplane mechanic and pilot training institute and operations center. Effective July 1, 2025.
Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Requires a carrier or an indirect carrier to provide assistance to an individual with a disability in a safe, dignified, and prompt manner. Provides that whether assistance is prompt shall depend on the totality of the circumstances. Provides that carriers shall provide or ensure the provision of timely assistance requested by or on behalf of an individual with a disability, or offered by carrier or airport operator personnel and accepted by an individual with a disability, in enplaning and deplaning. Provides requirements for deplaning an individual with a disability who is in an aisle chair. Provides that carriers must timely notify an individual with a disability regarding the status of the storage of the individual's assistive device in the cargo compartment. Provides that, if an individual's wheelchair or scooter is mishandled, the carrier must immediately notify the individual of his or her rights to take certain actions. Provides that a carrier shall presume liability for the mishandling of an individual's assistive device unless the carrier can demonstrate that the circumstances that led to the mishandling of the assistive device were outside of the carrier's control. Requires carriers to take certain actions if an individual's checked wheelchair or scooter has been delayed or lost, damaged, or pilfered. Provides that, if an individual with a disability is waiting for his or her mishandled personal wheelchair or scooter to be returned, repaired, or replaced, a carrier must use its best efforts to provide an adequate loaner wheelchair or scooter. Provides that, when conducting training for personnel, a carrier that operates aircraft with 19 or more passenger seats must ensure that the training meets certain requirements for all personnel who interact with the traveling public or who handle individuals' assistive devices as appropriate to the duties of each employee or contractor. Provides training requirements for employees designated as Complaints Resolution Officials.
Amends the O'Hare Driver Safety Act. Defines "Department" as the Illinois Department of Transportation. In a provision prohibition stopping or standing within one-half mile of O'Hare International Airport, provides that "traffic route" refers to all routes within the defined radii, including routes that are under the jurisdiction or partial jurisdiction of the Department. Effective immediately.
Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that, of the moneys in the Transportation Renewal Fund that are used for highway maintenance, highway construction, bridge repair, congestion relief, and construction of aviation facilities, 40% (instead of 60%) shall be transferred to the State Construction Account Fund and 60% (instead of 40%) shall be distributed by the Department of Transportation to municipalities, counties, and road districts of the State. Effective immediately.
