2018 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 20 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH
20 ILCS 3958/ - I-FLY Act.

(20 ILCS 3958/1)
Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the I-FLY Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-585, eff. 8-22-03.)


(20 ILCS 3958/5)
Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that, in order to create, retain, and stabilize reliable air service to commercial service airports outside of Cook County, improve accessibility to business and industrial centers, augment the State's tourism industry, and encourage the development of facilities and support initiatives for community growth, cooperation between the State, airports, and communities is essential. The General Assembly further finds that a State grant program is the best method to achieve these ends.
(Source: P.A. 93-585, eff. 8-22-03.)


(20 ILCS 3958/10)
Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Air carrier" means an entity that provides commercial passenger air transportation.
"Commission" means the Air Service Commission.
"Department" means the Department of Transportation.
(Source: P.A. 93-585, eff. 8-22-03; 94-839, eff. 6-6-06.)


(20 ILCS 3958/15)
Sec. 15. I-FLY Fund.
(a) The I-FLY Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys may be deposited into the Fund from: (1) appropriations made by the General Assembly and units of local government to the Fund, (2) federal moneys designated for the Fund, and (3) any grants or gifts designated for the Fund.
(b) The moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department, subject to appropriation, for air carrier recruitment, retention program grants, planning grants, and Commission expenses.
(Source: P.A. 93-585, eff. 8-22-03; 94-839, eff. 6-6-06.)


(20 ILCS 3958/20)
Sec. 20. Air Service Commission. There is created the Air Service Commission. The Commission shall consist of 5 members, each of whom has airport management or air carrier experience, or both. The members shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, each one from a different geographical region of the State outside of Cook County. The Governor shall designate one of the members as the chairperson.
Members shall serve for a term of 4 years, except that, for the initial members appointed, one shall serve for a term of 5 years, one for a term of 4 years, one for a term of 3 years, one for a term of 2 years, and one for a term of one year. Initial terms shall commence on July 1, 2003. Each member shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as initial appointments. The members shall not receive a salary but shall be reimbursed for the necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
The Commission is authorized to do all things reasonable and necessary to accomplish the goals of the I-FLY Program in cooperation with the Department.
(Source: P.A. 93-585, eff. 8-22-03; 94-839, eff. 6-6-06.)


(20 ILCS 3958/25)
Sec. 25. I-FLY Program.
(a) The Department shall establish the I-FLY Program, in cooperation with the Commission. The Program shall consist of the following components:
(1) air carrier recruitment and retention grants as

described in subsection (c); and

(2) planning grants under subsection (d).
The Department may make grants under this Act only to airports that are located completely outside of Cook County.
(b) During any one-year period, an airport may receive a grant for only one of the 2 components specified in subsection (a).
(c) Air carrier recruitment and retention program grants.
(1) An airport may receive an air carrier recruitment

and retention program grant from the Department only if:

(A) it is capable of supporting takeoffs and

landings by aircraft that have at least 19 passenger seats or have made improvements or commitments to the Department to provide this capability; and

(B) it has a commitment from an air carrier to

start or continue air service to the community that the airport serves subject to financial support from the State and from the airport or unit of local government that the airport serves. The commitment must specify that the air carrier would not provide or continue to provide service to the community if financial assistance were not available.

(2) An application for an air carrier recruitment and

retention program grant must contain commitments from the airport or the unit of local government in which the airport is located as to the amount of the total project cost, the contribution from the unit of local government or airport, the method in which the contribution from the airport or unit of local government will be generated, and the requested State contribution.

(3) The air carrier recruitment and retention program

grant shall be used to guarantee the financial viability of air carriers providing reasonable air service at the airport. A grant under this subsection (c) to a particular airport may be in only one of the following 3 forms:

(A) A grant may be used to guarantee that an air

carrier shall receive an agreed amount of revenue per flight.

(B) A grant may be used to guarantee a reduced or

subsidized consumer ticket price.

(C) A grant may be used to guarantee a profit

goal established by the air carrier and airport.

(4) During the first year of a grant under this

subsection (c), the grant shall pay 80% of the total cost of the guarantee and the airport or unit of local government in which the airport is located shall pay 20% of the total cost of the guarantee. During the second year of a grant under this subsection (c), the grant shall pay 80% of the total cost of the guarantee and the airport or the unit of local government in which the airport is located shall pay 20% of the total cost of the guarantee. During the third year of a grant under this subsection (c), the grant shall pay 80% of the total cost of the guarantee and the airport or the unit of local government in which the airport is located shall pay 20% of the total cost of the guarantee.

(5) The total State funding for a grant under this

subsection (c) to a particular airport may not exceed $1,500,000 in any year.

(6) An airport that has received a 3-year grant under

this subsection (c) may apply for another grant for an additional 3-year period; however, the Department shall, in determining whether to make a grant for an additional 3-year period, give priority to other airports that have not previously received a grant under this subsection (c). The Department shall also give priority in making grants under this subsection (c) to airports at which the Department determines that a 3-year grant may result in the creation of stable and reliable commercial air service without an additional grant.

(d) Planning grants. An airport may apply for and receive a planning grant to conduct feasibility studies or business plans designed to study the recruitment, retention, or expansion of an air carrier at the airport. To be eligible for a grant under this subsection (d), the airport must have the potential for initial or expanded air service as the Department determines through its evaluation process. The grant shall pay 70% of the total cost of the feasibility studies or business plans and the airport or the unit of local government in which the airport is located shall pay 30% of the total cost of the feasibility studies or business plans. An airport may receive only one planning grant.
(Source: P.A. 98-674, eff. 6-30-14.)


(20 ILCS 3958/90)
Sec. 90. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 93-585, eff. 8-22-03; text omitted.)


(20 ILCS 3958/99)
Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.
(Source: P.A. 93-585, eff. 8-22-03.)


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