HB5644 Amendment Summary

• Allows township electors in counties with populations between 300,000 and 2,000,000 to abolish the township highway commissioner position and transfer all functions to the township board if the township has fewer than 15 miles of roads under the commissioner's jurisdiction.

• The abolition question may be submitted to voters through a majority vote of the township board, a majority vote at an annual township meeting, or a petition signed by 500 registered township voters.

• If approved by voters at a regular election, the highway commissioner position ends at the conclusion of the current commissioner's term and all rights, powers, duties, assets, liabilities, and responsibilities transfer to the township board.

• Adds provisions allowing the township board to tax for executing the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities assumed from an abolished highway commissioner position, with taxation authority based on the township's equalized assessed valuation.

• Township boards assuming highway commissioner duties may tax at a rate combining their authorized extension rate with the last rate previously authorized for road purposes under the Illinois Highway Code.