§ 2-5 — Legislative findings

(a) Providing facilities for air travel and domestic and global freight cargo transfer shipment through the South Suburban Airport is essential for the health and welfare of the people of the State of Illinois and economic development and well-being of the Southland region and the State of Illinois. (b) Airport development has significant regional impacts with regard to economic development, public infrastructure requirements, traffic, noise, and other concerns. (c) The South Suburban Airport will promote development and investment in the State of Illinois and serve as a critical transportation hub in the region. (d) Existing requirements of procurement and financing of airports by the Department impose limitations on the methods by which airports may be developed and operated within the State. (e) Public-private agreements between the State of Illinois and one or more private entities to develop, finance, construct, manage, operate, maintain, or any combination thereof, the South Suburban Airport have the potential of maximizing value and benefit to the People of the State of Illinois and the public at large. (f) Public-private agreements may enable the South Suburban Airport to be developed, financed, constructed, managed, operated, and maintained in an entrepreneurial and business-like manner. (g) In the event that the State of Illinois enters into one or more public-private agreements to develop, finance, construct, manage, operate, or maintain the South Suburban Airport, the private parties to the agreements should be accountable to the People of Illinois through a comprehensive system of oversight, regulation, auditing, and reporting. (h) It is the intent of this Act to use Illinois design professionals, construction companies, and workers to the greatest extent permitted by law by offering them the right to compete for this work. (i) It is the intent of this Act for the Department to collaborate with affected municipalities, counties, citizens, elected officials, interest groups, and other stakeholders to foster economic development around the South Suburban Airport and the region, and to insure that the communities near the South Suburban Airport have an ongoing opportunity to provide input on the development and operation of the South Suburban Airport.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-317, eff. 1-1-24 .)