Establishing the quad cities regional metropolitan authority and including effective date provisions

Members of the board shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses and shall be compensated as provided in substantially similar laws of Iowa and Illinois. The board shall annually elect officers and may hire employees. The authority has the power to sue and be sued, to own and operate facilities and property within the territory of the authority, to charge fees for the use of authority facilities, to accept and receive property and services, to disburse funds for its lawful activities, to enter into agreements with political entities, to pledge or mortgage its property, to perform other necessary and incidental functions, to exercise other powers conferred by substantially identical laws of Iowa and Illinois, and to impose taxes approved by a referendum of voters in the territory of the authority. Political subdivisions of Iowa and Illinois shall not impose taxes to fund the authority except as provided in substantially identical laws of Iowa and Illinois. Iowa and Illinois may enact substantially identical laws to enforce the ordinances of the authority. The authority may be dissolved by a political subdivision of Illinois or Iowa as provided by law of Illinois or Iowa, respectively. The compact requires the attorneys general of each state to seek the consent of Congress to enter into the compact. DIVISION II —— QUAD CITIES REGIONAL METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY. Division II of the bill enacts enabling laws for the functioning of the authority. The purpose of the authority is to engage in strategic investments that can best be conducted for an areawide growth plan. The bill provides that four residents of Scott county shall be appointed to the board of commissioners governing the authority. Two shall reside in Davenport and shall be appointed by the mayor of Davenport with the advice and consent of the city council. One member shall reside in Bettendorf and shall be appointed by the mayor of Bettendorf with the advice and consent of the city council. One member shall reside in Scott county but not in Davenport or Bettendorf and shall be appointed by the county chairperson with the advice and consent of the board of supervisors. The board shall be gender balanced if possible and appointing authorities shall provide for representation of racial minorities. Initial commissioners shall be made within days of establishment of the authority and shall serve for terms of two or four years. Thereafter, all commissioners shall serve terms of four years. Members shall not serve more than eight consecutive years on the board and may serve on the board again after two years off the board. A city council or county board of supervisors may vote to remove a board member appointed with the advice and consent of the city council or county board of supervisors. The board shall annually elect a chairperson, and the position of chairperson shall alternate annually between a resident of Rock Island county and a resident of Scott county. Meetings of the board shall be public meetings and records of the board shall be public records. The bill expands the powers granted to the authority by the compact, including by allowing the authority to contract for police and fire protections, regulate traffic, establish ordinances, and establish a general and other necessary funds. Ordinances imposed by the authority shall not impose fines of more than $100. Actions of the board of a legislative character shall be in the form of an ordinance, and other actions shall be by resolution, motion, or other appropriate form. An officer or employee of the board authorized to conduct financial business on behalf of the board shall furnish a surety bond. The authority may be dissolved by a unanimous vote of the board, which shall provide for the disposition of any remaining property and obligations of the authority. The board may change the name of the authority by ordinance. The board shall annually prepare and adopt a budget for the authority. Contracts awarded by the authority shall comply with the applicable laws of Illinois and Iowa. The authority may impose a local occupation or use tax if it secures a majority vote in both Rock Island county and Scott county. Such a tax shall be administered by the departments of revenue of both Illinois and Iowa. Jurisdictions within Scott county and Rock Island county are not incorporated into the authority. However, such a jurisdiction may negotiate with the authority to transfer the jurisdiction’s powers, income, debts, and facilities to the authority, or to transfer only facilities under the jurisdiction’s control to the authority. The authority may apply for and receive grants and loans from other governmental entities. Moneys of the authority shall be kept in a separate fund in any federally insured bank or trust company. Moneys of the authority are exempt from taxation. The provisions of Division II are subordinate to the provision of the quad cities regional metropolitan authority compact. The bill may cause a state agency or political subdivision to offer for sale to the public a service or product that competes with private enterprise. DIVISION III —— CONFORMING CHANGES.15 regarding the creation of and participation in port authorities. DIVISION IV —— EFFECTIVE DATE. The bill becomes effective upon enactment.