HB 1363 -- MIDWEST INTERSTATE PASSENGER RAIL COMPACT

This bill repeals the Interstate High Speed Intercity Rail
Passenger Network Compact and establishes a Midwest Interstate
Passenger Rail Compact with the states of Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  The purpose of the compact is to
promote, develop, and implement plans and improvements for
passenger rail services in the Midwest.

A commission will be set up consisting of 4 members from each
state to carry out duties given it by the compact.  The
commission will meet and elect officers yearly.  The bill spells
out the process for appointment of commission members, how a
state withdraws from the compact, the financing of the general
operation of the commission, and the commission's duties.

HB 1363 -- MIDWEST INTERSTATE PASSENGER RAIL COMPACT (Bray)

This bill repeals the Interstate High Speed Intercity Rail
Passenger Network Compact and establishes a Midwest Interstate
Passenger Rail Compact with the states of Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  The purpose of the compact is to
promote, develop, and implement plans and improvements for
passenger rail services in the Midwest.

A commission will be set up consisting of 4 members from each
state that will carry out the duties of the compact.  The
commission will meet and elect officers yearly.  The bill spells
out the process for appointment of commission members, how a
state withdraws from the compact, the financing of the general
operation of the commission, and the commission's duties.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 1363 -- MIDWEST REGIONAL RAIL INITIATIVE COMPACT

SPONSOR:  Bray

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Transportation by a vote of 22 to 1.

This bill repeals the Interstate High Speed Intercity Rail
Passenger Network Compact and establishes a Midwest Interstate
Passenger Rail Compact with the states of Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  The purpose of the compact is to
promote, develop, and implement plans and improvements for
passenger rail services in the Midwest.

A commission will be set up consisting of 4 members from each
state that will carry out the duties of the compact.  The
commission will meet and elect officers yearly.  The bill spells
out the process for appointment of commission members, how a
state withdraws from the compact, the financing of the general
operation of the commission, and the commission's duties.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the rail compact is a
cooperative and collaborative effort which will be very
important for the preservation, improvement, and future
development of passenger rail systems in Missouri and the
Midwest.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Bray; Lee Kling,
Chair, Highways and Transportation Commission; Citizens for
Modern Transit; Reform Organization of Welfare; Bi-State
Development Agency; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; United
Transportation Union; Missouri Coalition for the Environment;
and Department of Transportation.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

HB 1363 -- Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact

Sponsor:  Bray

This bill repeals the Interstate High Speed Intercity Rail
Passenger Network Compact and establishes a Midwest Interstate
Passenger Rail Compact with the states of Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  The purpose of the compact is to
promote, develop, and implement plans and improvements for
passenger rail services in the Midwest.

A commission will be set up consisting of 4 members from each
state that will carry out the duties of the compact.  The
commission will meet and elect officers yearly.  The bill spells
out the process for appointment of commission members, how a
state withdraws from the compact, the financing of the general
operation of the commission, and the commission's duties.