Opinion ID: 2527261
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: analysis

Text: ¶ 19 In this appeal we are asked to decide whether the FY2004 and FY2005 BIMPs were unconstitutional to the extent that they authorized the sweep of funds out of the Cycle Riders Safety Training Fund and into the General Revenue Fund. In order to decide this issue, we must construe section 6 of the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act and decide whether, as plaintiffs contend, the Eighty-seventh General Assembly took away the authority of all future legislatures to transfer funds out of the CRSTF when it amended section 6, making the CRSTF a trust fund outside of the State treasury. ¶ 20 At the outset, we note that neither plaintiffs, nor defendants, have directed our attention to any Illinois case law which has interpreted the meaning of legislation which designates a special fund as a trust fund outside of the State treasury. Also, our own research has been unsuccessful in uncovering any Illinois case law which sheds any light on the issue before us. Thus, the issue is one of first impression for this court.