HB4316 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 18033 LNS 33221 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4316

Introduced , by Rep. Brad Halbrook

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/3-609	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-609
625 ILCS 5/3-623	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-623
625 ILCS 5/3-808.1	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-808.1

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2020 registration year, the Secretary of State shall issue one set of permanent vehicle registration plates to an applicant with a permanent disability who is eligible to receive special license plates for veterans with disabilities or an applicant who is eligible to receive Purple Heart special license plates. Provides that any additional plates issued to a person eligible to receive the special license plates shall be subject to applicable registration and renewal fees.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 3-609, 3-623, and 3-808.1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-609) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-609)

Sec. 3-609. Plates for veterans with disabilities.

(a) Any veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who has obtained certification from a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse that the service-connected disability qualifies the veteran for issuance of registration plates or decals to a person with disabilities in accordance with Section 3-616, may, without the payment of any registration fee, make application to the Secretary of State for license plates for veterans with disabilities displaying the international symbol of access, for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds.

(b) Any veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and whose degree of disability has been declared to be 50% or more, but whose disability does not qualify the veteran for a plate or decal for persons with disabilities under Section 3-616, may, without the payment of any registration fee, make application to the Secretary for a special registration plate without the international symbol of access for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds.

(c) Renewal of such registration must be accompanied with documentation for eligibility of registration without fee unless the applicant has a permanent qualifying disability, and such registration plates may not be issued to any person not eligible therefor. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs may assist in providing the documentation of disability.

(d) The design and color of the plates shall be within the discretion of the Secretary, except that the plates issued under subsection (b) of this Section shall not contain the international symbol of access. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. Except as provided in subsection (f), registration Registration shall be for a multi-year period and may be issued staggered registration.

(e) Any person eligible to receive license plates under this Section who has been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, or who has claimed and received a grant under that Act, shall pay a fee of $24 instead of the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates issued under Section 3-414.1, for motor vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(a), or for recreational vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(b), for a second set of plates under this Section.

(f) Beginning with the 2020 registration year, the Secretary shall issue an applicant who has a permanent disability one set of permanent vehicle registration plates under Section 3-808.1 of this Code. Except as provided in subsection (e), an applicant for a second set of plates shall pay the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates issued under Section 3-414.1, for motor vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under subsection (a) of Section 3-815, or for recreational vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under subsection (b) of Section 3-815.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)

(625 ILCS 5/3-623) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-623)

Sec. 3-623. Purple Heart Plates.

(a) The Secretary, upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, may issue to recipients awarded the Purple Heart by a branch of the armed forces of the United States who reside in Illinois, special registration plates. The Secretary, upon receipt of the proper application, may also issue these special registration plates to an Illinois resident who is the surviving spouse of a person who was awarded the Purple Heart by a branch of the armed forces of the United States. The special plates issued pursuant to this Section should be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the 1st division, including motorcycles, or motor vehicles of the 2nd division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. The Secretary of State must make a version of the special registration plates authorized under this Section in a form appropriate for motorcycles.

(b) The design and color of such plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. Appropriate documentation, as determined by the Secretary, and the appropriate registration fee shall accompany the application, except:

(1) a person eligible to be issued Purple Heart plates, other than a person issued a set of permanent plates under subsection (c), may display the plates on one vehicle without the payment of any registration or registration renewal fee; and

(2) for an individual who has been issued Purple Heart plates for an additional vehicle and who has been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, the annual fee for the registration of the vehicle shall be as provided in Section 3-806.3 of this Code.

(c) Beginning with the 2020 registration year, the Secretary shall issue an applicant who is eligible for a Purple Heart special license plate one set of permanent vehicle registration plates under Section 3-808.1 of this Code. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subsection (b), an applicant for a second set of plates shall pay the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates issued under Section 3-414.1, for motor vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under subsection (a) of Section 3-815, or for recreational vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under subsection (b) of Section 3-815.

(Source: P.A. 98-902, eff. 1-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(625 ILCS 5/3-808.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-808.1)

Sec. 3-808.1. Permanent vehicle registration plates.

(a) Permanent vehicle registration plates shall be issued, at no charge, to the following:

1. Vehicles, other than medical transport vehicles, owned and operated by the State of Illinois or by any State agency financed by funds appropriated by the General Assembly. ;

2. Special disability plates issued to vehicles owned and operated by the State of Illinois or by any State agency financed by funds appropriated by the General Assembly.

3. Beginning with the 2020 registration year, a special plate issued under Section 3-609 or 3-623 of this Code as provided under the applicable Section.

(b) Permanent vehicle registration plates shall be issued, for a one time fee of $8.00, to the following:

1. Vehicles, other than medical transport vehicles, operated by or for any county, township or municipal corporation.

2. Vehicles owned by counties, townships or municipal corporations for persons with disabilities.

3. Beginning with the 1991 registration year, county-owned vehicles operated by or for any county sheriff and designated deputy sheriffs. These registration plates shall contain the specific county code and unit number.

4. All-terrain vehicles owned by counties, townships, or municipal corporations and used for law enforcement purposes when the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin is accompanied with a letter from the original manufacturer or a manufacturer's franchised dealer stating that this all-terrain vehicle has been converted to a street worthy vehicle that meets the equipment requirements set forth in Chapter 12 of this Code.

5. Beginning with the 2001 registration year, municipally-owned vehicles operated by or for any police department. These registration plates shall contain the designation "municipal police" and shall be numbered and distributed as prescribed by the Secretary of State.

6. Beginning with the 2014 registration year, municipally owned, fire district owned, or Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) owned vehicles operated by or for any fire department, fire protection district, or MABAS. These registration plates shall display the designation "Fire Department" and shall display the specific fire department, fire district, fire unit, or MABAS division number or letter.

7. Beginning with the 2017 registration year, vehicles that do not require a school bus driver permit under Section 6-104 to operate, and are owned by a public school district from grades K-12 or a public community college.

8. Beginning with the 2017 registration year, vehicles of the first division or vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds that are owned by a medical facility or hospital of a municipality, county, or township.

(b-5) Beginning with the 2016 registration year, permanent vehicle registration plates shall be issued for a one-time fee of $8.00 to a county, township, or municipal corporation that owns or operates vehicles used for the purpose of community workplace commuting as defined by the Secretary of State by administrative rule. The design and color of the plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary. The Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement this subsection (b-5).

(c) Beginning with the 2012 registration year, county-owned vehicles operated by or for any county sheriff and designated deputy sheriffs that have been issued registration plates under subsection (b) of this Section shall be exempt from any fee for the transfer of registration from one vehicle to another vehicle. Each county sheriff shall report to the Secretary of State any transfer of registration plates from one vehicle to another vehicle operated by or for any county sheriff and designated deputy sheriffs. The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to implement this subsection (c).

(c-5) Beginning with the 2014 registration year, municipally owned, fire district owned, or Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) owned vehicles operated by or for any fire department, fire protection district, or MABAS that have been issued registration plates under subsection (b) of this Section shall be exempt from any fee for the transfer of registration from one vehicle to another vehicle. Each fire department, fire protection district, of MABAS shall report to the Secretary of State any transfer of registration plates from one vehicle to another vehicle operated by or for any fire department, fire protection district, or MABAS. The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.

(d) Beginning with the 2013 registration year, municipally-owned vehicles operated by or for any police department that have been issued registration plates under subsection (b) of this Section shall be exempt from any fee for the transfer of registration from one vehicle to another vehicle. Each municipal police department shall report to the Secretary of State any transfer of registration plates from one vehicle to another vehicle operated by or for any municipal police department. The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to implement this subsection (d).

(e) Beginning with the 2016 registration year, any vehicle owned or operated by a county, township, or municipal corporation that has been issued registration plates under this Section is exempt from any fee for the transfer of registration from one vehicle to another vehicle. Each county, township, or municipal corporation shall report to the Secretary of State any transfer of registration plates from one vehicle to another vehicle operated by or for any county, township, or municipal corporation.

(Source: P.A. 98-436, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1074, eff. 1-1-15; 99-166, eff. 7-28-15; 99-707, eff. 7-29-16.)