(815 ILCS 636/37)

Sec. 37. Military personnel in military service; termination of lease.

(a) In this Act:

"Military service" means any full-time training or duty, no matter how described under federal or State law, for which a service member is ordered to report by the President, Governor of a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, or other appropriate military authority.

"Motor vehicle" means any automobile, car minivan, passenger van, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, or other self-propelled vehicle not operated or driven on fixed rails or track.

"Service member" means a resident of Illinois who is a member of any component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state, the District of Columbia, a commonwealth, or a territory of the United States.

(b) Any service member who enters military service for a period of not less than 180 days, or the spouse of that service member, may terminate any motor vehicle lease that meets both of the following requirements:

(1) The lease is entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(2) The lease is executed by or on behalf of the service member who has entered military service.

(c) Termination of the motor vehicle lease shall not be effective until:

(1) the service member who has entered military service, or the service member's spouse, gives the lessor by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice of the intention to terminate the lease together with a copy of the orders calling the service member to military service and of any orders further extending the service member's period of service; and

(2) the motor vehicle subject to the lease is returned to the custody or control of the lessor not later than 15 days after the delivery of the written notice.

(d) Lease amounts unpaid for the period preceding the effective date of the lease's termination shall be paid on a prorated basis. The lessor may not impose an early termination charge, but any taxes, costs of summons, and title or registration fees and any other obligation and liability of the lessee under the terms of the lease, including reasonable charges to the lessee for excess wear, use, and mileage, that are due and unpaid at the time of the lease's termination shall be paid by the lessee.

(e) The lessor shall refund to the lessee lease amounts paid in advance for a period after the effective date of the lease's termination within 30 days after the effective date of the lease's termination.

(f) Upon application by the lessor to a court before the effective date of the lease's termination, relief granted by this Section may be modified as justice and equity require.

(g) A violation of this Section constitutes a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

All proceeds from the collection of any civil penalty imposed under this subsection shall be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.

(Source: P.A. 97-913, eff. 1-1-13.)