HB0657eng 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0657 Engrossed LRB102 10333 RAM 15660 b

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 3-506 and 3-802 and by adding Section 3-699.22 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-506)

Sec. 3-506. Transfer of plates to spouses of military service members. Upon the death of a military service member who has been issued a special plate under Section 3-609.1, 3-620, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-666, 3-667, 3-668, 3-669, 3-676, 3-677, 3-680, 3-681, 3-683, 3-686, 3-688, 3-693, 3-698, 3-699.12, or 3-699.17, or 3-699.22 of this Code, the surviving spouse of that service member may retain the plate so long as that spouse is a resident of Illinois and transfers the registration to his or her name within 180 days of the death of the service member.

For the purposes of this Section, "service member" means any individual who is serving or has served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard or other reserve components of the Armed Forces, and has been issued a special plate listed in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 101-51, eff. 7-12-19.)

(625 ILCS 5/3-699.22 new)

Sec. 3-699.22. Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates.

(a) In addition to any other special license plate, the Secretary, upon receipt of all applicable fees and applications made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, may issue Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates to residents of this State who have been awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. The special Air Force Combat Action Medal plate issued under this Section shall be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division, motorcycles, and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds. Plates issued under this Section shall expire according to the staggered multi-year procedure established by Section 3-414.1.

(b) The design, color, and format of the plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity plates or personalized in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. The plates are not required to designate "Land of Lincoln", as prescribed in subsection (b) of Section 3-412. The Secretary shall approve and prescribe stickers or decals as provided under Section 3-412.

(625 ILCS 5/3-802) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-802)

Sec. 3-802. Reclassifications and upgrades.

(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

"Reclassification" means changing the registration of a vehicle from one plate category to another.

"Upgrade" means increasing the registered weight of a vehicle within the same plate category.

(b) When reclassing the registration of a vehicle from one plate category to another, the owner shall receive credit for the unused portion of the present plate and be charged the current portion fees for the new plate. In addition, the appropriate replacement plate and replacement sticker fees shall be assessed.

(b-5) Any Beginning with the 2019 registration year, any individual who has a registration issued under either Section 3-405 or 3-405.1 that qualifies for a special license plate under Section 3-609, 3-609.1, 3-620, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-664, 3-666, 3-667, 3-668, 3-669, 3-676, 3-677, 3-680, 3-681, 3-683, 3-686, 3-688, 3-693, 3-698, 3-699.12, or 3-699.17, or 3-699.22 may reclass his or her registration upon acquiring a special license plate listed in this subsection (b-5) without a replacement plate or digital plate fee or registration sticker or digital registration sticker cost.

(b-10) Any Beginning with the 2019 registration year, any individual who has a special license plate issued under Section 3-609, 3-609.1, 3-620, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-664, 3-666, 3-667, 3-668, 3-669, 3-676, 3-677, 3-680, 3-681, 3-683, 3-686, 3-688, 3-693, 3-698, 3-699.12, or 3-699.17, or 3-699.22 may reclass his or her special license plate upon acquiring a new registration under Section 3-405 or 3-405.1 without a replacement plate or digital plate fee or registration sticker or digital registration sticker cost.

(c) When upgrading the weight of a registration within the same plate category, the owner shall pay the difference in current period fees between the 2 two plates. In addition, the appropriate replacement plate and replacement sticker fees shall be assessed. In the event new plates are not required, the corrected registration card fee shall be assessed.

(d) In the event the owner of the vehicle desires to change the registered weight and change the plate category, the owner shall receive credit for the unused portion of the registration fee of the current plate and pay the current portion of the registration fee for the new plate, and in addition, pay the appropriate replacement plate and replacement sticker fees.

(e) Reclassing from one plate category to another plate category can be done only once within any registration period.

(f) No refunds shall be made in any of the circumstances found in subsection (b), subsection (c), or subsection (d); however, when reclassing from a flat weight plate to an apportioned plate, a refund may be issued if the credit amounts to an overpayment.

(g) In the event the registration of a vehicle registered under the mileage tax option is revoked, the owner shall be required to pay the annual registration fee in the new plate category and shall not receive any credit for the mileage plate fees.

(h) Certain special interest plates may be displayed on first division vehicles, second division vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less, and recreational vehicles. Those plates can be transferred within those vehicle groups.

(i) Plates displayed on second division vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less and passenger vehicle plates may be reclassed from one division to the other.

(j) Other than in subsection (i), reclassing from one division to the other division is prohibited. In addition, a reclass from a motor vehicle to a trailer or a trailer to a motor vehicle is prohibited.

(Source: P.A. 100-246, eff. 1-1-18; 100-450, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-51, eff. 7-12-19; 101-395, eff. 8-16-19; revised 9-24-19.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.