HB5125 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 25008 RAM 34264 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5125

Introduced 1/27/2022, by Rep. Amy Grant

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/6-100	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-100
625 ILCS 5/6-109

Amends the Illinois Driver Licensing Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a first-time applicant for a driver's license shall not be required to complete a road test if the Secretary of State is provided verification of the applicant's successful completion of a certified driver's education course offered by a public school, nonpublic school, or private training school.

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 6-100 and 6-109 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/6-100) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-100)

Sec. 6-100. Definitions. For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them:

(a) Application Process. The process of obtaining a driver's license, identification card, or permit. The process begins when a person enters a Secretary of State Driver Services facility and requests a driver's license, identification card or permit.

(b) Conviction. A final adjudication of guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction either after a bench trial, trial by jury, plea of guilty, order of forfeiture, or default.

(c) Identification Card. A document made or issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, the State of Illinois or any other state or political subdivision thereof, or any governmental or quasi-governmental organization that, when completed with information concerning the individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identifying the individual.

(d) Non-compliant driver's license. A driver's license issued in a manner which is not compliant with the REAL ID Act and implementing regulations. Non-compliant driver's licenses shall be marked "Not for Federal Identification" and shall have a color or design different from the REAL ID compliant driver's license.

(e) REAL ID compliant driver's license. A driver's license issued in compliance with the REAL ID Act and implementing regulations. REAL ID compliant driver's licenses shall bear a security marking approved by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

(f) Limited Term REAL ID compliant driver's license. A REAL ID compliant driver's license issued to a person who is not a permanent resident or citizen of the United States, and marked "Limited Term" on the face of the license.

(g) Road test. An in-person examination involving an actual demonstration of a driver's license applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor vehicle.

(Source: P.A. 100-248, eff. 8-22-17.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-109)

Sec. 6-109. Examination of applicants.

(a) The Secretary of State shall examine every applicant for a driver's license or permit who has not been previously licensed as a driver under the laws of this State or any other state or country, or any applicant for renewal of such driver's license or permit when such license or permit has been expired for more than one year. The Secretary of State shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (c), examine every licensed driver at least every 8 years, and may examine or re-examine any other applicant or licensed driver, provided that during the years 1984 through 1991 those drivers issued a license for 3 years may be re-examined not less than every 7 years or more than every 10 years.

The Secretary of State shall require the testing of the eyesight of any driver's license or permit applicant who has not been previously licensed as a driver under the laws of this State and shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide for the orderly administration of all the provisions of this Section.

The Secretary of State shall include at least one test question that concerns the provisions of the Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act in the question pool used for the written portion of the driver's license examination within one year after July 22, 2010 (the effective date of Public Act 96-1167).

The Secretary of State shall include, in the question pool used for the written portion of the driver's license examination, test questions concerning safe driving in the presence of bicycles, of which one may be concerning the Dutch Reach method as described in Section 2-112.

The Secretary of State shall include, in the question pool used for the written portion of the driver's license examination, at least one test question concerning driver responsibilities when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle as described in Section 11-907.

(b) Except as provided for those applicants in paragraph (c), such examination shall include a test of the applicant's eyesight, his or her ability to read and understand official traffic control devices, his or her knowledge of safe driving practices and the traffic laws of this State, and may include a road test involving an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor vehicle, and such further physical and mental examination as the Secretary of State finds necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely on the highways, except the examination of an applicant 75 years of age or older shall include an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor vehicle. An applicant shall not be required to complete a road test if the Secretary of State is provided verification of the applicant's successful completion of a certified driver's education course offered by a public school, nonpublic school, or private training school. All portions of written and verbal examinations under this Section, excepting where the English language appears on facsimiles of road signs, may be given in the Spanish language and, at the discretion of the Secretary of State, in any other language as well as in English upon request of the examinee. Deaf persons who are otherwise qualified are not prohibited from being issued a license, other than a commercial driver's license, under this Code.

(c) Re-examination for those applicants who at the time of renewing their driver's license possess a driving record devoid of any convictions of traffic violations or evidence of committing an offense for which mandatory revocation would be required upon conviction pursuant to Section 6-205 at the time of renewal shall be in a manner prescribed by the Secretary in order to determine an applicant's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, except that every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 75 years of age or older must prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle.

(d) In the event the applicant is not ineligible under the provisions of Section 6-103 to receive a driver's license, the Secretary of State shall make provision for giving an examination, either in the county where the applicant resides or at a place adjacent thereto reasonably convenient to the applicant, within not more than 30 days from the date said application is received.

(e) The Secretary of State may adopt rules regarding the use of foreign language interpreters during the application and examination process.

(Source: P.A. 100-770, eff. 1-1-19; 100-962, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-174, eff. 1-1-20.)