093_HB1375 LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 AN ACT in relation to victims of stalking and domestic 2 violence. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 6 Victims of Stalking and Domestic Violence Address 7 Confidentiality Act. 8 Section 5. Purposes. The General Assembly finds that 9 persons attempting to escape from actual or threatened 10 domestic violence or stalking frequently establish new names 11 or addresses in order to prevent their assailants or probable 12 assailants from finding them. The purpose of this Act is to 13 enable State and local agencies to respond to requests for 14 public records without disclosing the changed name or 15 location of a victim of domestic violence or stalking, to 16 enable interagency cooperation with the Attorney General in 17 providing name and address confidentiality for victims of 18 domestic violence or stalking, and to enable State and local 19 agencies to accept a program participant's use of an address 20 designated by the Attorney General as a substitute mailing 21 address. 22 Section 10. Definitions. Unless the context clearly 23 requires otherwise, the definitions in this Section apply 24 throughout this Act: 25 "Address" means a residential street address, school 26 address, or work address of an individual, as specified on 27 the individual's application to be a program participant 28 under this Act. 29 "Adult person" means a person 18 years of age or older. 30 "Domestic violence" means an act as defined in Section -2- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. 2 "Stalking" means an act as defined in Section 12-7.3 or 3 12-7.4 of the Criminal Code of 1961. 4 "Program participant" means a person certified as a 5 program participant under Section 15. 6 Section 15. Program participants. 7 (a) An adult person, a parent or guardian acting on 8 behalf of a minor, or a guardian acting on behalf of an 9 incapacitated person may apply to the Attorney General to 10 have an address designated by the Attorney General serve as 11 the person's address or the address of the minor or 12 incapacitated person. An application shall be completed in 13 person at a community-based victims' assistance program. 14 The application process shall include a requirement that 15 the applicant shall meet with a victims' assistance counselor 16 and receive orientation information about the program. The 17 Attorney General shall approve an application if it is filed 18 in the manner and on the form prescribed by the Attorney 19 General and if it contains all of the following: 20 (1) A sworn statement by the applicant that the 21 applicant has good reason to believe both of the 22 following: 23 (A) That the applicant, or the minor or 24 incapacitated person on whose behalf the application 25 is made, is a victim of domestic violence or 26 stalking. 27 (B) That the applicant fears for his or her 28 safety or his or her children's safety, or the 29 safety of the minor or incapacitated person on whose 30 behalf the application is made. 31 (2) If the applicant alleges that the basis for the 32 application is that the applicant, or the minor or 33 incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is -3- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 made, is a victim of domestic violence, the application 2 may be accompanied by evidence including, but not limited 3 to, any of the following: 4 (A) Police, court, or other government agency 5 records or files. 6 (B) Documentation from a domestic violence 7 program if the person is alleged to be a victim of 8 domestic violence. 9 (C) Documentation from a legal, clerical, 10 medical, or other professional from whom the 11 applicant or person on whose behalf the application 12 is made has sought assistance in dealing with the 13 alleged domestic violence. 14 (D) Any other evidence that supports the sworn 15 statement, such as a statement from any other 16 individual with knowledge of the circumstances that 17 provides the basis for the claim, or physical 18 evidence of the act or acts of domestic violence. 19 (3) If the applicant alleges that the basis for the 20 application is that the applicant, or the minor or 21 incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is 22 made, is a victim of stalking, the application shall be 23 accompanied by evidence including, but not limited to, 24 any of the following: 25 (A) Police, court, or other government agency 26 records or files. 27 (B) Legal, clerical, medical, or other 28 professionals from whom the applicant or person on 29 whose behalf the application is made has sought 30 assistance in dealing with the alleged stalking. 31 (C) Any other evidence that supports the sworn 32 statement, such as a sworn statement from any other 33 individual with knowledge of the circumstances that 34 provide the basis for the claim, or physical -4- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 evidence of the act or acts of stalking. 2 (4) A statement of whether there are any existing 3 court orders involving the applicant for child support, 4 child custody, or child visitation, and whether there are 5 any active court actions involving the applicant for 6 child support, child custody, or child visitation, the 7 name and address of legal counsel of record, and the last 8 known address of the other parent or parents involved in 9 those court orders or court actions. 10 (5) A designation of the Attorney General as agent 11 for purposes of service of process and for the purpose of 12 receipt of mail. 13 (A) Service on the Attorney General of any 14 summons, writ, notice, demand, or process shall be 15 made by delivering to the address confidentiality 16 program personnel of the Office of the Attorney 17 General 2 copies of the summons, writ, notice, 18 demand, or process. 19 (B) If a summons, writ, notice, demand, or 20 process is served on the Attorney General, the 21 Attorney General shall immediately cause a copy to 22 be forwarded to the program participant at the 23 address shown on the records of the address 24 confidentiality program so that the summons, writ, 25 notice, demand, or process is received by the 26 program participant within 3 days of the Attorney 27 General's having received it. 28 (C) The Attorney General shall keep a record 29 of all summonses, writs, notices, demands, and 30 processes served upon the Attorney General under 31 this Section and shall record the time of that 32 service and the Attorney General's action. 33 (D) The office of the Attorney General and any 34 agent or person employed by the Attorney General -5- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 shall be held harmless from any liability in any 2 action brought by any person injured or harmed as a 3 result of the handling of first-class mail on behalf 4 of program participants. 5 (6) The mailing address where the applicant can be 6 contacted by the Attorney General, and the phone number 7 or numbers where the applicant can be called by the 8 Attorney General. 9 (7) The address or addresses that the applicant 10 requests not be disclosed for the reason that disclosure 11 will increase the risk of domestic violence or stalking. 12 (8) The signature of the applicant and of any 13 individual or representative of any office designated in 14 writing under Section 50 who assisted in the preparation 15 of the application, and the date on which the applicant 16 signed the application. 17 (b) Applications shall be filed with the office of the 18 Attorney General. 19 (c) Upon filing a properly completed application, the 20 Attorney General shall certify the applicant as a program 21 participant. Applicants shall be certified for 4 years 22 following the date of filing unless the certification is 23 withdrawn or invalidated before that date. The Attorney 24 General shall by rule establish a renewal procedure. 25 (d) Upon certification, in any case where there are 26 court orders or court actions identified in paragraph (4) of 27 subsection (a) of this Section and there is no other or 28 superseding court order dictating the specific terms of 29 communication between the parties, the Attorney General 30 shall, within 10 days, notify the other parent or parents of 31 the address designated by the Attorney General for the 32 program participant and the designation of the Attorney 33 General as agent for purposes of service of process. The 34 notice shall be given by mail, return receipt requested, -6- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 postage prepaid, to the last known address of the other 2 parent to be notified. A copy shall also be sent to that 3 parent's counsel of record. 4 (e) A person who falsely attests in an application that 5 disclosure of the applicant's address would endanger the 6 applicant's safety or the safety of the applicant's children 7 or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the 8 application is made, or who knowingly provides false or 9 incorrect information upon making an application, is guilty 10 of a Class A misdemeanor. A notice shall be printed in bold 11 type and in a conspicuous location on the face of the 12 application informing the applicant of the penalties under 13 this subsection (e). 14 Section 20. Name changes of program participants; 15 confidential. The Attorney General shall keep confidential 16 name changes of program participants obtained pursuant to 17 subsection (b) of Section 21-102 of the Code of Civil 18 Procedure. The Attorney General shall have the same 19 responsibilities and obligations to program participants who 20 have obtained a name change as to any other program 21 participant under this Act. 22 Section 25. Canceling program participant's 23 certification. 24 (a) The Attorney General may cancel a program 25 participant's certification if there is a change in the 26 residential address from the one listed on the application, 27 unless the program participant provides the Attorney General 28 with at least 7 days' prior notice of the change of address. 29 (b) The Attorney General may cancel a program 30 participant's certification if the program participant 31 changes his or her name from the one listed in the 32 application and fails to notify the Attorney General of the -7- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 name change within 7 days of the change. 2 (c) The Attorney General may cancel certification of a 3 program participant if mail forwarded by the Attorney General 4 to the program participant's address is returned as 5 nondeliverable. 6 (d) The Attorney General shall cancel certification of a 7 program participant who applies using false information. 8 (e) Any records or documents pertaining to a program 9 participant shall be retained and held confidential for a 10 period of 3 years after termination of certification and then 11 destroyed. 12 Section 30. Withdrawal from program participation. 13 (a) A program participant may withdraw from program 14 participation by submitting to the address confidentiality 15 program manager written notification of withdrawal and his or 16 her current identification card. Certification shall be 17 terminated on the date of receipt of this notification. 18 (b) The address confidentiality program manager may 19 terminate a program participant's certification and 20 invalidate his or her authorization card for any of the 21 following reasons: 22 (1) The program participant's certification term 23 has expired and certification renewal has not been 24 completed. 25 (2) The address confidentiality program manager has 26 determined that false information was used in the 27 application process or that participation in the program 28 is being used as a subterfuge to avoid detection of 29 illegal or criminal activity or apprehension by law 30 enforcement. 31 (3) The program participant no longer resides at 32 the residential address listed on the application, and 33 has not provided at least 7 days' prior notice in writing -8- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 of a change in address. 2 (4) A service of process document or mail forwarded 3 to the program participant by the address 4 confidentiality program manager is returned as 5 nondeliverable. 6 (5) The program participant obtains a legal name 7 change and fails to notify the Attorney General within 7 8 days. 9 (c) If termination is a result of paragraph (1), (3), 10 (4), or (5) of subsection (b), the address confidentiality 11 program manager shall send written notification of the 12 intended termination to the program participant. The program 13 participant shall have 5 business days in which to appeal the 14 termination under procedures developed by the Attorney 15 General. 16 (d) The address confidentiality program manager shall 17 notify in writing the county clerk or board of election 18 commissioners and authorized personnel of the appropriate 19 county clerk's or board of election commissioners' office, 20 county recorder's office, and the local department of public 21 health of the program participant's certification withdrawal, 22 invalidation, expiration, or termination. 23 (e) Upon receipt of this termination notification, 24 authorized personnel shall transmit to the address 25 confidentiality program manager all appropriate 26 administrative records pertaining to the program participant 27 and the record transmitting agency shall no longer 28 responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of a 29 terminated program participant's record. 30 (f) Following termination of program participant 31 certification as a result of subsection (b), the address 32 confidentiality program manager may disclose information 33 contained in the participant's application. -9- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 Section 35. Designated address. 2 (a) A program participant may request that State and 3 local agencies use the address designated by the Attorney 4 General as his or her address. When creating a public record, 5 State and local agencies shall accept the address designated 6 by the Attorney General as a program participant's substitute 7 address, unless the Attorney General has determined both of 8 the following: 9 (1) The agency has a bona fide statutory or 10 administrative requirement for the use of the address 11 that would otherwise be confidential under this Act. 12 (2) This address will be used only for those 13 statutory and administrative purposes and may not be 14 publicly disseminated. 15 (b) A program participant may request that State and 16 local agencies use the address designated by the Attorney 17 General as his or her address. When modifying or maintaining 18 a public record, excluding the record of any birth, fetal 19 death, death, or marriage registered under the Vital Records 20 Act, State and local agencies shall accept the address 21 designated by the Attorney General as a program participant's 22 substitute address, unless the Attorney General has 23 determined both of the following: 24 (1) The agency has a bona fide statutory or 25 administrative requirement for the use of the address 26 that would otherwise be confidential under this Act. 27 (2) This address will be used only for those 28 statutory and administrative purposes and may not be 29 publicly disseminated. 30 (c) A program participant may use the address designated 31 by the Attorney General as his or her work address. 32 (d) The office of the Attorney General shall forward all 33 first-class mail and all mail sent by a governmental agency 34 to the appropriate program participants. The office of the -10- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 Attorney General shall not handle or forward packages 2 regardless of size or type of mailing. 3 (e) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), program 4 participants shall comply with the provisions specified in 5 Section 6-117.5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code if requesting 6 suppression of the records maintained by the Secretary of 7 State under the Illinois Vehicle Code. Program participants 8 shall also comply with all other provisions of the Illinois 9 Vehicle Code relating to providing current address 10 information to the Secretary of State. 11 Section 40. Confidential voting. A program participant 12 who is otherwise qualified to vote may seek to register and 13 vote in a confidential manner under Section 4-34, 5-44, or 14 6-81 of the Election Code. 15 Section 45. Confidential records. The Attorney General 16 may not make a program participant's address, other than the 17 address designated by the Attorney General, or a program 18 participant's name change available for inspection or 19 copying, except under any of the following circumstances: 20 (a) If requested by a law enforcement agency, to the law 21 enforcement agency. 22 (b) If directed by a court order, to a person identified 23 in the order. 24 (c) If certification has been canceled. 25 Section 50. Assistance from other agencies. The Attorney 26 General shall designate State and local agencies and 27 nonprofit agencies that provide counseling and shelter 28 services to victims of domestic violence or stalking to 29 assist persons applying to be program participants. Any 30 assistance and counseling rendered by the office of the 31 Attorney General or its designees to applicants shall in no -11- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 way be construed as legal advice. 2 Section 55. Rules. The Attorney General may adopt rules 3 to facilitate the administration of this Act by State and 4 local agencies. 5 Section 60. Custody or visitation orders not affected. 6 (a) Nothing in this Act, nor participation in this 7 program, affects custody or visitation orders in effect prior 8 to or during program participation. A program participant who 9 falsifies his or her location in order to unlawfully avoid 10 custody or visitation orders is subject to immediate 11 termination from the program and is guilty of a Class A 12 misdemeanor. 13 (b) Participation in the program does not constitute 14 evidence of domestic violence or stalking for purposes of 15 making custody or visitation orders. 16 Section 65. Report to the General Assembly. 17 (a) The Attorney General shall submit to the General 18 Assembly, no later than January 10 of each year, a report 19 that includes the total number of applications received for 20 the program established by this Act. The report shall 21 disclose the number of program participants within each 22 county and shall also describe any allegations of misuse 23 relating to election purposes. 24 (b) The Attorney General shall commence accepting 25 applications and other activities under this program on July 26 1, 2004. 27 (c) The Attorney General shall submit a report to the 28 General Assembly by January 1, 2010 that includes the total 29 number of pieces of mail forwarded to program participants, 30 the number of program participants during the program's 31 duration, the number of program participants who obtained a -12- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 confidential name change under subsection (b) of Section 2 21-102 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the average length of 3 time a participant remains in the program, and the targeted 4 Act changes needed to improve the program's efficiency and 5 cost-effectiveness. 6 Section 70. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, 7 2014. 8 Section 105. The Election Code is amended by adding 9 Sections 4-34, 5-44, and 6-81 as follows: 10 (10 ILCS 5/4-34 new) 11 Sec. 4-34. Confidential registration. 12 (a) Any person filing with the county clerk a new 13 affidavit of registration or re-registration may have the 14 information relating to his or her residence address 15 appearing on the affidavit of registration, or any registrant 16 list or roster or index prepared from that list, declared 17 confidential upon presentation of certification that the 18 person is a participant in the Address Confidentiality for 19 Victims of Domestic Violence and Stalking program under the 20 Victims of Stalking and Domestic Violence Address 21 Confidentiality Act. 22 (b) Any person granted confidentiality under subsection 23 (a) shall: 24 (1) Be considered an absent voter for all 25 subsequent elections or until the county clerk is 26 notified otherwise by the Attorney General or in writing 27 by the voter. A voter requesting termination of absent 28 voter status under this paragraph (1) consents to 29 placement of his or her residence address on the 30 registration record card or computer-based voter 31 registration file. -13- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 (2) In addition to the required residence address, 2 provide a valid mailing address to be used in place of 3 the residence address for election purposes. The county 4 clerk, in producing any list, roster, or index may, at 5 his or her choice, use the valid mailing address or the 6 word "confidential" or some similar designation in place 7 of the residence address. 8 (c) No action in negligence may be maintained against 9 any government entity or officer or employee of a government 10 entity as a result of disclosure of the information that is 11 the subject of this Section unless by a showing of gross 12 negligence or willfulness. 13 (d) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to any person 14 granted confidentiality upon receipt by the county clerk of a 15 written notice by the address confidentiality program manager 16 of the withdrawal, invalidation, expiration, or termination 17 of the program participant's certification. 18 (e) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2014. 19 (10 ILCS 5/5-44 new) 20 Sec. 5-44. Confidential registration. 21 (a) Any person filing with the county clerk a new 22 affidavit of registration or re-registration may have the 23 information relating to his or her residence address 24 appearing on the affidavit of registration, or any registrant 25 list or roster or index prepared from that list, declared 26 confidential upon presentation of certification that the 27 person is a participant in the Address Confidentiality for 28 Victims of Domestic Violence and Stalking program under the 29 Victims of Stalking and Domestic Violence Address 30 Confidentiality Act. 31 (b) Any person granted confidentiality under subsection 32 (a) shall: 33 (1) Be considered an absent voter for all subsequent -14- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 elections or until the county clerk is notified otherwise 2 by the Attorney General or in writing by the voter. A 3 voter requesting termination of absent voter status under 4 this paragraph (1) consents to placement of his or her 5 residence address on the registration record card or 6 computer-based voter registration file. 7 (2) In addition to the required residence address, 8 provide a valid mailing address to be used in place of 9 the residence address for election purposes. 10 The county clerk, in producing any list, roster, or index 11 may, at his or her choice, use the valid mailing address or 12 the word "confidential" or some similar designation in place 13 of the residence address. 14 (c) No action in negligence may be maintained against 15 any government entity or officer or employee of a government 16 entity as a result of disclosure of the information that is 17 the subject of this Section unless by a showing of gross 18 negligence or willfulness. 19 (d) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to any person 20 granted confidentiality upon receipt by the county clerk of a 21 written notice by the address confidentiality program manager 22 of the withdrawal, invalidation, expiration, or termination 23 of the program participant's certification. 24 (e) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2014. 25 (10 ILCS 5/6-81 new) 26 Sec. 6-81. Confidential registration. 27 (a) Any person filing with the Board of election 28 Commissioners a new affidavit of registration or 29 re-registration may have the information relating to his or 30 her residence address appearing on the affidavit of 31 registration, or any registrant list or roster or index 32 prepared from that list, declared confidential upon 33 presentation of certification that the person is a -15- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 participant in the Address Confidentiality for Victims of 2 Domestic Violence and Stalking program under the Victims of 3 Stalking and Domestic Violence Address Confidentiality Act. 4 (b) Any person granted confidentiality under subsection 5 (a) shall: 6 (1) Be considered an absent voter for all 7 subsequent elections or until the Board of Election 8 Commissioners is notified otherwise by the Attorney 9 General or in writing by the voter. A voter requesting 10 termination of absent voter status under this paragraph 11 (1) consents to placement of his or her residence address 12 on the registration record card or computer-based voter 13 registration file. 14 (2) In addition to the required residence address, 15 provide a valid mailing address to be used in place of 16 the residence address for election purposes. The Board of 17 Election Commisssioners, in producing any list, roster, 18 or index may, at his or her choice, use the valid mailing 19 address or the word "confidential" or some similar 20 designation in place of the residence address. 21 (c) No action in negligence may be maintained against 22 any government entity or officer or employee of a government 23 entity as a result of disclosure of the information that is 24 the subject of this Section unless by a showing of gross 25 negligence or willfulness. 26 (d) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to any person 27 granted confidentiality upon receipt by the county clerk of a 28 written notice by the address confidentiality program manager 29 of the withdrawal, invalidation, expiration, or termination 30 of the program participant's certification. 31 (e) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2014. 32 Section 110. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by 33 changing Section 2-123 as follows: -16- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 (625 ILCS 5/2-123) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 2-123) 2 Sec. 2-123. Sale and Distribution of Information. 3 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the 4 Secretary may make the driver's license, vehicle and title 5 registration lists, in part or in whole, and any statistical 6 information derived from these lists available to local 7 governments, elected state officials, state educational 8 institutions, and all other governmental units of the State 9 and Federal Government requesting them for governmental 10 purposes. The Secretary shall require any such applicant for 11 services to pay for the costs of furnishing such services and 12 the use of the equipment involved, and in addition is 13 empowered to establish prices and charges for the services so 14 furnished and for the use of the electronic equipment 15 utilized. 16 (b) The Secretary is further empowered to and he may, in 17 his discretion, furnish to any applicant, other than listed 18 in subsection (a) of this Section, vehicle or driver data on 19 a computer tape, disk, other electronic format or computer 20 processable medium, or printout at a fixed fee of $250 in 21 advance and require in addition a further sufficient deposit 22 based upon the Secretary of State's estimate of the total 23 cost of the information requested and a charge of $25 per 24 1,000 units or part thereof identified or the actual cost, 25 whichever is greater. The Secretary is authorized to refund 26 any difference between the additional deposit and the actual 27 cost of the request. This service shall not be in lieu of an 28 abstract of a driver's record nor of a title or registration 29 search. This service may be limited to entities purchasing a 30 minimum number of records as required by administrative rule. 31 The information sold pursuant to this subsection shall be the 32 entire vehicle or driver data list, or part thereof. The 33 information sold pursuant to this subsection shall not 34 contain personally identifying information unless the -17- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 information is to be used for one of the purposes identified 2 in subsection (f-5) of this Section. Commercial purchasers 3 of driver and vehicle record databases shall enter into a 4 written agreement with the Secretary of State that includes 5 disclosure of the commercial use of the information to be 6 purchased. 7 (c) Secretary of State may issue registration lists. 8 The Secretary of State shall compile and publish, at least 9 annually, a list of all registered vehicles. Each list of 10 registered vehicles shall be arranged serially according to 11 the registration numbers assigned to registered vehicles and 12 shall contain in addition the names and addresses of 13 registered owners and a brief description of each vehicle 14 including the serial or other identifying number thereof. 15 Such compilation may be in such form as in the discretion of 16 the Secretary of State may seem best for the purposes 17 intended. 18 (d) The Secretary of State shall furnish no more than 2 19 current available lists of such registrations to the sheriffs 20 of all counties and to the chiefs of police of all cities and 21 villages and towns of 2,000 population and over in this State 22 at no cost. Additional copies may be purchased by the 23 sheriffs or chiefs of police at the fee of $500 each or at 24 the cost of producing the list as determined by the Secretary 25 of State. Such lists are to be used for governmental 26 purposes only. 27 (e) (Blank). 28 (e-1) (Blank). 29 (f) The Secretary of State shall make a title or 30 registration search of the records of his office and a 31 written report on the same for any person, upon written 32 application of such person, accompanied by a fee of $5 for 33 each registration or title search. The written application 34 shall set forth the intended use of the requested -18- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 information. No fee shall be charged for a title or 2 registration search, or for the certification thereof 3 requested by a government agency. The report of the title or 4 registration search shall not contain personally identifying 5 information unless the request for a search was made for one 6 of the purposes identified in subsection (f-5) of this 7 Section. 8 The Secretary of State shall certify a title or 9 registration record upon written request. The fee for 10 certification shall be $5 in addition to the fee required for 11 a title or registration search. Certification shall be made 12 under the signature of the Secretary of State and shall be 13 authenticated by Seal of the Secretary of State. 14 The Secretary of State may notify the vehicle owner or 15 registrant of the request for purchase of his title or 16 registration information as the Secretary deems appropriate. 17 No information shall be released to the requestor until 18 expiration of a 10 day period. This 10 day period shall not 19 apply to requests for information made by law enforcement 20 officials, government agencies, financial institutions, 21 attorneys, insurers, employers, automobile associated 22 businesses, persons licensed as a private detective or firms 23 licensed as a private detective agency under the Private 24 Detective, Private Alarm, and Private Security Act of 1983, 25 who are employed by or are acting on behalf of law 26 enforcement officials, government agencies, financial 27 institutions, attorneys, insurers, employers, automobile 28 associated businesses, and other business entities for 29 purposes consistent with the Illinois Vehicle Code, the 30 vehicle owner or registrant or other entities as the 31 Secretary may exempt by rule and regulation. 32 Any misrepresentation made by a requestor of title or 33 vehicle information shall be punishable as a petty offense, 34 except in the case of persons licensed as a private detective -19- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 or firms licensed as a private detective agency which shall 2 be subject to disciplinary sanctions under Section 22 or 25 3 of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, and Private Security 4 Act of 1983. 5 (f-5) The Secretary of State shall not disclose or 6 otherwise make available to any person or entity any 7 personally identifying information obtained by the Secretary 8 of State in connection with a driver's license, vehicle, or 9 title registration record unless the information is disclosed 10 for one of the following purposes: 11 (1) For use by any government agency, including any 12 court or law enforcement agency, in carrying out its 13 functions, or any private person or entity acting on 14 behalf of a federal, State, or local agency in carrying 15 out its functions. 16 (2) For use in connection with matters of motor 17 vehicle or driver safety and theft; motor vehicle 18 emissions; motor vehicle product alterations, recalls, or 19 advisories; performance monitoring of motor vehicles, 20 motor vehicle parts, and dealers; and removal of 21 non-owner records from the original owner records of 22 motor vehicle manufacturers. 23 (3) For use in the normal course of business by a 24 legitimate business or its agents, employees, or 25 contractors, but only: 26 (A) to verify the accuracy of personal 27 information submitted by an individual to the 28 business or its agents, employees, or contractors; 29 and 30 (B) if such information as so submitted is not 31 correct or is no longer correct, to obtain the 32 correct information, but only for the purposes of 33 preventing fraud by, pursuing legal remedies 34 against, or recovering on a debt or security -20- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 interest against, the individual. 2 (4) For use in research activities and for use in 3 producing statistical reports, if the personally 4 identifying information is not published, redisclosed, or 5 used to contact individuals. 6 (5) For use in connection with any civil, criminal, 7 administrative, or arbitral proceeding in any federal, 8 State, or local court or agency or before any 9 self-regulatory body, including the service of process, 10 investigation in anticipation of litigation, and the 11 execution or enforcement of judgments and orders, or 12 pursuant to an order of a federal, State, or local court. 13 (6) For use by any insurer or insurance support 14 organization or by a self-insured entity or its agents, 15 employees, or contractors in connection with claims 16 investigation activities, antifraud activities, rating, 17 or underwriting. 18 (7) For use in providing notice to the owners of 19 towed or impounded vehicles. 20 (8) For use by any private investigative agency or 21 security service licensed in Illinois for any purpose 22 permitted under this subsection. 23 (9) For use by an employer or its agent or insurer 24 to obtain or verify information relating to a holder of a 25 commercial driver's license that is required under 26 chapter 313 of title 49 of the United States Code. 27 (10) For use in connection with the operation of 28 private toll transportation facilities. 29 (11) For use by any requester, if the requester 30 demonstrates it has obtained the written consent of the 31 individual to whom the information pertains. 32 (12) For use by members of the news media, as 33 defined in Section 1-148.5, for the purpose of 34 newsgathering when the request relates to the operation -21- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 of a motor vehicle or public safety. 2 (13) For any other use specifically authorized by 3 law, if that use is related to the operation of a motor 4 vehicle or public safety. 5 (f-6) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 6 (f-5), any residence address obtained by the Secretary of 7 State in connection with a driver's license, vehicle, or 8 title registration record is confidential and may not be 9 disclosed to any person, except: 10 (1) A court, law enforcement agency, or other 11 government agency, or as authorized in clauses (2), (3), 12 (4), (5), (6), or (7) of this subsection (f-6). 13 (2) A financial institution licensed by the State 14 or federal government to do business in this State that 15 states under penalty of perjury that it has obtained a 16 written waiver from the confidentiality provisions of 17 this subsection (f-6) signed by the individual whose 18 address is requested, except that the financial 19 institution may provide the address of any person who has 20 entered into an agreement held by that institution prior 21 to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd 22 General Assembly, so long as that agreement remains in 23 effect. 24 (3) An insurance company licensed to do business in 25 this State when the company, under penalty of perjury, 26 requests the information for the purpose of obtaining the 27 address of another motorist or vehicle owner involved in 28 an accident with the company's insured or requests the 29 information on an individual who has signed a written 30 waiver of this subsection (f-6) or the individuals 31 insured under a policy if a named insured of that policy 32 has signed a written waiver. 33 (4) An attorney when the attorney states, under 34 penalty of perjury, that the motor vehicle registered -22- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 owner or driver residential address information is 2 necessary in order to represent his or her client in a 3 criminal or civil action which directly involves the use 4 of the motor vehicle or vessel that is pending, is to be 5 filed, or is being investigated. Information requested 6 under this clause (4) is subject to all of the following: 7 (A) The attorney shall state that the criminal 8 or civil action that is pending, is to be filed, or 9 is being investigated relates directly to the use of 10 that motor vehicle. 11 (B) The case number, if any, or the names of 12 expected parties to the extent they are known to the 13 attorney requesting the information, shall be listed 14 on the request. 15 (C) A residence address obtained from the 16 Secretary of State may not be used for any purpose 17 other than in furtherance of the case cited or 18 action to be filed or which is being investigated. 19 (D) If no action is filed within a reasonable 20 time, the residence address information shall be 21 destroyed. 22 (E) An attorney may not request residence 23 address information under this clause (4) in order 24 to sell the information to any person. 25 (F) Within 10 days of receipt of a request, 26 the Secretary of State shall notify every individual 27 whose residence address has been requested under 28 this clause (4). 29 (5) A vehicle manufacturer licensed to do business in 30 this State if the manufacturer, or its agent, under penalty 31 of perjury, requests and uses the information only for the 32 purpose of safety, warranty, emission, or product recall if 33 the manufacturer offers to make and makes any changes at no 34 cost to the vehicle owner. -23- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 (6) A dealer licensed to do business in this State if 2 the dealer, or its agent, under penalty of perjury, requests 3 and uses the information only for the purpose of completing 4 registration transactions and documents. 5 (7) A person who, under penalty of perjury, requests 6 and uses the information and makes a written assurance to the 7 Secretary of State that the information will be used solely 8 for statistical research or reporting purposes, but only if 9 the information to be disclosed is in a form that will not 10 identify any individual and if the request specifies that no 11 persons will be contacted by mail or otherwise at the address 12 included with the information released. The information 13 released by the Secretary of State under this clause (7) may 14 not be in a form that identifies any person. Residential 15 addresses released under this clause (7) may not be used for 16 direct marketing or solicitation for the purchase of any 17 consumer product or service. 18 (f-7) Any registration or driver's license record of a 19 person may be suppressed from any other person, except those 20 persons specified in subsection (f-6), if the person 21 requesting the suppression submits verification acceptable to 22 the Secretary of State that he or she has reasonable cause to 23 believe either of the following: 24 (1) that he or she is the subject of stalking; and 25 (2) that there exists a threat of death or great 26 bodily injury to his or her person. 27 Upon suppression of a record, each request for 28 information about that record shall be authorized by the 29 subject of the record or verified as legitimate by other 30 investigative means by the Secretary of State before the 31 information is released. 32 (g) 1. The Secretary of State may, upon receipt of a 33 written request and a fee of $6, furnish to the person or 34 agency so requesting a driver's record. Such document -24- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 may include a record of: current driver's license 2 issuance information, except that the information on 3 judicial driving permits shall be available only as 4 otherwise provided by this Code; convictions; orders 5 entered revoking, suspending or cancelling a driver's 6 license or privilege; and notations of accident 7 involvement. All other information, unless otherwise 8 permitted by this Code, shall remain confidential. 9 Information released pursuant to a request for a driver's 10 record shall not contain personally identifying 11 information, unless the request for the driver's record 12 was made for one of the purposes set forth in subsection 13 (f-5) of this Section. 14 2. The Secretary of State may certify an abstract 15 of a driver's record upon written request therefor. 16 Such certification shall be made under the signature of 17 the Secretary of State and shall be authenticated by the 18 Seal of his office. 19 3. All requests for driving record information 20 shall be made in a manner prescribed by the Secretary and 21 shall set forth the intended use of the requested 22 information. 23 The Secretary of State may notify the affected 24 driver of the request for purchase of his driver's record 25 as the Secretary deems appropriate. 26 No information shall be released to the requester 27 until expiration of a 10 day period. This 10 day period 28 shall not apply to requests for information made by law 29 enforcement officials, government agencies, financial 30 institutions, attorneys, insurers, employers, automobile 31 associated businesses, persons licensed as a private 32 detective or firms licensed as a private detective agency 33 under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, and Private 34 Security Act of 1983, who are employed by or are acting -25- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 on behalf of law enforcement officials, government 2 agencies, financial institutions, attorneys, insurers, 3 employers, automobile associated businesses, and other 4 business entities for purposes consistent with the 5 Illinois Vehicle Code, the affected driver or other 6 entities as the Secretary may exempt by rule and 7 regulation. 8 Any misrepresentation made by a requestor of driver 9 information shall be punishable as a petty offense, 10 except in the case of persons licensed as a private 11 detective or firms licensed as a private detective agency 12 which shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions under 13 Section 22 or 25 of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, 14 and Private Security Act of 1983. 15 4. The Secretary of State may furnish without fee, 16 upon the written request of a law enforcement agency, any 17 information from a driver's record on file with the 18 Secretary of State when such information is required in 19 the enforcement of this Code or any other law relating to 20 the operation of motor vehicles, including records of 21 dispositions; documented information involving the use of 22 a motor vehicle; whether such individual has, or 23 previously had, a driver's license; and the address and 24 personal description as reflected on said driver's 25 record. 26 5. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, 27 the Secretary of State may furnish, without fee, 28 information from an individual driver's record on file, 29 if a written request therefor is submitted by any public 30 transit system or authority, public defender, law 31 enforcement agency, a state or federal agency, or an 32 Illinois local intergovernmental association, if the 33 request is for the purpose of a background check of 34 applicants for employment with the requesting agency, or -26- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 for the purpose of an official investigation conducted by 2 the agency, or to determine a current address for the 3 driver so public funds can be recovered or paid to the 4 driver, or for any other purpose set forth in subsection 5 (f-5) of this Section. 6 The Secretary may also furnish the courts a copy of 7 an abstract of a driver's record, without fee, subsequent 8 to an arrest for a violation of Section 11-501 or a 9 similar provision of a local ordinance. Such abstract 10 may include records of dispositions; documented 11 information involving the use of a motor vehicle as 12 contained in the current file; whether such individual 13 has, or previously had, a driver's license; and the 14 address and personal description as reflected on said 15 driver's record. 16 6. Any certified abstract issued by the Secretary 17 of State or transmitted electronically by the Secretary 18 of State pursuant to this Section, to a court or on 19 request of a law enforcement agency, for the record of a 20 named person as to the status of the person's driver's 21 license shall be prima facie evidence of the facts 22 therein stated and if the name appearing in such abstract 23 is the same as that of a person named in an information 24 or warrant, such abstract shall be prima facie evidence 25 that the person named in such information or warrant is 26 the same person as the person named in such abstract and 27 shall be admissible for any prosecution under this Code 28 and be admitted as proof of any prior conviction or proof 29 of records, notices, or orders recorded on individual 30 driving records maintained by the Secretary of State. 31 7. Subject to any restrictions contained in the 32 Juvenile Court Act of 1987, and upon receipt of a proper 33 request and a fee of $6, the Secretary of State shall 34 provide a driver's record to the affected driver, or the -27- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 affected driver's attorney, upon verification. Such 2 record shall contain all the information referred to in 3 paragraph 1 of this subsection (g) plus: any recorded 4 accident involvement as a driver; information recorded 5 pursuant to subsection (e) of Section 6-117 and paragraph 6 (4) of subsection (a) of Section 6-204 of this Code. All 7 other information, unless otherwise permitted by this 8 Code, shall remain confidential. 9 (h) The Secretary shall not disclose social security 10 numbers except pursuant to a written request by, or with the 11 prior written consent of, the individual except: (1) to 12 officers and employees of the Secretary who have a need to 13 know the social security numbers in performance of their 14 official duties, (2) to law enforcement officials for a 15 lawful, civil or criminal law enforcement investigation, and 16 if the head of the law enforcement agency has made a written 17 request to the Secretary specifying the law enforcement 18 investigation for which the social security numbers are being 19 sought, (3) to the United States Department of 20 Transportation, or any other State, pursuant to the 21 administration and enforcement of the Commercial Motor 22 Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, (4) pursuant to the order of a 23 court of competent jurisdiction, or (5) to the Department of 24 Public Aid for utilization in the child support enforcement 25 duties assigned to that Department under provisions of the 26 Public Aid Code after the individual has received advanced 27 meaningful notification of what redisclosure is sought by the 28 Secretary in accordance with the federal Privacy Act. 29 (i) (Blank). 30 (j) Medical statements or medical reports received in 31 the Secretary of State's Office shall be confidential. No 32 confidential information may be open to public inspection or 33 the contents disclosed to anyone, except officers and 34 employees of the Secretary who have a need to know the -28- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 information contained in the medical reports and the Driver 2 License Medical Advisory Board, unless so directed by an 3 order of a court of competent jurisdiction. 4 (k) All fees collected under this Section shall be paid 5 into the Road Fund of the State Treasury, except that $3 of 6 the $6 fee for a driver's record shall be paid into the 7 Secretary of State Special Services Fund. 8 (l) (Blank). 9 (m) Notations of accident involvement that may be 10 disclosed under this Section shall not include notations 11 relating to damage to a vehicle or other property being 12 transported by a tow truck. This information shall remain 13 confidential, provided that nothing in this subsection (m) 14 shall limit disclosure of any notification of accident 15 involvement to any law enforcement agency or official. 16 (n) Requests made by the news media for driver's 17 license, vehicle, or title registration information may be 18 furnished without charge or at a reduced charge, as 19 determined by the Secretary, when the specific purpose for 20 requesting the documents is deemed to be in the public 21 interest. Waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public 22 interest if the principal purpose of the request is to access 23 and disseminate information regarding the health, safety, and 24 welfare or the legal rights of the general public and is not 25 for the principal purpose of gaining a personal or commercial 26 benefit. The information provided pursuant to this subsection 27 shall not contain personally identifying information unless 28 the information is to be used for one of the purposes 29 identified in subsection (f-5) of this Section. 30 (o) The redisclosure of personally identifying 31 information obtained pursuant to this Section is prohibited, 32 except to the extent necessary to effectuate the purpose for 33 which the original disclosure of the information was 34 permitted. -29- LRB093 03921 RLC 03958 b 1 (p) The Secretary of State is empowered to adopt rules 2 to effectuate this Section. 3 (Source: P.A. 91-37, eff. 7-1-99; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99; 4 91-716, eff. 10-1-00; 92-32, eff. 7-1-01; 92-651, eff. 5 7-11-02.) 6 Section 115. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by 7 changing Section 21-102 as follows: 8 (735 ILCS 5/21-102) (from Ch. 110, par. 21-102) 9 Sec. 21-102. Petition. 10 (a) The petition shall set forth the name then held, the 11 name sought to be assumed, the residence of the petitioner, 12 the length of time the petitioner has resided in this State, 13 and the state or country of the petitioner's nativity or 14 supposed nativity. The petition shall be signed by the 15 person petitioning or, in case of minors, by the parent or 16 guardian having the legal custody of the minor. The petition 17 shall be verified by the affidavit of some credible person. 18 (b) When the petition for a change of name alleges that 19 the reason for the petition is to avoid domestic violence, as 20 defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act 21 of 1986, or stalking, as defined in Section 12-7.3 or 12-7.4 22 of the Criminal Code of 1961, and the petitioner is a 23 participant in the address confidentiality program created 24 under the Victims of Stalking and Domestic Violence Address 25 Confidentiality Act, the petition, the order of the court, 26 and the notice of publication in Section 21-103 shall, 27 instead of reciting the proposed name, indicate that the 28 proposed name is confidential and will be on file with the 29 Attorney General under the provisions of the address 30 confidentiality program created under the Victims of Stalking 31 and Domestic Violence Address Confidentiality Act. 32 (Source: P.A. 87-409.)