093_HB3820 LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 AN ACT concerning motor vehicles. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Article 1 5 Section 1-1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 6 New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act of 2004. 7 Article 5 8 Section 5-5. Definitions. As used in this Article: 9 "Nonconformity" means a nonconformity that substantially 10 impairs the use, value, or safety of the new motor vehicle to 11 the buyer or lessee. 12 "New motor vehicle" means a new motor vehicle that is 13 bought or used primarily for personal, family, or household 14 purposes. "New motor vehicle" also means a new motor vehicle 15 with a gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds that is 16 bought or used primarily for business purposes by a person, 17 including a partnership, limited liability company, 18 corporation, association, or any other legal entity, to which 19 not more than 5 motor vehicles are registered in this State. 20 "New motor vehicle" includes the chassis, chassis cab, and 21 that portion of a motor home devoted to its propulsion, but 22 does not include any portion designed, used, or maintained 23 primarily for human habitation, a dealer-owned vehicle and a 24 "demonstrator" or other motor vehicle sold with a 25 manufacturer's new car warranty but does not include a 26 motorcycle or a motor vehicle that is not registered under 27 the Illinois Vehicle Code because it is to be operated or 28 used exclusively off the highways. A demonstrator is a 29 vehicle assigned by a dealer for the purpose of demonstrating -2- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 qualities and characteristics common to vehicles of the same 2 or similar model and type. 3 "Motor home" means a vehicular unit built on, or 4 permanently attached to, a self-propelled motor vehicle 5 chassis, chassis cab, or van, which becomes an integral part 6 of the completed vehicle, designed for human habitation for 7 recreational or emergency occupancy. 8 Section 5-10. Presumption. It shall be presumed that a 9 reasonable number of attempts have been made to conform a new 10 motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties if, within 11 18 months from delivery to the buyer or 18,000 miles on the 12 odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs first, one or more 13 of the following occurs: 14 (1) The same nonconformity results in a condition 15 that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if 16 the vehicle is driven and the nonconformity has been 17 subject to repair 2 or more times by the manufacturer or 18 its agents, and the buyer or lessee has at least once 19 directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the 20 repair of the nonconformity. 21 (2) The same nonconformity has been subject to 22 repair 4 or more times by the manufacturer or its agents 23 and the buyer has at least once directly notified the 24 manufacturer of the need for the repair of the 25 nonconformity. 26 (3) The vehicle is out of service by reason of 27 repair of nonconformities by the manufacturer or its 28 agents for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar 29 days since delivery of the vehicle to the buyer. The 30 30-day limit shall be extended only if repairs cannot be 31 performed due to conditions beyond the control of the 32 manufacturer or its agents. The buyer shall be required 33 to directly notify the manufacturer under subdivisions -3- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 (1) and (2) only if the manufacturer has clearly and 2 conspicuously disclosed to the buyer, with the warranty 3 or the owner's manual, the provisions of this Act, 4 including the requirement that the buyer must notify the 5 manufacturer directly under subdivisions (1) and (2). The 6 notification, if required, shall be sent to the address, 7 if any, specified clearly and conspicuously by the 8 manufacturer in the warranty or owner's manual. This 9 presumption shall be a rebuttable presumption affecting 10 the burden of proof, and it may be asserted by the buyer 11 in any civil action, including an action in small claims 12 court, or other formal or informal proceeding. 13 Section 5-15. Assertion of presumption; qualified 14 third-party dispute resolution process. If a qualified 15 third-party dispute resolution process exists, and the buyer 16 receives timely notification in writing of the availability 17 of that qualified third-party dispute resolution process with 18 a description of its operation and effect, the presumption in 19 Section 5-10 may not be asserted by the buyer until after the 20 buyer has initially resorted to the qualified third-party 21 dispute resolution process as required in Section 5-20. 22 Notification of the availability of the qualified third-party 23 dispute resolution process is not timely if the buyer suffers 24 any prejudice resulting from any delay in giving the 25 notification. If a qualified third-party dispute resolution 26 process does not exist, or if the buyer is dissatisfied with 27 that third-party decision, or if the manufacturer or its 28 agent neglects to promptly fulfill the terms of the qualified 29 third-party dispute resolution process decision after the 30 decision is accepted by the buyer, the buyer may assert the 31 presumption provided in Section 5-10 in an action to enforce 32 the buyer's rights under Section 5-30. The findings and 33 decision of a qualified third-party dispute resolution -4- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 process shall be admissible in evidence in the action without 2 further foundation. Any period of limitation of actions under 3 any federal or State law with respect to any person shall be 4 extended for a period equal to the number of days between the 5 date a complaint is filed with a third-party dispute 6 resolution process and the date of its decision or the date 7 before which the manufacturer or its agent is required by the 8 decision to fulfill its terms if the decision is accepted by 9 the buyer, whichever occurs later. 10 Section 5-20. Elements of qualified third-party dispute 11 resolution process. A qualified third-party dispute 12 resolution process is one that does all of the following: 13 (1) Complies with the minimum requirements of the 14 Federal Trade Commission for informal dispute settlement 15 procedures as set forth in Part 703 of Title 16 of the 16 Code of Federal Regulations. 17 (2) Renders decisions that are binding on the 18 manufacturer if the buyer elects to accept the decision. 19 (3) Prescribes a reasonable time, not to exceed 30 20 days after the decision is accepted by the buyer, within 21 which the manufacturer or its agent must fulfill the 22 terms of its decisions. 23 (4) Provides arbitrators who are assigned to decide 24 disputes with copies of, and instruction in, the 25 provisions of the Federal Trade Commission's regulations 26 in Part 703 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal 27 Regulations, Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, 28 and this Act. 29 (5) Requires the manufacturer, when the process 30 orders, under the terms of this Act, either that the 31 nonconforming motor vehicle be replaced if the buyer 32 consents to this remedy or that restitution be made to 33 the buyer, to replace the motor vehicle or make -5- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 restitution in accordance with Section 5-30. 2 (6) Provides, at the request of the arbitrator or a 3 majority of the arbitration panel, for an inspection and 4 written report on the condition of a nonconforming motor 5 vehicle, at no cost to the buyer, by an automobile expert 6 who is independent of the manufacturer. 7 (7) Takes into account, in rendering decisions, all 8 legal and equitable factors, including, but not limited 9 to, the written warranty, the rights and remedies 10 conferred in regulations of the Federal Trade Commission 11 contained in Part 703 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal 12 Regulations, Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, 13 this Act, and any other equitable considerations 14 appropriate in the circumstances. Nothing in this Act 15 requires that, to be certified as a qualified third-party 16 dispute resolution process under this Section, decisions 17 of the process must consider or provide remedies in the 18 form of awards of punitive damages, attorney's fees, or 19 consequential damages under Section 5-35 including, but 20 not limited to, reasonable repair, towing, and rental car 21 costs actually incurred by the buyer. 22 (8) Requires that no arbitrator deciding a dispute 23 may be a party to the dispute and that no other person, 24 including an employee, agent, or dealer for the 25 manufacturer, may be allowed to participate substantively 26 in the merits of any dispute with the arbitrator unless 27 the buyer is also allowed to participate. Nothing in this 28 subdivision (8) prohibits any member of an arbitration 29 board from deciding a dispute. 30 (9) Obtains and maintains certification under 31 Article 10. 32 Section 5-25. Sale of transferred vehicles. 33 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), no person may -6- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 sell, either at wholesale or retail, lease, or transfer a 2 motor vehicle transferred by a buyer or lessee to a 3 manufacturer under Section 5-30 or a similar law of any other 4 state, unless the nature of the nonconformity experienced by 5 the original buyer or lessee is clearly and conspicuously 6 disclosed to the prospective buyer, lessee, or transferee, 7 the nonconformity is corrected, and the manufacturer warrants 8 to the new buyer, lessee, or transferee in writing for a 9 period of one year that the motor vehicle is free of that 10 nonconformity. 11 (b) Except for the requirement that the nature of the 12 nonconformity be disclosed to the transferee, subsection (a) 13 does not apply to the transfer of a motor vehicle to an 14 educational institution if the purpose of the transfer is to 15 make the motor vehicle available for use in automotive repair 16 courses. 17 Section 5-30. Replacement or restitution. 18 (a) If the manufacturer or its representative in this 19 State is unable to service or repair a new motor vehicle to 20 conform to the applicable express warranties after a 21 reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer shall either 22 promptly replace the new motor vehicle in accordance with 23 subsection (b) or promptly make restitution to the buyer in 24 accordance with subsection (c). However, the buyer may elect 25 restitution in lieu of replacement, and in no event shall the 26 buyer be required by the manufacturer to accept a replacement 27 vehicle. 28 (b) In the case of replacement, the manufacturer shall 29 replace the buyer's vehicle with a new motor vehicle 30 substantially identical to the vehicle replaced. The 31 replacement vehicle shall be accompanied by all express and 32 implied warranties that normally accompany new motor vehicles 33 of that specific kind. The manufacturer also shall pay for, -7- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 or to, the buyer the amount of any use tax, license fees, 2 registration fees, and other official fees which the buyer is 3 obligated to pay in connection with the replacement, plus any 4 incidental damages to which the buyer is entitled under 5 Section 5-35, including, but not limited to, reasonable 6 repair, towing, and rental car costs actually incurred by the 7 buyer. 8 (c) In the case of restitution, the manufacturer shall 9 make restitution in an amount equal to the actual price paid 10 or payable by the buyer, including any charges for 11 transportation and manufacturer-installed options, but 12 excluding nonmanufacturer items installed by a dealer or the 13 buyer, and including any collateral charges such as use tax, 14 license fees, registration fees, and other official fees, 15 plus any incidental damages to which the buyer is entitled 16 under Section 5-35, including, but not limited to, reasonable 17 repair, towing, and rental car costs actually incurred by the 18 buyer. 19 (d) When the manufacturer replaces the new motor vehicle 20 under subsection (b), the buyer shall only be liable to pay 21 the manufacturer an amount directly attributable to use by 22 the buyer of the replaced vehicle before the buyer first 23 delivered the vehicle to the manufacturer or distributor, or 24 its authorized service and repair facility for correction of 25 the problem that gave rise to the nonconformity. When 26 restitution is made under subsection (c), the amount to be 27 paid by the manufacturer to the buyer may be reduced by the 28 manufacturer by that amount directly attributable to use by 29 the buyer before the buyer first delivered the vehicle to the 30 manufacturer or distributor, or its authorized service and 31 repair facility for correction of the problem that gave rise 32 to the nonconformity. The amount directly attributable to use 33 by a buyer shall be determined by multiplying the actual 34 price of the new motor vehicle paid or payable by the buyer, -8- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 including any charges for transportation and 2 manufacturer-installed options, by a fraction having as its 3 denominator 120,000 and having as its numerator the number of 4 miles traveled by the new motor vehicle before the buyer 5 first delivered the vehicle to the manufacturer or 6 distributor, or its authorized service and repair facility 7 for correction of the problem that gave rise to the 8 nonconformity. Nothing in this Section in any way limits the 9 rights or remedies available to the buyer under any other 10 law. 11 Section 5-35. Damages; attorney's fees and costs; civil 12 penalty. 13 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, if the 14 buyer establishes a violation of Section 5-30, the buyer 15 shall recover damages and reasonable attorney's fees and 16 costs, and may recover a civil penalty of up to 2 times the 17 amount of damages. 18 (b) If the manufacturer maintains a qualified 19 third-party dispute resolution process which substantially 20 complies with this Act, the manufacturer shall not be liable 21 for any civil penalty under this Section. 22 (c) After the occurrence of the events giving rise to 23 the presumption established in Section 5-30, the buyer may 24 serve upon the manufacturer a written notice requesting that 25 the manufacturer comply with Section 5-30. If the buyer fails 26 to serve the notice, the manufacturer is not liable for a 27 civil penalty under this Section. 28 (d) If the buyer serves the notice described in 29 subsection (c) and the manufacturer complies with Section 30 5-30 within 30 days of the service of that notice, the 31 manufacturer is not liable for a civil penalty under this 32 Section. -9- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 Article 10 2 Section 10-5. Definitions. As used in this Article, 3 unless the context requires otherwise: 4 Except as otherwise provided in Section 10-30, "new motor 5 vehicle" means a new motor vehicle as defined in Article 5. 6 "Manufacturer" a manufacturer or distributor as defined 7 in Section 5-109 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. 8 "Qualified third party dispute resolution process" means 9 a third party dispute resolution process which operates in 10 compliance with Section 5-20 and this Article and which has 11 been certified by the Attorney General under this Article. 12 Section 10-10. Program for certifying third-party 13 dispute resolution process. The Attorney General shall 14 establish a program for certifying each third-party dispute 15 resolution process used for the arbitration of disputes under 16 Section 5-15. In establishing the program, the Attorney 17 General shall do all of the following: 18 (1) Prescribe and provide forms to be used to apply 19 for certification under this Article. 20 (2) Establish a set of minimum standards which 21 shall be used to determine whether a third-party dispute 22 resolution process is in substantial compliance with 23 Section 5-20 and this Article. 24 (3) Prescribe the information which each 25 manufacturer or other entity that operates a third-party 26 dispute resolution process shall provide the Attorney 27 General in the application for certification. In 28 prescribing the information to accompany the application 29 for certification, the Attorney General shall require the 30 manufacturer or other entity to provide only that 31 information which the Attorney General finds is 32 reasonably necessary to enable the Attorney General to -10- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 determine whether the third-party dispute resolution 2 process is in substantial compliance with Section 5-20 3 and this Article. 4 (4) Prescribe the information that each qualified 5 third-party dispute resolution process shall provide the 6 Attorney General, and the time intervals at which the 7 information shall be required, to enable the Attorney 8 General to determine whether the qualified third-party 9 dispute resolution process continues to operate in 10 substantial compliance with Section 5-20 and this 11 Article. 12 Section 10-15. Establishment of qualified third-party 13 dispute resolution process. 14 (a) Each manufacturer may establish, or otherwise make 15 available to buyers or lessees of new motor vehicles, a 16 qualified third-party dispute resolution process for the 17 resolution of disputes under Section 5-15. A manufacturer 18 that itself operates the third-party dispute resolution 19 process shall apply to the Attorney General for certification 20 of that process. If the manufacturer makes the third-party 21 dispute resolution process available to buyers or lessees of 22 new motor vehicles through contract or other arrangement with 23 another entity, that entity shall apply to the Attorney 24 General for certification. An entity that operates a 25 third-party dispute resolution process for more than one 26 manufacturer shall make a separate application for 27 certification for each manufacturer that uses that entity's 28 third-party dispute resolution process. The application for 29 certification shall be accompanied by the information 30 prescribed by the Attorney General. 31 (b) The Attorney General shall review the application 32 and accompanying information and, after conducting an onsite 33 inspection, shall determine whether the third-party dispute -11- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 resolution process is in substantial compliance with Section 2 5-20 and this Article. If the Attorney General determines 3 that the process is in substantial compliance, the Attorney 4 General shall certify the process. If the Attorney General 5 determines that the process is not in substantial compliance, 6 the Attorney General shall deny certification and shall 7 state, in writing, the reasons for denial and the 8 modifications in the operation of the process that are 9 required in order for the process to be certified. 10 (c) The Attorney General shall make a final 11 determination whether to certify a third-party dispute 12 resolution process or to deny certification not later than 90 13 calendar days following the date the Attorney General accepts 14 the application for certification as complete. 15 Section 10-20. Review. 16 (a) The Attorney General, in accordance with the time 17 intervals set forth in subdivision (4) of Section 10-10, but 18 at least once annually, shall review the operation and 19 performance of each qualified third-party dispute resolution 20 process and determine, using the information provided the 21 Attorney General under subdivision (4) of Section 10-10 and 22 the monitoring and inspection information described in 23 subsection (c) of Section 10-25, whether the process is 24 operating in substantial compliance with Section 5-20 and 25 this Article. If the Attorney General determines that the 26 process is in substantial compliance, the certification shall 27 remain in effect. 28 (b) If the Attorney General determines that the process 29 is not in substantial compliance with Section 5-20 or this 30 Article, the Attorney General shall issue a notice of 31 decertification to the entity which operates the process and 32 shall send a copy of that notice to any manufacturer affected 33 by the decertification. The notice of decertification shall -12- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 state the reasons for the issuance of the notice and 2 prescribe the modifications in the operation of the process 3 that are required for the process to retain its 4 certification. 5 (c) A notice of decertification shall take effect 180 6 calendar days following the date the notice is served on the 7 manufacturer or other entity which uses the process that the 8 Attorney General has determined is not in substantial 9 compliance with Section 5-20 or this Article. The Attorney 10 General shall withdraw the notice of decertification before 11 its effective date if the Attorney General determines, after 12 a public hearing, that the manufacturer or other entity which 13 uses the process has made the modifications in the operation 14 of the process required in the notice of decertification and 15 is in substantial compliance with Section 5-20 and this 16 Article. 17 Section 10-25. Duties of Attorney General. 18 (a) In addition to any other requirements of this 19 Article, the Attorney General shall do all of the following: 20 (1) Establish procedures to assist owners or 21 lessees of new motor vehicles who have complaints 22 regarding the operation of a qualified third-party 23 dispute resolution process. 24 (2) Establish methods for measuring customer 25 satisfaction and to identify violations of this Article, 26 which shall include an annual random postcard or 27 telephone survey by the Attorney General of the customers 28 of each qualified third-party dispute resolution process. 29 (3) Monitor and inspect, on a regular basis, 30 qualified third-party dispute resolution processes to 31 determine whether they continue to meet the standards for 32 certification. Monitoring and inspection shall include, 33 but not be limited to, all of the following: -13- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 (A) Onsite inspections of each qualified 2 third-party dispute resolution process not less 3 frequently than twice annually. 4 (B) Investigation of complaints from consumers 5 regarding the operation of qualified third-party 6 dispute resolution processes and analyses of 7 representative samples of complaints against each 8 process. 9 (C) Analyses of the annual surveys required by 10 subdivision (2). 11 (4) Notify the Secretary of State of the failure of 12 a manufacturer to honor a decision of a qualified 13 third-party dispute resolution process to enable the 14 Secretary of State to take appropriate enforcement action 15 against the manufacturer under Section 5-501 of the 16 Illinois Vehicle Code. 17 (5) Submit a biennial report to the General 18 Assembly evaluating the effectiveness of this Article, 19 make available to the public summaries of the statistics 20 and other information supplied by each qualified 21 third-party dispute resolution process, and publish 22 educational materials regarding the purposes of this 23 Article. 24 (6) Adopt rules as necessary and appropriate to 25 implement this Article and Section 5-20. 26 (b) Protection of the public shall be the highest 27 priority for the Attorney General in exercising its 28 certification, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. 29 Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with 30 other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the 31 public shall be paramount. 32 Section 10-30. Fees. 33 (a) The Secretary of State shall, in accordance with -14- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 this Section, administer the collection of fees for the 2 purposes of fully funding the administration of this Article. 3 (b) Fees collected under this Section shall be deposited 4 in the Third-Party Dispute Resolution Fund, a special fund 5 which is created in the State treasury and shall be used, 6 subject to appropriation, exclusively to pay the expenses 7 incurred by the Attorney General in administering this 8 Article and the expenses incurred by the Secretary of State 9 in collecting the fees. 10 (c) Beginning July 1, 2006, and on or before May 1 of 11 each calendar year thereafter, every manufacturer shall file 12 with the Secretary of State a statement of the number of 13 motor vehicles sold, leased, or otherwise distributed by or 14 for the manufacturer in this State during the preceding 15 calendar year, and shall, upon written notice delivered to 16 the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, 17 pay to the Secretary of State a fee, not to exceed $1 for 18 each motor vehicle sold, leased, or distributed by or for the 19 manufacturer in this State during the preceding calendar 20 year. Not more than $1 shall be charged, collected, or 21 received from any one or more manufacturers under this 22 subsection (c) with respect to the same motor vehicle. 23 (d) The fee required by subsection (c) is due and 24 payable not later than 30 days after the manufacturer has 25 received notice of the amount due and is delinquent after 26 that time. A penalty of 10% of the amount delinquent shall be 27 added to that amount if the delinquency continues for more 28 than 30 days. If a manufacturer fails to file the statement 29 required by subdivision (b) by the date specified, the 30 Secretary of State shall assess the amount due from the 31 manufacturer by using as the number of motor vehicles sold, 32 leased, or otherwise distributed by or for the manufacturer 33 in this State during the preceding calendar year the total 34 number of new registrations of all motor vehicles sold, -15- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 leased, or otherwise distributed by or for the manufacturer 2 during the preceding calendar year. 3 (e) On or before February 1 of each year, the Attorney 4 General shall notify the Secretary of State of the dollar 5 amount necessary to fully fund the program established by 6 this Article during the following fiscal year. The Secretary 7 of State shall use this information in calculating the 8 amounts of the fees to be collected from manufacturers under 9 this Section. 10 (f) As used in this Section, "motor vehicle" means a new 11 passenger or commercial motor vehicle of a kind that is 12 required to be registered under the Illinois Vehicle Code, 13 but "motor vehicle" does not include a motorcycle, a motor 14 home, or any vehicle whose gross weight exceeds 10,000 15 pounds. 16 (g) The Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement 17 this Section. The rules shall include, at a minimum, a 18 formula for calculating the fee for each motor vehicle and 19 the total amount of fees to be collected from each 20 manufacturer. 21 Article 80 22 Section 80-5. Applicability. This Act applies to new 23 motor vehicles beginning with the model year following the 24 effective date of this Act. 25 Article 90 26 Section 90-5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 27 Section 5.595 as follows: 28 (30 ILCS 105/5.595 new) 29 Sec. 5.595. The Third-Party Dispute Resolution Fund. -16- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 Section 90-7. The Retailers' Occupation Tax Act is 2 amended by changing Section 6 as follows: 3 (35 ILCS 120/6) (from Ch. 120, par. 445) 4 Sec. 6. Credit memorandum or refund. If it appears, after 5 claim therefor filed with the Department, that an amount of 6 tax or penalty or interest has been paid which was not due 7 under this Act, whether as the result of a mistake of fact or 8 an error of law, except as hereinafter provided, then the 9 Department shall issue a credit memorandum or refund to the 10 person who made the erroneous payment or, if that person died 11 or became a person under legal disability, to his or her 12 legal representative, as such. For purposes of this Section, 13 the tax is deemed to be erroneously paid by a retailer when 14 the manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold by the retailer 15 accepts the return of that automobile and refunds to the 16 purchaser the selling price of that vehicle as provided in 17 the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act or the New Vehicle Buyer 18 Protection Act of 2004. When a motor vehicle is returned for 19 a refund of the purchase price under the New Vehicle Buyer 20 Protection Act or the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act of 21 2004, the Department shall issue a credit memorandum or a 22 refund for the amount of tax paid by the retailer under this 23 Act attributable to the initial sale of that vehicle. Claims 24 submitted by the retailer are subject to the same 25 restrictions and procedures provided for in this Act. If it 26 is determined that the Department should issue a credit 27 memorandum or refund, the Department may first apply the 28 amount thereof against any tax or penalty or interest due or 29 to become due under this Act or under the Use Tax Act, the 30 Service Occupation Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, any 31 local occupation or use tax administered by the Department, 32 Section 4 of the Water Commission Act of 1985, subsections 33 (b), (c) and (d) of Section 5.01 of the Local Mass Transit -17- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 District Act, or subsections (e), (f) and (g) of Section 4.03 2 of the Regional Transportation Authority Act, from the person 3 who made the erroneous payment. If no tax or penalty or 4 interest is due and no proceeding is pending to determine 5 whether such person is indebted to the Department for tax or 6 penalty or interest, the credit memorandum or refund shall be 7 issued to the claimant; or (in the case of a credit 8 memorandum) the credit memorandum may be assigned and set 9 over by the lawful holder thereof, subject to reasonable 10 rules of the Department, to any other person who is subject 11 to this Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, 12 the Service Use Tax Act, any local occupation or use tax 13 administered by the Department, Section 4 of the Water 14 Commission Act of 1985, subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 15 Section 5.01 of the Local Mass Transit District Act, or 16 subsections (e), (f) and (g) of Section 4.03 of the Regional 17 Transportation Authority Act, and the amount thereof applied 18 by the Department against any tax or penalty or interest due 19 or to become due under this Act or under the Use Tax Act, the 20 Service Occupation Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, any 21 local occupation or use tax administered by the Department, 22 Section 4 of the Water Commission Act of 1985, subsections 23 (b), (c) and (d) of Section 5.01 of the Local Mass Transit 24 District Act, or subsections (e), (f) and (g) of Section 4.03 25 of the Regional Transportation Authority Act, from such 26 assignee. However, as to any claim for credit or refund 27 filed with the Department on and after each January 1 and 28 July 1 no amount of tax or penalty or interest erroneously 29 paid (either in total or partial liquidation of a tax or 30 penalty or amount of interest under this Act) more than 3 31 years prior to such January 1 and July 1, respectively, shall 32 be credited or refunded, except that if both the Department 33 and the taxpayer have agreed to an extension of time to issue 34 a notice of tax liability as provided in Section 4 of this -18- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 Act, such claim may be filed at any time prior to the 2 expiration of the period agreed upon. 3 No claim may be allowed for any amount paid to the 4 Department, whether paid voluntarily or involuntarily, if 5 paid in total or partial liquidation of an assessment which 6 had become final before the claim for credit or refund to 7 recover the amount so paid is filed with the Department, or 8 if paid in total or partial liquidation of a judgment or 9 order of court. No credit may be allowed or refund made for 10 any amount paid by or collected from any claimant unless it 11 appears (a) that the claimant bore the burden of such amount 12 and has not been relieved thereof nor reimbursed therefor and 13 has not shifted such burden directly or indirectly through 14 inclusion of such amount in the price of the tangible 15 personal property sold by him or her or in any manner 16 whatsoever; and that no understanding or agreement, written 17 or oral, exists whereby he or she or his or her legal 18 representative may be relieved of the burden of such amount, 19 be reimbursed therefor or may shift the burden thereof; or 20 (b) that he or she or his or her legal representative has 21 repaid unconditionally such amount to his or her vendee (1) 22 who bore the burden thereof and has not shifted such burden 23 directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever; (2) who, if 24 he or she has shifted such burden, has repaid unconditionally 25 such amount to his own vendee; and (3) who is not entitled to 26 receive any reimbursement therefor from any other source than 27 from his or her vendor, nor to be relieved of such burden in 28 any manner whatsoever. No credit may be allowed or refund 29 made for any amount paid by or collected from any claimant 30 unless it appears that the claimant has unconditionally 31 repaid, to the purchaser, any amount collected from the 32 purchaser and retained by the claimant with respect to the 33 same transaction under the Use Tax Act. 34 Any credit or refund that is allowed under this Section -19- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 shall bear interest at the rate and in the manner specified 2 in the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act. 3 In case the Department determines that the claimant is 4 entitled to a refund, such refund shall be made only from 5 such appropriation as may be available for that purpose. If 6 it appears unlikely that the amount appropriated would permit 7 everyone having a claim allowed during the period covered by 8 such appropriation to elect to receive a cash refund, the 9 Department, by rule or regulation, shall provide for the 10 payment of refunds in hardship cases and shall define what 11 types of cases qualify as hardship cases. 12 If a retailer who has failed to pay retailers' occupation 13 tax on gross receipts from retail sales is required by the 14 Department to pay such tax, such retailer, without filing any 15 formal claim with the Department, shall be allowed to take 16 credit against such retailers' occupation tax liability to 17 the extent, if any, to which such retailer has paid an amount 18 equivalent to retailers' occupation tax or has paid use tax 19 in error to his or her vendor or vendors of the same tangible 20 personal property which such retailer bought for resale and 21 did not first use before selling it, and no penalty or 22 interest shall be charged to such retailer on the amount of 23 such credit. However, when such credit is allowed to the 24 retailer by the Department, the vendor is precluded from 25 refunding any of that tax to the retailer and filing a claim 26 for credit or refund with respect thereto with the 27 Department. The provisions of this amendatory Act shall be 28 applied retroactively, regardless of the date of the 29 transaction. 30 (Source: P.A. 91-901, eff. 1-1-01.) 31 Section 90-10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by 32 changing Sections 5-104.2 and 5-501 as follows: -20- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 (625 ILCS 5/5-104.2) 2 Sec. 5-104.2. Nonconforming vehicles; sale. 3 (a) Every manufacturer shall be prohibited from 4 reselling any motor vehicle that has been finally ordered, 5 determined, or adjudicated as having a nonconformity under 6 the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act or a similar law of any 7 state, territory, or country, and that the manufacturer 8 repurchased or replaced because of the nonconformity, unless 9 the manufacturer has corrected the nonconformity and issues a 10 disclosure statement prior to resale stating that the vehicle 11 was repurchased or replaced under the New Vehicle Buyer 12 Protection Act or similar law of any other state, territory, 13 or country; identifying the nonconformity; and warranting 14 that the nonconformity has been corrected. The disclosure 15 statement must accompany the vehicle through the first retail 16 purchase. 17 (b) "Nonconformity" refers to a new vehicle's failure to 18 conform to all express warranties applicable to the vehicle, 19 which failure substantially impairs the use, market value, or 20 safety of the vehicle. 21 (c) The disclosure statement referred to in subsection 22 (a) shall be in substantially the same form as below: 23 "IMPORTANT 24 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): (Insert VIN Number); 25 Year: (Insert Year); Make (Insert Make); Model: (Insert 26 Model). This vehicle was previously sold as new. It was 27 subsequently ordered as having a nonconformity by final 28 decision of court proceeding or State run arbitration. 29 It was subsequently repurchased by its manufacturer 30 because it did not conform to the manufacturer's express 31 warranty and the nonconformity was not cured within a 32 reasonable time as provided by Illinois law. The 33 following nonconformities have been corrected (a minimum 34 of 5 numbered lines shall be provided to describe the -21- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 nonconformity or nonconformities)." 2 The customer shall sign the disclosure statement. This 3 disclosure language shall be in at least 8-point type. 4 (d) The sale, lease, or transfer of motor vehicles that 5 have been determined to have a nonconformity under the New 6 Vehicle Buyer Protection Act of 2004 shall be governed by 7 that Act. 8 (Source: P.A. 88-415.) 9 (625 ILCS 5/5-501) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-501) 10 Sec. 5-501. Denial, suspension or revocation or 11 cancellation of a license. (a) The license of a person issued 12 under this Chapter may be denied, revoked or suspended if the 13 Secretary of State finds that the applicant, or the officer, 14 director, shareholder having a ten percent or greater 15 ownership interest in the corporation, owner, partner, 16 trustee, manager, employee or the licensee has: 17 1. Violated this Act; 18 2. Made any material misrepresentation to the Secretary 19 of State in connection with an application for a license, 20 junking certificate, salvage certificate, title or 21 registration; 22 3. Committed a fraudulent act in connection with 23 selling, bartering, exchanging, offering for sale or 24 otherwise dealing in vehicles, chassis, essential parts, or 25 vehicle shells; 26 4. As a new vehicle dealer has no contract with a 27 manufacturer or enfranchised distributor to sell that new 28 vehicle in this State; 29 5. Not maintained an established place of business as 30 defined in this Code; 31 6. Failed to file or produce for the Secretary of State 32 any application, report, document or other pertinent books, 33 records, documents, letters, contracts, required to be filed -22- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 or produced under this Code or any rule or regulation made by 2 the Secretary of State pursuant to this Code; 3 7. Previously had, within 3 years, such a license 4 denied, suspended, revoked, or cancelled under the provisions 5 of subsection (c) (2) of this Section; 6 8. Has committed in any calendar year 3 or more 7 violations, as determined in any civil or criminal 8 proceeding, of any one or more of the following Acts: 9 a. the "Consumer Finance Act"; 10 b. the "Consumer Installment Loan Act"; 11 c. the "Retail Installment Sales Act"; 12 d. the "Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act"; 13 e. "An Act in relation to the rate of interest and other 14 charges in connection with sales on credit and the lending of 15 money", approved May 24, 1879, as amended; 16 f. "An Act to promote the welfare of wage-earners by 17 regulating the assignment of wages, and prescribing a penalty 18 for the violation thereof", approved July 1, 1935, as 19 amended; 20 g. Part 8 of Article XII of the Code of Civil Procedure; 21 or 22 h. the "Consumer Fraud Act"; 23 9. Failed to pay any fees or taxes due under this Act, 24 or has failed to transmit any fees or taxes received by him 25 for transmittal by him to the Secretary of State or the State 26 of Illinois; 27 10. Converted an abandoned vehicle; 28 11. Used a vehicle identification plate or number 29 assigned to a vehicle other than the one to which originally 30 assigned; 31 12. Violated the provisions of Chapter 5 of this Act, as 32 amended; 33 13. Violated the provisions of Chapter 4 of this Act, as 34 amended; -23- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 14. Violated the provisions of Chapter 3 of this Act, as 2 amended; 3 15. Violated Section 21-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961, 4 Criminal Trespass to Vehicles; 5 16. Made or concealed a material fact in connection with 6 his application for a license; 7 17. Acted in the capacity of a person licensed or acted 8 as a licensee under this Chapter without having a license 9 therefor; 10 18. Failed to pay, within 90 days after a final 11 judgment, any fines assessed against the licensee pursuant to 12 an action brought under Section 5-404; 13 19. Willfully violated the terms of any warranty 14 responsibilities as set forth in the New Vehicle Buyer 15 Protection Act of 2004. 16 (b) In addition to other grounds specified in this 17 Chapter, the Secretary of State, on complaint of the 18 Department of Revenue, shall refuse the issuance of renewal 19 of a license, or suspend or revoke such license, for any of 20 the following violations of the "Retailers' Occupation Tax 21 Act": 22 1. Failure to make a tax return; 23 2. The filing of a fraudulent return; 24 3. Failure to pay all or part of any tax or penalty 25 finally determined to be due; 26 4. Failure to comply with the bonding requirements of 27 the "Retailers' Occupation Tax Act". 28 (c) Cancellation of a license. 29 1. The license of a person issued under this Chapter may 30 be cancelled by the Secretary of State prior to its 31 expiration in any of the following situations: 32 A. When a license is voluntarily surrendered, by the 33 licensed person; or 34 B. If the business enterprise is a sole proprietorship, -24- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 which is not a franchised dealership, when the sole 2 proprietor dies or is imprisoned for any period of time 3 exceeding 30 days; or 4 C. If the license was issued to the wrong person or 5 corporation, or contains an error on its face. If any person 6 above whose license has been cancelled wishes to apply for 7 another license, whether during the same license year or any 8 other year, that person shall be treated as any other new 9 applicant and the cancellation of the person's prior license 10 shall not, in and of itself, be a bar to the issuance of a 11 new license. 12 2. The license of a person issued under this Chapter may 13 be cancelled without a hearing when the Secretary of State is 14 notified that the applicant, or any officer, director, 15 shareholder having a 10 per cent or greater ownership 16 interest in the corporation, owner, partner, trustee, 17 manager, employee or member of the applicant or the licensee 18 has been convicted of any felony involving the selling, 19 bartering, exchanging, offering for sale, or otherwise 20 dealing in vehicles, chassis, essential parts, vehicle 21 shells, or ownership documents relating to any of the above 22 items. 23 (Source: P.A. 86-820.) 24 Section 90-15. The New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act is 25 amended by changing Section 8 as follows: 26 (815 ILCS 380/8) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 1208) 27 Sec. 8. This Act shall apply to motor vehicles beginning 28 with the model year following the effective date of this Act, 29 except that this Act does not apply to any motor vehicle to 30 which the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act of 2004 applies. 31 (Source: P.A. 83-768.) -25- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 Article 99 2 Section 99-5. Effective date. This Act takes effect on 3 January 1, 2005. -26- LRB093 12229 WGH 17411 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance 3 SEE INDEX 4 New Act 5 30 ILCS 105/5.595 new 6 35 ILCS 120/6 from Ch. 120, par. 445 7 625 ILCS 5/5-104.2 8 625 ILCS 5/5-501 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-501 9 815 ILCS 380/8 from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 1208