HB1747eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1747 Engrossed LRB095 07292 DRJ 27431 b

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Section 10-17.6 and by adding Sections 10-9.5 and 10-17.13 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/10-9.5 new)

Sec. 10-9.5. Access to records. In any hearing, case, appeal, or other matter arising out of the provisions concerning the determination and enforcement of the support responsibility of relatives, an obligor or obligee, or their legal representatives, shall be entitled to review any case records in the possession of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the State Disbursement Unit, or a circuit clerk with regard to that obligor or obligee that are able to prove any matter relevant to the hearing, case, appeal, or other matter if access to the record or portion of the record is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 654.

(305 ILCS 5/10-17.6) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-17.6)

Sec. 10-17.6. Certification of Past Due Support Information to Licensing Agencies. The Illinois Department may provide by rule for certification to any State licensing agency of (i) the failure of responsible relatives to comply with subpoenas or warrants relating to paternity or child support proceedings and (ii) past due support owed by responsible relatives under a support order entered by a court or administrative body of this or any other State on behalf of resident or non-resident persons receiving child support enforcement services under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act. The rule shall provide for notice to and an opportunity to be heard by each responsible relative affected and any final administrative decision rendered by the Department shall be reviewed only under and in accordance with the Administrative Review Law.

(Source: P.A. 87-412.)

(305 ILCS 5/10-17.13 new)

Sec. 10-17.13. Vehicle immobilization and impoundment. The Illinois Department may provide by rule for certification to municipalities of past due support owed by responsible relatives under a support order entered by a court or administrative body of this or any other State on behalf of resident or non-resident persons. The purpose of certification shall be to effect collection of past due support by immobilization and impoundment of vehicles registered to responsible relatives pursuant to ordinances established by such municipalities under Section 11-1430 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

The rule shall provide for notice to and an opportunity to be heard by each responsible relative affected, and any final administrative decision rendered by the Department shall be reviewed only under and in accordance with the Administrative Review Law. A responsible relative may avoid certification to a municipality for vehicle immobilization or arrange for discontinuance of vehicle immobilization and impoundment already engaged by payment of past due support or by entering into a plan for payment of past and current child support obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Illinois Department.

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 6-103, 7-100, 7-701, 7-702, 7-704, 7-705, 7-706, 7-707, and 7-708 and by adding Sections 7-704.1 and 11-1430 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/6-103) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-103)

Sec. 6-103. What persons shall not be licensed as drivers or granted permits. The Secretary of State shall not issue, renew, or allow the retention of any driver's license nor issue any permit under this Code:

1. To any person, as a driver, who is under the age of 18 years except as provided in Section 6-107, and except that an instruction permit may be issued under Section 6-107.1 to a child who is not less than 15 years of age if the child is enrolled in an approved driver education course as defined in Section 1-103 of this Code and requires an instruction permit to participate therein, except that an instruction permit may be issued under the provisions of Section 6-107.1 to a child who is 17 years and 9 months of age without the child having enrolled in an approved driver education course and except that an instruction permit may be issued to a child who is at least 15 years and 6 months of age, is enrolled in school, meets the educational requirements of the Driver Education Act, and has passed examinations the Secretary of State in his or her discretion may prescribe;

2. To any person who is under the age of 18 as an operator of a motorcycle other than a motor driven cycle unless the person has, in addition to meeting the provisions of Section 6-107 of this Code, successfully completed a motorcycle training course approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation and successfully completes the required Secretary of State's motorcycle driver's examination;

3. To any person, as a driver, whose driver's license or permit has been suspended, during the suspension, nor to any person whose driver's license or permit has been revoked, except as provided in Sections 6-205, 6-206, and 6-208;

4. To any person, as a driver, who is a user of alcohol or any other drug to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle;

5. To any person, as a driver, who has previously been adjudged to be afflicted with or suffering from any mental or physical disability or disease and who has not at the time of application been restored to competency by the methods provided by law;

6. To any person, as a driver, who is required by the Secretary of State to submit an alcohol and drug evaluation or take an examination provided for in this Code unless the person has successfully passed the examination and submitted any required evaluation;

7. To any person who is required under the provisions of the laws of this State to deposit security or proof of financial responsibility and who has not deposited the security or proof;

8. To any person when the Secretary of State has good cause to believe that the person by reason of physical or mental disability would not be able to safely operate a motor vehicle upon the highways, unless the person shall furnish to the Secretary of State a verified written statement, acceptable to the Secretary of State, from a competent medical specialist to the effect that the operation of a motor vehicle by the person would not be inimical to the public safety;

9. To any person, as a driver, who is 69 years of age or older, unless the person has successfully complied with the provisions of Section 6-109;

10. To any person convicted, within 12 months of application for a license, of any of the sexual offenses enumerated in paragraph 2 of subsection (b) of Section 6-205;

11. To any person who is under the age of 21 years with a classification prohibited in paragraph (b) of Section 6-104 and to any person who is under the age of 18 years with a classification prohibited in paragraph (c) of Section 6-104;

12. To any person who has been either convicted of or adjudicated under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 based upon a violation of the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act while that person was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle. For purposes of this Section, any person placed on probation under Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or Section 70 of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act shall not be considered convicted. Any person found guilty of this offense, while in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, shall have an entry made in the court record by the judge that this offense did occur while the person was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and order the clerk of the court to report the violation to the Secretary of State as such. The Secretary of State shall not issue a new license or permit for a period of one year;

13. To any person who is under the age of 18 years and who has committed the offense of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license or permit in violation of Section 6-101;

14. To any person who is 90 days or more delinquent in court ordered child support payments or has been adjudicated in arrears in an amount equal to 90 days' obligation or more and who has been found in contempt of court for failure to pay the support, subject to the requirements and procedures of Article VII of Chapter 7 of the Illinois Vehicle Code;

14.5. To any person certified by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services as being 90 days or more delinquent in payment of support under an order of support entered by a court or administrative body of this or any other State, subject to the requirements and procedures of Article VII of Chapter 7 of this Code regarding those certifications;

15. To any person released from a term of imprisonment for violating Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a law of another state relating to reckless homicide or for violating subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 11-501 of this Code relating to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof, if the violation was the proximate cause of a death, within 24 months of release from a term of imprisonment;

16. To any person who, with intent to influence any act related to the issuance of any driver's license or permit, by an employee of the Secretary of State's Office, or the owner or employee of any commercial driver training school licensed by the Secretary of State, or any other individual authorized by the laws of this State to give driving instructions or administer all or part of a driver's license examination, promises or tenders to that person any property or personal advantage which that person is not authorized by law to accept. Any persons promising or tendering such property or personal advantage shall be disqualified from holding any class of driver's license or permit for 120 consecutive days. The Secretary of State shall establish by rule the procedures for implementing this period of disqualification and the procedures by which persons so disqualified may obtain administrative review of the decision to disqualify; or

17. To any person for whom the Secretary of State cannot verify the accuracy of any information or documentation submitted in application for a driver's license.

The Secretary of State shall retain all conviction information, if the information is required to be held confidential under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(Source: P.A. 93-174, eff. 1-1-04; 93-712, eff. 1-1-05; 93-783, eff. 1-1-05; 93-788, eff. 1-1-05; 93-895, eff. 1-1-05; 94-556, eff. 9-11-05.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-100) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 7-100)

Sec. 7-100. Definition of words and phrases. Notwithstanding the definitions set forth in Chapter 1, for the purposes of this Chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings ascribed to them:

Administrative order of support. An order for the support of dependent children issued by an administrative body of this or any other State.

Administrator. The Department of Transportation.

Arrearage. The total amount of unpaid support obligations.

Authenticated document. A document from a court which contains a court stamp, showing it is filed with the court, or notarized, or is certified by the custodian of the original.

Compliance with a court order of support. The support obligor is no more than an amount equal to 90 days obligation in arrears in making payments in full for current support, or in making periodic payments on a support arrearage as determined by a court.

Court order of support. A judgment order for the support of dependent children issued by a court of this State, including a judgment of dissolution of marriage. With regard to a certification by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services under subsection (c) of Section 7-702, the term "court order of support" shall include an order of support entered by a court of this or any other State.

Driver's license. A license or permit to operate a motor vehicle in the State, including the privilege of a person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not the person holds a valid license or permit.

Family financial responsibility driving permit. A permit granting limited driving privileges for employment or medical purposes following a suspension of driving privileges under the Family Financial Responsibility Law. This permit is valid only after the entry of a court order granting the permit and issuance of the permit by the Secretary of State's Office. An individual's driving privileges must be valid except for the family financial responsibility suspension in order for this permit to be issued. In order to be valid, the permit must be in the immediate possession of the driver to whom it is issued.

Judgment. A final judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction of any State, against a person as defendant for damages on account of bodily injury to or death of any person or damages to property resulting from the operation of any motor vehicle.

Obligor. The individual who owes a duty to make payments under a court order of support.

Obligee. The individual or other legal entity to whom a duty of support is owed through a court order of support or the individual's legal representatives.

(Source: P.A. 89-92, eff. 7-1-96; 90-89, eff. 1-1-98.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-701)

Sec. 7-701. Findings and purpose. The General Assembly finds that the timely receipt of adequate financial support has the effect of reducing poverty and State expenditures for welfare dependency among children, and that the timely payment of adequate child support demonstrates financial responsibility. Further, the General Assembly finds that the State has a compelling interest in ensuring that drivers within the State demonstrate financial responsibility, including family financial responsibility, in order to safely own and operate a motor vehicle. To this end, the Secretary of State is authorized to establish systems to suspend driver's licenses for failure to comply with court and administrative orders of support.

(Source: P.A. 91-613, eff. 7-1-00.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-702)

Sec. 7-702. Suspension of driver's license for failure to comply with order to pay child support.

(a) The Secretary of State shall suspend the driver's license issued to an obligor upon receiving an authenticated report provided for in subsection (a) of Section 7-703, that the person is 90 days or more delinquent in court ordered child support payments or has been adjudicated in arrears in an amount equal to 90 days obligation or more, and has been found in contempt by the court for failure to pay the support.

(b) The Secretary of State shall suspend the driver's license issued to an obligor upon receiving an authenticated document provided for in subsection (b) of Section 7-703, that the person has been adjudicated in arrears in court ordered child support payments in an amount equal to 90 days obligation or more, but has not been held in contempt of court, and that the court has ordered that the person's driving privileges be suspended. The obligor's driver's license shall be suspended until such time as the Secretary of State receives authenticated documentation that the obligor is in compliance with the court order of support. When the obligor complies with the court ordered child support payments, the circuit court shall report the obligor's compliance with the court order of support to the Secretary of State, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, and shall order that the obligor's driver's license be reinstated.

(c) The Secretary of State shall suspend a driver's license upon certification by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in a manner and form prescribed by the Illinois Secretary of State, that the person licensed is 90 days or more delinquent in payment of support under an order of support issued by a court or administrative body of this or any other State. The Secretary of State may reinstate the person's driver's license if notified by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services that the person has paid the support delinquency in full or has arranged for payment of the delinquency and current support obligation in a manner satisfactory to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(Source: P.A. 91-613, eff. 7-1-00.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-704)

Sec. 7-704. Suspension to continue until compliance with court order of support.

(a) The suspension of a driver's license shall remain in effect unless and until the Secretary of State receives authenticated documentation that the obligor is in compliance with a court order of support or that the order has been stayed by a subsequent order of the court. Full driving privileges shall not be issued by the Secretary of State until notification of compliance has been received from the court. The circuit clerks shall report the obligor's compliance with a court order of support to the Secretary of State, on a form prescribed by the Secretary.

(b) Whenever, after one suspension of an individual's driver's license for failure to pay child support, another order of non-payment is entered against the obligor and the person fails to come into compliance with the court order of support, then the Secretary shall again suspend the driver's license of the individual and that suspension shall not be removed unless the obligor is in full compliance with the court order of support and has made full payment on all arrearages.

(c) Section 7-704.1, and not this Section, governs the duration of a driver's license suspension if the suspension occurs as the result of a certification by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services under subsection (c) of Section 7-702.

(Source: P.A. 89-92, eff. 7-1-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-704.1 new)

Sec. 7-704.1. Duration of driver's license suspension upon certification of Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(a) When a suspension of a driver's license occurs as the result of a certification by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services under subsection (c) of Section 7-702, the suspension shall remain in effect until the Secretary of State receives notification from the Department that the person whose license was suspended has paid the support delinquency in full or has arranged for payment of the delinquency and current support obligation in a manner satisfactory to the Department.

(b) Whenever, after one suspension of an individual's driver's license based on certification of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, another certification is received from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Secretary shall again suspend the driver's license of that individual and that suspension shall not be removed unless the obligor is in full compliance with the order of support and has made full payment on all arrearages.

(625 ILCS 5/7-705)

Sec. 7-705. Notice. The Secretary of State, prior to suspending a driver's license under this Chapter, shall serve written notice upon an obligor that the individual's driver's license will be suspended in 60 days from the date on the notice unless (i) the obligor satisfies the court order of support and the circuit clerk notifies the Secretary of State of this compliance or (ii) if the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has made a certification to the Secretary of State under subsection (c) of Section 7-702, the Department notifies the Secretary of State that the person licensed has paid the support delinquency in full or has arranged for payment of the delinquency and current support obligation in a manner satisfactory to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 89-92, eff. 7-1-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-706)

Sec. 7-706. Administrative hearing. A driver may contest this driver's license sanction by requesting an administrative hearing in accordance with Section 2-118 of this Code. If a written request for this hearing is received prior to the effective date of the suspension, the suspension shall be stayed. If a stay of the suspension is granted, it shall remain in effect until a hearing decision is entered. At the conclusion of this hearing, the Secretary of State may rescind or impose the driver's license suspension. If the suspension is upheld, it shall become effective 10 days from the date the hearing decision is entered. If the decision is to rescind the suspension, no suspension of driving privileges shall be entered. The scope of this hearing shall be limited to the following issues:

(a) Whether the driver is the person who owes a duty to make payments under obligor covered by the court or administrative order of support.

(b) Whether (i) the authenticated document of a court order of support indicates that the obligor is 90 days or more delinquent or has been adjudicated in arrears in an amount equal to 90 days obligation or more and has been found in contempt of court for failure to pay child support or (ii) the certification of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services under subsection (c) or Section 7-702 indicates that the person is 90 days or more delinquent in payment of support under an order of support issued by a court or administrative body of this or any other State.

(c) Whether (i) a superseding authenticated document of any court order of support has been entered or (ii) the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in a superseding notification, has informed the Secretary of State that the person certified under subsection (c) of Section 7-702 has paid the support delinquency in full or has arranged for payment of the delinquency and current support obligation in a manner satisfactory to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 89-92, eff. 7-1-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-707)

Sec. 7-707. Payment of reinstatement fee. When a person an obligor receives notice from the Secretary of State that the suspension of driving privileges has been terminated based upon (i) receipt of notification from the circuit clerk of the person's obligor's compliance as obligor with a court order of support or (ii) receipt of notification from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services that the person whose driving privileges were terminated has paid the delinquency in full or has arranged for payment of the delinquency and the current support obligation in a manner satisfactory to the Department (in a case in which the person's driving privileges were suspended upon a certification by the Department under subsection (c) of Section 7-702), the obligor shall pay a $70 reinstatement fee to the Secretary of State as set forth in Section 6-118 of this Code. $30 of the $70 fee shall be deposited into the Family Responsibility Fund. In accordance with subsection (e) of Section 6-115 of this Code, the Secretary of State may decline to process a renewal of a driver's license of a person who has not paid this fee.

(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 93-32, eff. 1-1-04.)

(625 ILCS 5/7-708)

Sec. 7-708. Rules. The Secretary of State, using the authority to license motor vehicle operators, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish standards, policies, and procedures for the suspension of driver's licenses for non-compliance with a court or administrative order of support.

(Source: P.A. 89-92, eff. 7-1-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-1430 new)

Sec. 11-1430. Vehicle immobilization and impoundment upon certification of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Any municipality may provide by ordinance for a program of vehicle immobilization and impoundment in cases in which the Department of Healthcare and Family Services has certified to the municipality under Section 10-17.13 of the Illinois Public Aid Code that the registered owner of a vehicle owes past due support. The program shall provide for immobilization of any eligible vehicle upon the public way by presence of a restraint in a manner to prevent operation of the vehicle and for subsequent towing and impoundment of such vehicle solely upon the certification of past due support by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Further process, hearings, or redetermination of the past due support by the municipality shall not be required under the ordinance. The ordinance shall provide that the municipality may terminate immobilization and impoundment of the vehicle if the registered owner has arranged for payment of past and current support obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Section 15. The Income Withholding for Support Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(750 ILCS 28/15)

Sec. 15. Definitions.

(a) "Order for support" means any order of the court which provides for periodic payment of funds for the support of a child or maintenance of a spouse, whether temporary or final, and includes any such order which provides for:

(1) modification or resumption of, or payment of arrearage, including interest, accrued under, a previously existing order;

(2) reimbursement of support;

(3) payment or reimbursement of the expenses of pregnancy and delivery (for orders for support entered under the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 or its predecessor the Paternity Act); or

(4) enrollment in a health insurance plan that is available to the obligor through an employer or labor union or trade union.

(b) "Arrearage" means the total amount of unpaid support obligations, including interest, as determined by the court and incorporated into an order for support.

(b-5) "Business day" means a day on which State offices are open for regular business.

(c) "Delinquency" means any payment, including a payment of interest, under an order for support which becomes due and remains unpaid after entry of the order for support.

(d) "Income" means any form of periodic payment to an individual, regardless of source, including, but not limited to: wages, salary, commission, compensation as an independent contractor, workers' compensation, disability, annuity, pension, and retirement benefits, lottery prize awards, insurance proceeds, vacation pay, bonuses, profit-sharing payments, severance pay, interest, and any other payments, made by any person, private entity, federal or state government, any unit of local government, school district or any entity created by Public Act; however, "income" excludes:

(1) any amounts required by law to be withheld, other than creditor claims, including, but not limited to, federal, State and local taxes, Social Security and other retirement and disability contributions;

(2) union dues;

(3) any amounts exempted by the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act;

(4) public assistance payments; and

(5) unemployment insurance benefits except as provided by law.

Any other State or local laws which limit or exempt income or the amount or percentage of income that can be withheld shall not apply.

(e) "Obligor" means the individual who owes a duty to make payments under an order for support.

(f) "Obligee" means the individual to whom a duty of support is owed or the individual's legal representative.

(g) "Payor" means any payor of income to an obligor.

(h) "Public office" means any elected official or any State or local agency which is or may become responsible by law for enforcement of, or which is or may become authorized to enforce, an order for support, including, but not limited to: the Attorney General, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Public Aid, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and the various State's Attorneys, Clerks of the Circuit Court and supervisors of general assistance.

(i) "Premium" means the dollar amount for which the obligor is liable to his employer or labor union or trade union and which must be paid to enroll or maintain a child in a health insurance plan that is available to the obligor through an employer or labor union or trade union.

(j) "State Disbursement Unit" means the unit established to collect and disburse support payments in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-26 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(k) "Title IV-D Agency" means the agency of this State charged by law with the duty to administer the child support enforcement program established under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act and Article X of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(l) "Title IV-D case" means a case in which an obligee or obligor is receiving child support enforcement services under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act and Article X of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(m) "National Medical Support Notice" means the notice required for enforcement of orders for support providing for health insurance coverage of a child under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and federal regulations promulgated under those Acts.

(n) "Employer" means a payor or labor union or trade union with an employee group health insurance plan and, for purposes of the National Medical Support Notice, also includes but is not limited to:

(1) any State or local governmental agency with a group health plan; and

(2) any payor with a group health plan or "church plan" covered under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

(Source: P.A. 94-90, eff. 1-1-06; revised 12-15-05.)

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