SB1724eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1724 Engrossed LRB097 09870 HEP 50028 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding Section 3-696 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-696 new)

Sec. 3-696. Blue Star license plates.

(a) The Secretary of State, upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary, may issue special registration plates designated as Blue Star license plates to any Illinois resident whose spouse, parent, sibling, or child is serving in the United States Armed Forces. Appropriate documentation, as determined by the Secretary, and the appropriate registration fee shall accompany the application. The special plates issued pursuant to this Section may be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division, motorcycles, or motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds. Plates issued under this Section shall expire according to the staggered multi-year procedure established by Section 3-414.1 of this Code.

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

(c) An applicant shall be charged a $15 fee for original issuance in addition to the applicable registration fee. This additional fee shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. For each registration renewal period, a $2 fee, in addition to the applicable registration fee, shall be charged and shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund.