HB4665eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4665 Engrossed LRB095 16847 WGH 42885 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States of America, led the nation with both courage and compassion during one of the most turbulent periods of American history; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln invoked the basic principles of human equality espoused in the Declaration of Independence, thereby redefining the objective of the American Civil War from saving the union to fostering "a new birth of freedom" and refocusing the underlying purpose of government to be an institution "of the people, by the people and for the people"; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln took inspiration from the phrase in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal" by leading the effort to fulfill the promise of this great Nation in order to bring an end to slavery; and

WHEREAS, The year 2009 will mark the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln on February 12, 1809; and

WHEREAS, There is a national effort underway to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth and to honor the legacy of his service and sacrifice to his country; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the prominent role that Illinois and Illinoisans played in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, Illinois historical, tourist, and civic groups are preparing events and activities to commemorate the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth; and

WHEREAS, A National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and an Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission have been created; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly introduces the Lincoln Bicentennial license plates to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth; and

WHEREAS, The additional fees associated with the Lincoln Bicentennial license plates will benefit the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship program, a legacy initiative of the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission; therefore

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

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.708 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.708 new)

Sec. 5.708. The Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund.

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding Section 3-680 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-680 new)

Sec. 3-680. Lincoln Bicentennial license plates.

(a) The Secretary, upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary, may issue special registration plates designated as Lincoln Bicentennial license plates. The special plates issued under this Section shall be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds. Plates issued under this Section shall expire according to the multi-year procedure established by Section 3-414.1 of this Code.

(b) The design and color of the plates is wholly within the discretion of the Secretary. The Secretary may allow the plates to be issued as vanity plates or personalized under Section 3-405.1 of the Code. The Secretary shall prescribe stickers or decals as provided under Section 3-412 of this Code.

(c) An applicant for the special plate shall be charged a $25 fee for original issuance in addition to the appropriate registration fee. Of this fee, $10 shall be deposited into the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund and $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund, to be used by the Secretary to help defray the administrative processing costs.

For each registration renewal period, a $25 fee, in addition to the appropriate registration fee, shall be charged. Of this fee, $23 shall be deposited into the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund and $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund.

(d) The Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund shall be paid, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary, as grants to the Illinois Community College System Foundation for scholarships to be distributed to students at public and private Illinois colleges and universities who are recipients of scholarships under the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship program, founded by the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

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