102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB4240

 

Introduced 11/14/2022, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/3-616  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-616
625 ILCS 5/6-109
625 ILCS 5/11-1301.2  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1301.2
625 ILCS 5/11-1301.4  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1301.4
625 ILCS 5/11-1301.5

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the examination of an applicant 79 years (instead of 75 years) or older for a driver's license or a permit or the renewal of a driver's license shall include an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor vehicle. Makes other changes concerning references to licensed medical professionals.


LRB102 29095 NLB 41029 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB4240LRB102 29095 NLB 41029 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
5changing Sections 3-616, 6-109, 11-1301.2, 11-1301.4, and
611-1301.5 as follows:
 
7    (625 ILCS 5/3-616)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-616)
8    Sec. 3-616. Disability license plates.
9    (a) Upon receiving an application for a certificate of
10registration for a motor vehicle of the first division or for a
11motor vehicle of the second division weighing no more than
128,000 pounds, accompanied with payment of the registration
13fees required under this Code from a person with disabilities
14or a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, the Secretary of
15State, if so requested, shall issue to such person
16registration plates as provided for in Section 3-611, provided
17that the person with disabilities or person who is deaf or hard
18of hearing must not be disqualified from obtaining a driver's
19license under subsection 8 of Section 6-103 of this Code, and
20further provided that any person making such a request must
21submit a statement, certified by a licensed medical
22professional physician, by a licensed physician assistant, or
23by a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, to the

 

 

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1effect that such person is a person with disabilities as
2provided under defined by Section 1-159.1 of this Code, or
3alternatively provide adequate documentation that such person
4has a Class 1A, Class 2A or Type Four disability under the
5provisions of Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card
6Act. For purposes of this Section, an Illinois Person with a
7Disability Identification Card issued pursuant to the Illinois
8Identification Card Act indicating that the person thereon
9named has a disability shall be adequate documentation of such
10a disability.
11    (b) The Secretary shall issue plates under this Section to
12a parent or legal guardian of a person with disabilities if the
13person with disabilities has a Class 1A or Class 2A disability
14as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card
15Act or is a person with disabilities as defined by Section
161-159.1 of this Code, and does not possess a vehicle
17registered in his or her name, provided that the person with
18disabilities relies frequently on the parent or legal guardian
19for transportation. Only one vehicle per family may be
20registered under this subsection, unless the applicant can
21justify in writing the need for one additional set of plates.
22Any person requesting special plates under this subsection
23shall submit such documentation or such licensed medical
24professional's physician's, physician assistant's, or advanced
25practice registered nurse's statement as is required in
26subsection (a) and a statement describing the circumstances

 

 

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1qualifying for issuance of special plates under this
2subsection. An optometrist may certify a Class 2A Visual
3Disability, as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois
4Identification Card Act, for the purpose of qualifying a
5person with disabilities for special plates under this
6subsection.
7    (c) The Secretary may issue a parking decal or device to a
8person with disabilities as defined by Section 1-159.1 without
9regard to qualification of such person with disabilities for a
10driver's license or registration of a vehicle by such person
11with disabilities or such person's immediate family, provided
12such person with disabilities making such a request has been
13issued an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification
14Card indicating that the person named thereon has a Class 1A or
15Class 2A disability, or alternatively, submits a statement
16certified by a licensed medical professional physician, or by
17a licensed physician assistant or a licensed advanced practice
18registered nurse as provided in subsection (a), to the effect
19that such person is a person with disabilities as provided
20under defined by Section 1-159.1. An optometrist may certify a
21Class 2A Visual Disability as defined in Section 4A of the
22Illinois Identification Card Act for the purpose of qualifying
23a person with disabilities for a parking decal or device under
24this subsection.
25    (d) The Secretary shall prescribe by rules and regulations
26procedures to certify or re-certify as necessary the

 

 

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1eligibility of persons whose disabilities are other than
2permanent for special plates or parking decals or devices
3issued under subsections (a), (b) and (c). Except as provided
4under subsection (f) of this Section, no such special plates,
5decals or devices shall be issued by the Secretary of State to
6or on behalf of any person with disabilities unless such
7person is certified as meeting the definition of a person with
8disabilities pursuant to Section 1-159.1 or meeting the
9requirement of a Type Four disability as provided under
10Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act for the
11period of time that the licensed medical professional,
12physician, or the physician assistant or advanced practice
13registered nurse as provided in subsection (a), determines the
14applicant will have the disability, but not to exceed 6 months
15from the date of certification or recertification.
16    (e) Any person requesting special plates under this
17Section may also apply to have the special plates
18personalized, as provided under Section 3-405.1.
19    (f) The Secretary of State, upon application, shall issue
20disability registration plates or a parking decal to
21corporations, school districts, State or municipal agencies,
22limited liability companies, nursing homes, convalescent
23homes, or special education cooperatives which will transport
24persons with disabilities. The Secretary shall prescribe by
25rule a means to certify or re-certify the eligibility of
26organizations to receive disability plates or decals and to

 

 

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1designate which of the 2 person with disabilities emblems
2shall be placed on qualifying vehicles.
3    (g) The Secretary of State, or his designee, may enter
4into agreements with other jurisdictions, including foreign
5jurisdictions, on behalf of this State relating to the
6extension of parking privileges by such jurisdictions to
7residents of this State with disabilities who display a
8special license plate or parking device that contains the
9International symbol of access on his or her motor vehicle,
10and to recognize such plates or devices issued by such other
11jurisdictions. This State shall grant the same parking
12privileges which are granted to residents of this State with
13disabilities to any non-resident whose motor vehicle is
14licensed in another state, district, territory or foreign
15country if such vehicle displays the international symbol of
16access or a distinguishing insignia on license plates or
17parking device issued in accordance with the laws of the
18non-resident's state, district, territory or foreign country.
19    (h) For purposes of this Section, "licensed medical
20professional" means any licensed professional specified under
21Section 1-159.1 of this Code for purposes of determining or
22certifying whether a person is a person with disabilities.
23(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-173, eff. 7-29-15;
2499-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)
 
25    (625 ILCS 5/6-109)

 

 

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1    Sec. 6-109. Examination of applicants.
2    (a) The Secretary of State shall examine every applicant
3for a driver's license or permit who has not been previously
4licensed as a driver under the laws of this State or any other
5state or country, or any applicant for renewal of such
6driver's license or permit when such license or permit has
7been expired for more than one year. The Secretary of State
8shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (c), examine
9every licensed driver at least every 8 years, and may examine
10or re-examine any other applicant or licensed driver, provided
11that during the years 1984 through 1991 those drivers issued a
12license for 3 years may be re-examined not less than every 7
13years or more than every 10 years.
14    The Secretary of State shall require the testing of the
15eyesight of any driver's license or permit applicant who has
16not been previously licensed as a driver under the laws of this
17State and shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide
18for the orderly administration of all the provisions of this
19Section.
20    The Secretary of State shall include at least one test
21question that concerns the provisions of the Pedestrians with
22Disabilities Safety Act in the question pool used for the
23written portion of the driver's license examination within one
24year after July 22, 2010 (the effective date of Public Act
2596-1167).
26    The Secretary of State shall include, in the question pool

 

 

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1used for the written portion of the driver's license
2examination, test questions concerning safe driving in the
3presence of bicycles, of which one may be concerning the Dutch
4Reach method as described in Section 2-112.
5    The Secretary of State shall include, in the question pool
6used for the written portion of the driver's license
7examination, at least one test question concerning driver
8responsibilities when approaching a stationary emergency
9vehicle as described in Section 11-907.
10    (b) Except as provided for those applicants in paragraph
11(c), such examination shall include a test of the applicant's
12eyesight, his or her ability to read and understand official
13traffic control devices, his or her knowledge of safe driving
14practices and the traffic laws of this State, and may include
15an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise
16ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor
17vehicle, and such further physical and mental examination as
18the Secretary of State finds necessary to determine the
19applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely on the
20highways, except the examination of an applicant 79 75 years
21of age or older shall include an actual demonstration of the
22applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable
23control of the operation of a motor vehicle. All portions of
24written and verbal examinations under this Section, excepting
25where the English language appears on facsimiles of road
26signs, may be given in the Spanish language and, at the

 

 

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1discretion of the Secretary of State, in any other language as
2well as in English upon request of the examinee. Deaf persons
3who are otherwise qualified are not prohibited from being
4issued a license, other than a commercial driver's license,
5under this Code.
6    (c) Re-examination for those applicants who at the time of
7renewing their driver's license possess a driving record
8devoid of any convictions of traffic violations or evidence of
9committing an offense for which mandatory revocation would be
10required upon conviction pursuant to Section 6-205 at the time
11of renewal shall be in a manner prescribed by the Secretary in
12order to determine an applicant's ability to safely operate a
13motor vehicle, except that every applicant for the renewal of
14a driver's license who is 79 75 years of age or older must
15prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to
16exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor
17vehicle.
18    (d) In the event the applicant is not ineligible under the
19provisions of Section 6-103 to receive a driver's license, the
20Secretary of State shall make provision for giving an
21examination, either in the county where the applicant resides
22or at a place adjacent thereto reasonably convenient to the
23applicant, within not more than 30 days from the date said
24application is received.
25    (e) The Secretary of State may adopt rules regarding the
26use of foreign language interpreters during the application

 

 

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1and examination process.
2(Source: P.A. 100-770, eff. 1-1-19; 100-962, eff. 1-1-19;
3101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-174, eff. 1-1-20.)
 
4    (625 ILCS 5/11-1301.2)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1301.2)
5    Sec. 11-1301.2. Special decals for parking; persons with
6disabilities.
7    (a) The Secretary of State shall provide for, by
8administrative rules, the design, size, color, and placement
9of a person with disabilities motorist decal or device and
10shall provide for, by administrative rules, the content and
11form of an application for a person with disabilities motorist
12decal or device, which shall be used by local authorities in
13the issuance thereof to a person with temporary disabilities,
14provided that the decal or device is valid for no more than 90
15days, subject to renewal for like periods based upon continued
16disability, and further provided that the decal or device
17clearly sets forth the date that the decal or device expires.
18The application shall include the requirement of an Illinois
19Identification Card number or a State of Illinois driver's
20license number or, if the applicant does not have an
21identification card or driver's license number, then the
22applicant may use a valid identification number issued by a
23branch of the U.S. military or a federally issued Medicare or
24Medicaid identification number. This decal or device may be
25used by the authorized holder to designate and identify a

 

 

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1vehicle not owned or displaying a registration plate or
2digital registration plate as provided in Sections 3-609 and
33-616 of this Act to designate when the vehicle is being used
4to transport said person or persons with disabilities, and
5thus is entitled to enjoy all the privileges that would be
6afforded a person with disabilities licensed vehicle. Person
7with disabilities decals or devices issued and displayed
8pursuant to this Section shall be recognized and honored by
9all local authorities regardless of which local authority
10issued such decal or device.
11    The decal or device shall be issued only upon a showing by
12adequate documentation that the person for whose benefit the
13decal or device is to be used has a disability as defined in
14Section 1-159.1 of this Code and the disability is temporary.
15    (a-5) The Secretary may provide a disabilities motorist
16decal or device to an expectant mother during her third
17trimester. An application under this subsection is subject to
18application requirements under subsection (a). The decal or
19device shall be valid for no more than 90 days, and shall
20clearly set forth the date that the decal or device expires.
21The decal or device shall be issued only upon a showing by
22adequate documentation that the expectant mother has entered
23her third trimester.
24    (b) The local governing authorities shall be responsible
25for the provision of such decal or device, its issuance and
26designated placement within the vehicle. The cost of such

 

 

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1decal or device shall be at the discretion of such local
2governing authority.
3    (c) The Secretary of State may, pursuant to Section
43-616(c), issue a person with disabilities parking decal or
5device to a person with disabilities as defined by Section
61-159.1. Any person with disabilities parking decal or device
7issued by the Secretary of State shall be registered to that
8person with disabilities in the form to be prescribed by the
9Secretary of State. The person with disabilities parking decal
10or device shall not display that person's address. One
11additional decal or device may be issued to an applicant upon
12his or her written request and with the approval of the
13Secretary of State. The written request must include a
14justification of the need for the additional decal or device.
15    (c-5) Beginning January 1, 2014, the Secretary shall
16provide by administrative rule for the issuance of a separate
17and distinct parking decal or device for persons with
18disabilities as defined by Section 1-159.1 of this Code and
19who meet the qualifications under this subsection. The
20authorized holder of a decal or device issued under this
21subsection (c-5) shall be exempt from the payment of fees
22generated by parking in a metered space, a parking area
23subject to paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Section 11-209
24of this Code, or a publicly owned parking area.
25    The Secretary shall issue a meter-exempt decal or device
26to a person with disabilities who: (i) has been issued

 

 

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1registration plates or digital registration plates under
2subsection (a) of Section 3-609 or Section 3-616 of this Code
3or a special decal or device under this Section, (ii) holds a
4valid Illinois driver's license, and (iii) is unable to do one
5or more of the following:
6        (1) manage, manipulate, or insert coins, or obtain
7    tickets or tokens in parking meters or ticket machines in
8    parking lots, due to the lack of fine motor control of both
9    hands;
10        (2) reach above his or her head to a height of 42
11    inches from the ground, due to a lack of finger, hand, or
12    upper extremity strength or mobility;
13        (3) approach a parking meter due to his or her use of a
14    wheelchair or other device for mobility; or
15        (4) walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic,
16    neurological, cardiovascular, or lung condition in which
17    the degree of debilitation is so severe that it almost
18    completely impedes the ability to walk.
19    The application for a meter-exempt parking decal or device
20shall contain a statement certified by a licensed medical
21professional, as specified under Section 1-159.1 of this Code,
22physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice
23registered nurse attesting to the permanent nature of the
24applicant's condition and verifying that the applicant meets
25the physical qualifications specified in this subsection
26(c-5).

 

 

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1    Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection (c-5),
2the Secretary shall issue a meter-exempt decal or device to a
3person who has been issued registration plates or digital
4registration plates under Section 3-616 of this Code or a
5special decal or device under this Section, if the applicant
6is the parent or guardian of a person with disabilities who is
7under 18 years of age and incapable of driving.
8    (d) Replacement decals or devices may be issued for lost,
9stolen, or destroyed decals upon application and payment of a
10$10 fee. The replacement fee may be waived for individuals
11that have claimed and received a grant under the Senior
12Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief
13Act.
14    (e) A person classified as a veteran under subsection (e)
15of Section 6-106 of this Code that has been issued a decal or
16device under this Section shall not be required to submit
17evidence of disability in order to renew that decal or device
18if, at the time of initial application, he or she submitted
19evidence from his or her physician or the Department of
20Veterans' Affairs that the disability is of a permanent
21nature. However, the Secretary shall take reasonable steps to
22ensure the veteran still resides in this State at the time of
23the renewal. These steps may include requiring the veteran to
24provide additional documentation or to appear at a Secretary
25of State facility. To identify veterans who are eligible for
26this exemption, the Secretary shall compare the list of the

 

 

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1persons who have been issued a decal or device to the list of
2persons who have been issued a vehicle registration plate or
3digital registration plate for veterans with disabilities
4under Section 3-609 of this Code, or who are identified as a
5veteran on their driver's license under Section 6-110 of this
6Code or on their identification card under Section 4 of the
7Illinois Identification Card Act.
8(Source: P.A. 101-395, eff. 8-16-19; 102-453, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
9    (625 ILCS 5/11-1301.4)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1301.4)
10    Sec. 11-1301.4. Reciprocal agreements with other
11jurisdictions; temporary decal.
12    (a) The Secretary of State, or his designee, may enter
13into agreements with other jurisdictions, including foreign
14jurisdictions, on behalf of this State relating to the
15extension of parking privileges by such jurisdictions to
16residents of this State with disabilities who display a
17special license plate or parking device that contains the
18International symbol of access on his or her motor vehicle,
19and to recognize such plates or devices issued by such other
20jurisdictions. This State shall grant the same parking
21privileges which are granted to residents of this State with
22disabilities to any non-resident whose motor vehicle is
23licensed in another state, district, territory or foreign
24country if such vehicle displays the International symbol of
25access or a distinguishing insignia on license plates or

 

 

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1parking device issued in accordance with the laws of the
2non-resident's state, district, territory or foreign country.
3    (b) The Secretary may issue a one-time decal or device to
4any non-resident of this State who is a person with
5disabilities and who is displaced from another jurisdiction
6due to a national disaster as declared by the federal
7government. The person shall provide the Secretary proof that
8he or she is residing at an Illinois residence for the duration
9of his or her time in this State and proof of disability,
10including, but not limited to, a device or decal issued by
11another jurisdiction, a designation on a driver's license or
12identification card issued by another jurisdiction, or a
13medical certification by an Illinois licensed medical
14professional, as specified under Section 1-159.1 of this Code
15physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice
16registered nurse. A device or decal issued under this
17subsection (b) shall be valid for a period not to exceed 6
18months.
19(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-702, eff. 1-1-19.)
 
20    (625 ILCS 5/11-1301.5)
21    Sec. 11-1301.5. Fictitious or unlawfully altered
22disability license plate or parking decal or device.
23    (a) As used in this Section:
24    "Fictitious disability license plate or parking decal or
25device" means any issued disability license plate or parking

 

 

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1decal or device, or any license plate issued to a veteran with
2a disability under Section 3-609 of this Code, that has been
3issued by the Secretary of State or an authorized unit of local
4government that was issued based upon false information
5contained on the required application.
6    "False information" means any incorrect or inaccurate
7information concerning the name, date of birth, social
8security number, driver's license number, military
9identification number, Medicaid or Medicare identification
10number, medical professional physician certification, or any
11other information required on the Persons with Disabilities
12Certification for Plate or Parking Placard, on the Application
13for Replacement Disability Parking Placard, or on the
14application for license plates issued to veterans with
15disabilities under Section 3-609 of this Code, that falsifies
16the content of the application.
17    "Unlawfully altered disability license plate or parking
18permit or device" means any disability license plate or
19parking permit or device, or any license plate issued to a
20veteran with a disability under Section 3-609 of this Code,
21issued by the Secretary of State or an authorized unit of local
22government that has been physically altered or changed in such
23manner that false information appears on the license plate or
24parking decal or device.
25    "Authorized holder" means an individual issued a
26disability license plate under Section 3-616 of this Code or

 

 

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1an individual issued a parking decal or device under Section
211-1301.2 of this Code, or an individual issued a license
3plate for veterans with disabilities under Section 3-609 of
4this Code.
5    (b) It is a violation of this Section for any person:
6        (1) to knowingly possess any fictitious or unlawfully
7    altered disability license plate or parking decal or
8    device;
9        (2) to knowingly issue or assist in the issuance of,
10    by the Secretary of State or unit of local government, any
11    fictitious disability license plate or parking decal or
12    device;
13        (3) to knowingly alter any disability license plate or
14    parking decal or device;
15        (4) to knowingly manufacture, possess, transfer, or
16    provide any documentation used in the application process
17    whether real or fictitious, for the purpose of obtaining a
18    fictitious disability license plate or parking decal or
19    device;
20        (5) to knowingly provide any false information to the
21    Secretary of State or a unit of local government in order
22    to obtain a disability license plate or parking decal or
23    device;
24        (6) to knowingly transfer a disability license plate
25    or parking decal or device for the purpose of exercising
26    the privileges granted to an authorized holder of a

 

 

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1    disability license plate or parking decal or device under
2    this Code in the absence of the authorized holder; or
3        (7) who is a licensed medical professional, as
4    specified under Section 1-159.1 of this Code, physician,
5    physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse
6    to knowingly falsify a certification that a person is a
7    person with disabilities as defined by Section 1-159.1 of
8    this Code.
9    (c) Sentence.
10        (1) Any person convicted of a violation of paragraph
11    (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (7) of subsection (b) of this
12    Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and fined
13    not less than $1,000 for a first offense and shall be
14    guilty of a Class 4 felony and fined not less than $2,000
15    for a second or subsequent offense. Any person convicted
16    of a violation of subdivision (b)(6) of this Section is
17    guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less
18    than $1,000 for a first offense and not less than $2,000
19    for a second or subsequent offense. The circuit clerk
20    shall distribute one-half of any fine imposed on any
21    person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to
22    violating this Section, including any person placed on
23    court supervision for violating this Section, to the law
24    enforcement agency that issued the citation or made the
25    arrest. If more than one law enforcement agency is
26    responsible for issuing the citation or making the arrest,

 

 

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1    one-half of the fine imposed shall be shared equally.
2        (2) Any person who commits a violation of this Section
3    or a similar provision of a local ordinance may have his or
4    her driving privileges suspended or revoked by the
5    Secretary of State for a period of time determined by the
6    Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may suspend or
7    revoke the parking decal or device or the disability
8    license plate of any person who commits a violation of
9    this Section.
10        (3) Any police officer may seize the parking decal or
11    device from any person who commits a violation of this
12    Section. Any police officer may seize the disability
13    license plate upon authorization from the Secretary of
14    State. Any police officer may request that the Secretary
15    of State revoke the parking decal or device or the
16    disability license plate of any person who commits a
17    violation of this Section.
18(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18;
19100-702, eff. 1-1-19.)