SB2751eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2751 Engrossed LRB103 36152 AWJ 66244 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 5-12022 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-12022 new)

Sec. 5-12022. Building permit fee for veterans with a disability.

(a) A veteran with a disability or the veteran's caregiver shall not be charged any building permit fee for improvements to the residence of the veteran with a disability if the improvements are required to accommodate a disability of the veteran. Nothing in this subsection changes the obligation of any person to submit to the county applications, forms, or other paperwork to obtain a building permit. A veteran or caregiver must provide proof of veteran status and attest to the fact that the improvements to the residence are required to accommodate the veteran's disability. Proof of veteran status is to be construed liberally, and veteran status shall include service in the Armed Forces of the United States, National Guard, or the reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(b) What constitutes proof of veteran status shall be determined by the county. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs may not adjudicate any dispute arising under paragraph (a).

(c) A home rule county may not regulate building permit fees in a manner inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

Section 10. The Township Code is amended by adding Section 110-17 as follows:

(60 ILCS 1/110-17 new)

Sec. 110-17. Building permit fee for veterans with a disability. A veteran with a disability or the veteran's caregiver shall not be charged any building permit fee for improvements to the residence of the veteran with a disability if the improvements are required to accommodate a disability of the veteran. Nothing in this Section changes the obligation of any person to submit to the township applications, forms, or other paperwork to obtain a building permit. A veteran or caregiver must provide proof of veteran status and attest to the fact that the improvements to the residence are required to accommodate the veteran's disability. Proof of veteran status is to be construed liberally, and veteran status shall include service in the Armed Forces of the United States, National Guard, or the reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States. What constitutes proof of veteran status shall be determined by the township. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs may not adjudicate any dispute arising under this paragraph.

Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Section 11-13-28 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-28 new)

Sec. 11-13-28. Building permit fee for veterans with a disability.

(a) A veteran with a disability or the veteran's caregiver shall not be charged any building permit fee for improvements to the residence of the veteran with a disability if the improvements are required to accommodate a disability of the veteran. Nothing in this subsection changes the obligation of any person to submit to the municipality applications, forms, or other paperwork to obtain a building permit. A veteran or caregiver must provide proof of veteran status and attest to the fact that the improvements to the residence are required to accommodate the veteran's disability. Proof of veteran status is to be construed liberally, and veteran status shall include service in the Armed Forces of the United States, National Guard, or the reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(b) What constitutes proof of veteran status shall be determined by the municipality. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs may not adjudicate any dispute arising under paragraph (a).

(c) A home rule municipality may not regulate building permit fees in a manner inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.