SB0953eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0953 Engrossed LRB097 04693 HEP 44732 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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 5.786 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.786 new)

Sec. 5.786. The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Fund.

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding Section 3-696 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-696 new)

Sec. 3-696. U.S. Coast Guard license plates.

(a) In addition to any other special license plate, the Secretary, upon receipt of all applicable fees and applications made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, may issue special registration plates designated as U.S. Coast Guard license plates to residents of Illinois who meet eligibility requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State. The special plate 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 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, except that the U.S. Coast Guard emblem shall appear on the plates. 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 $20 fee for original issuance in addition to the applicable registration fee. Of this additional fee, $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund and $5 shall be deposited into the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Fund. For each registration renewal period, a $20 fee, in addition to the appropriate registration fee, shall be charged. Of this additional fee, $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund and $18 shall be deposited into the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Fund.

(d) The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All moneys in the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Fund shall, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary, be used as grants for charitable purposes and financial assistance programs sponsored by Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, Inc., a recognized charitable organization that meets the requirements of Title 26, Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Code.