Bill Text: IL SB1256 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a permanently disabled applicant is issued registration plates or a parking decal or device under the Code, the applicant shall submit proof of the applicant's permanent disability once every 5 years. Defines "proof of the applicant's permanent disability".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-24 - Referred to Assignments [SB1256 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB1256-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1256 Introduced 1/24/2025, by Sen. Steve McClure SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
625 ILCS 5/3-616 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-616
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a permanently disabled applicant is issued registration plates or a parking decal or device under the Code, the applicant shall submit proof of the applicant's permanent disability once every 5 years. Defines "proof of the applicant's permanent disability".
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A BILL FOR
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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
changing Section 3-616 as follows:
(625 ILCS 5/3-616) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-616)
Sec. 3-616. Disability license plates.
(a) Upon receiving an application for a certificate of
registration for a motor vehicle of the first division, a
motorcycle, an autocycle, or for a motor vehicle of the second
division weighing no more than 8,000 pounds, accompanied with
payment of the registration fees required under this Code from
a person with disabilities or a person who is deaf or hard of
hearing, the Secretary of State, if so requested, shall issue
to such person registration plates as provided for in Section
3-611, provided that the person with disabilities or person
who is deaf or hard of hearing must not be disqualified from
obtaining a driver's license under subsection 8 of Section
6-103 of this Code, and further provided that any person
making such a request must submit a statement, certified by a
licensed physician, by a licensed physician assistant, or by a
licensed advanced practice registered nurse, to the effect
that such person is a person with disabilities as defined by

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Section 1-159.1 of this Code, or alternatively provide
adequate documentation that such person has a Class 1A, Class
2A or Type Four disability under the provisions of Section 4A
of the Illinois Identification Card Act. For purposes of this
Section, an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification
Card issued pursuant to the Illinois Identification Card Act
indicating that the person thereon named has a disability
shall be adequate documentation of such a disability. If a
permanently disabled applicant is issued a registration plate
under this subsection, the applicant shall submit proof of the
applicant's permanent disability once every 5 years.
(b) The Secretary shall issue plates under this Section to
a parent or legal guardian of a person with disabilities if the
person with disabilities has a Class 1A or Class 2A disability
as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card
Act or is a person with disabilities as defined by Section
1-159.1 of this Code, and does not possess a vehicle
registered in his or her name, provided that the person with
disabilities relies frequently on the parent or legal guardian
for transportation. Only one vehicle per family may be
registered under this subsection, unless the applicant can
justify in writing the need for one additional set of plates.
Any person requesting special plates under this subsection
shall submit such documentation or such physician's, physician
assistant's, or advanced practice registered nurse's statement
as is required in subsection (a) and a statement describing

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the circumstances qualifying for issuance of special plates
under this subsection. An optometrist may certify a Class 2A
Visual Disability, as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois
Identification Card Act, for the purpose of qualifying a
person with disabilities for special plates under this
subsection.
(c) The Secretary may issue a parking decal or device to a
person with disabilities as defined by Section 1-159.1 without
regard to qualification of such person with disabilities for a
driver's license or registration of a vehicle by such person
with disabilities or such person's immediate family, provided
such person with disabilities making such a request has been
issued an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification
Card indicating that the person named thereon has a Class 1A or
Class 2A disability, or alternatively, submits a statement
certified by a licensed physician, or by a licensed physician
assistant or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse as
provided in subsection (a), to the effect that such person is a
person with disabilities as defined by Section 1-159.1. An
optometrist may certify a Class 2A Visual Disability as
defined in Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act
for the purpose of qualifying a person with disabilities for a
parking decal or device under this subsection. If a
permanently disabled applicant is issued a parking decal or
device under this subsection, the applicant shall submit proof
of the applicant's permanent disability once every 5 years.

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(d) The Secretary shall prescribe by rules and regulations
procedures to certify or re-certify as necessary the
eligibility of persons whose disabilities are other than
permanent for special plates or parking decals or devices
issued under subsections (a), (b) and (c). Except as provided
under subsection (f) of this Section, no such special plates,
decals or devices shall be issued by the Secretary of State to
or on behalf of any person with disabilities unless such
person is certified as meeting the definition of a person with
disabilities pursuant to Section 1-159.1 or meeting the
requirement of a Type Four disability as provided under
Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act for the
period of time that the physician, or the physician assistant
or advanced practice registered nurse as provided in
subsection (a), determines the applicant will have the
disability, but not to exceed 6 months from the date of
certification or recertification.
(e) Any person requesting special plates under this
Section may also apply to have the special plates
personalized, as provided under Section 3-405.1.
(f) The Secretary of State, upon application, shall issue
disability registration plates or a parking decal to
corporations, school districts, State or municipal agencies,
limited liability companies, nursing homes, convalescent
homes, or special education cooperatives which will transport
persons with disabilities. The Secretary shall prescribe by

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