HB1818 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 00322 RJF 10326 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB1818

Introduced , by Rep. Tim Butler

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Bicentennial Families Act. Provides that any Illinois family that can trace its descent in this State back at least 200 years may apply to the Illinois State Archives to have that family recognized as a "Bicentennial Family". Provides requirements to qualify for recognition as a "Bicentennial Family". Provides for the duties of the State Archives in recognition of a "Bicentennial Family". Provides that all fees and costs of the application process and production of the "Bicentennial Family" certificate shall be provided by the applying family. Defines terms.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Bicentennial Families Act.

Section 5. Definitions.

"Bicentennial Family" means an Illinois family that is either lineal descendants or collateral descendants of a person or persons having resided in this State at least 200 years prior to that family's application to be recognized as a "Bicentennial Family", and the family has remained in this State since that ancestor.

"Collateral descendant" means a relative descended from a brother or sister of an ancestor, such as a niece, nephew, or cousin.

"Director" means the Director of the Illinois State Archives.

"Lineal descendant" means a person who is in a direct line of descent from an ancestor, such as a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild, and so on.

Section 10. Bicentennial families.

(a) Any Illinois family that can trace its descent in this State back at least 200 years may apply to the Illinois State Archives to have that family recognized as a "Bicentennial Family".

(b) To qualify for recognition as a "Bicentennial Family", the applicant must: (1) be an Illinois resident; (2) be a member of the family seeking to be recognized as a "Bicentennial Family"; and (3) provide documentation to the State Archives showing that his or her family is either lineal descendants or collateral descendants of a person or persons that resided in this State at least 200 years prior to that family's application to be recognized as a "Bicentennial Family", and the family has remained in this State since that ancestor.

(c) Upon receipt of the relevant documentation, the State Archives shall verify whether the requesting family qualifies to be recognized as a "Bicentennial Family". If the family qualifies as a "Bicentennial Family", then the family shall be awarded a certificate in recognition of that status by the State Archives. The design of the certificate shall be wholly within the discretion of the Director, except that the certificate shall at a minimum bear the words "Bicentennial Family" and the year in which the applicant's earliest ancestor can be traced.

(d) All fees and costs of the application process and production of the certificate shall be provided by the applying family.