SB3746eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3746 Engrossed LRB097 17524 HEP 65682 b

AN ACT concerning volunteer emergency responders.

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

Section 5. The State Commemorative Dates Act is amended by adding Section 126 as follows:

(5 ILCS 490/126 new)

Sec. 126. Volunteer Emergency Responder Appreciation Day. The third Thursday in May of each year is designated Volunteer Emergency Responder Appreciation Day in Illinois. Volunteer firefighters, rescue squads, divers, emergency medical technicians, and response teams sacrifice their time and lives for their communities with little or no compensation. Volunteer Emergency Responder Appreciation Day shall be observed throughout the State by the citizens of Illinois with civic remembrances of the sacrifices made on their behalf by the volunteer emergency responders of Illinois, especially the ultimate sacrifice given by those individuals who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Section 10. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act is amended by adding Section 17.2 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3305/17.2 new)

Sec. 17.2. Volunteer Emergency Responders.

(a) The Volunteer Emergency Responder Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in the Volunteer Emergency Responder Fund shall be paid, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and distribution by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, to be used for the following purposes:

(1) to purchase emergency response equipment on behalf of a volunteer emergency response provider that demonstrates need; and

(2) to hold an annual appreciation, memorial, and commemoration ceremony and other related activities.

(b) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall hold an annual meeting for volunteer emergency responders. The meeting shall meet the following objectives:

(1) provide a communication forum where emergency responders (both volunteer and professional) can join together to discuss issues facing responders throughout this State and encourage the formation of a working group of volunteer responders;

(2) provide a forum to discuss the best ways to organize, share, and coordinate resources for emergency response throughout this State; and

(3) provide a mechanism through which recommendations may be made concerning management and distribution of funds in the Volunteer Emergency Responder Fund.

The provisions of this subsection (b), other than this sentence, are inoperative after December 31, 2014.

Section 15. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.811 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.811 new)

Sec. 5.811. The Volunteer Emergency Responder Fund.

Section 20. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding Section 3-699 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-699 new)

Sec. 3-699. Illinois volunteer emergency responder license plates.

(a) The Secretary, upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary, may issue special registration plates designated as Illinois volunteer emergency responder license plates. The special plates 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 multi-year procedure established by Section 3-414.1 of this Code.

(b) The design and color of the plates is wholly within the discretion of the Secretary. The Secretary may allow the plates to be issued as vanity plates or personalized under Section 3-405.1 of the Code. The Secretary shall prescribe stickers or decals as provided under Section 3-412 of this Code.

(c) An applicant for the special plate shall be charged a $25 fee for original issuance in addition to the appropriate registration fee. Of this fee, $10 shall be deposited into the Volunteer Emergency Responder Fund and $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund, to be used by the Secretary to help defray administrative processing costs.

For each registration renewal period, a $16 fee, in addition to the appropriate registration fee, shall be charged. Of this fee, $14 shall be deposited into the Volunteer Emergency Responder Fund and $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund.

(d) Moneys in the Volunteer Emergency Responder Fund shall be distributed in accordance with Section 17.2 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.