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.
  


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A BILL FOR
 

  
HB1818LRB100 00322 RJF 10326 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning government.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Bicentennial Families Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions.

7    "Bicentennial Family" means an Illinois family that is 
8either lineal descendants or collateral descendants of a person 
9or persons having resided in this State at least 200 years 
10prior to that family's application to be recognized as a 
11"Bicentennial Family", and the family has remained in this 
12State since that ancestor.

13    "Collateral descendant" means a relative descended from a 
14brother or sister of an ancestor, such as a niece, nephew, or 
15cousin.

16    "Director" means the Director of the Illinois State 
17Archives.

18    "Lineal descendant" means a person who is in a direct line 
19of descent from an ancestor, such as a child, grandchild, or 
20great-grandchild, and so on.

 
21    Section 10. Bicentennial families.

22    (a)   Any Illinois family that can trace its descent in this 
 
 
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1State back at least 200 years may apply to the Illinois State 
2Archives to have that family recognized as a "Bicentennial 
3Family".

4    (b)   To qualify for recognition as a "Bicentennial Family", 
5the applicant must: (1) be an Illinois resident; (2) be a 
6member of the family seeking to be recognized as a 
7"Bicentennial Family"; and (3) provide documentation to the 
8State Archives showing that his or her family is either lineal 
9descendants or collateral descendants of a person or persons 
10that resided in this State at least 200 years prior to that 
11family's application to be recognized as a "Bicentennial 
12Family", and the family has remained in this State since that 
13ancestor.

14    (c)    Upon receipt of the relevant documentation, the State 
15Archives shall verify whether the requesting family qualifies 
16to be recognized as a "Bicentennial Family". If the family 
17qualifies as a "Bicentennial Family", then the family shall be 
18awarded a certificate in recognition of that status by the 
19State Archives. The design of the certificate shall be wholly 
20within the discretion of the Director, except that the 
21certificate shall at a minimum bear the words "Bicentennial 
22Family" and the year in which the applicant's earliest ancestor 
23can be traced.

24    (d)    All fees and costs of the application process and 
25production of the certificate shall be provided by the applying 
26family.