SB2079 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 10253 TAE 55358 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2079

Introduced 2/15/2019, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/3-401.5 new

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall implement a program for the creation of a digital electronic license plate for the purpose of (i) providing accurate and reliable information to law enforcement regarding specific temporary uses of commercial vehicles, (ii) reducing abuse and increasing compliance with the use and transfer of commercial license plates, (iii) providing for a dual-number and dynamic plate numbering system with dynamic expiration for plates, (iv) providing digital electronic license plates for commercial vehicle sharing, ride-sharing platforms, and non-owned commercial vehicle usage, (v) providing temporary and dynamic numbering for temporary approvals issued to commercial trucks, including U.S. Department of Transportation numbers, and (vi) generating revenue for the State by and through in-state and out-of-state licensing for utilization across all states. Provides that the program shall only be available to no more than 1,000 motor vehicles that are used commercially, used for hire, or owned by a commercial business. Provides that the Secretary shall enter into a contract by December 31, 2019 with a private vendor for the purposes of researching, reporting, developing, acquiring, and implementing the utilization of a digital electronic license plate for temporary uses of commercial vehicles. Provides that on or before January 1, 2021, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the General Assembly on the operation of the program. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 adding Section 3-401.5 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-401.5 new)

Sec. 3-401.5. Temporary commercial vehicle digital electronic license plates.

(a) The Secretary of State shall implement a program for the creation of a digital electronic license plate for the purpose of (i) providing accurate and reliable information to law enforcement regarding specific temporary uses of commercial vehicles; (ii) reducing abuse and increasing compliance with the use and transfer of commercial license plates; (iii) providing for a dual-number and dynamic plate numbering system with dynamic expiration for plates; (iv) providing digital electronic license plates for commercial vehicle sharing, ride-sharing platforms, and non-owned commercial vehicle usage; (v) providing temporary and dynamic numbering for temporary approvals issued to commercial trucks, including U.S. Department of Transportation numbers; and (v) generating revenue for the State by and through in-state and out-of-state licensing for utilization across all states. This program shall only be available to no more than 1,000 motor vehicles that are used commercially, used for hire, or owned by a commercial business.

(b) As used in this Section, "digital electronic license plate" means an electronic display that is mounted on the back or side of a vehicle in place of a license plate issued by the Secretary of State pursuant to this Code or in place of numbers issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

(c) The registered owner of a vehicle interested in participating in the program shall sign an informed consent agreement designed by the Secretary of State. The form and fee shall be submitted to the Secretary of State for processing.

(d) For the purposes of developing and evaluating the use of a digital electronic license plate, the State may enter into any of the following:

(1) A request for proposals.

(2) A memorandum of understanding.

(3) A letter of intent.

(4) Other instruments deemed appropriate by the Secretary.

(e) The Secretary shall enter into a contract by December 31, 2019 with a private vendor for the purposes of researching, reporting, developing, acquiring, and implementing the utilization of a digital electronic license plate for temporary uses of commercial vehicles. The contract shall include a requirement that the private vendor pay for the costs of all relevant activities incurred by the Secretary for implementation of the program pursuant to this Section. The contract shall permit the vendor to charge a fee for each temporary use of a commercial electronic plate. The vendor shall be permitted to retain 100% of the fee charged for each temporary use until such time that it recovers its upfront costs of implementing the program, then 50% of the fee charged for each such use thereafter. The remainder shall be remitted to the Secretary for deposit into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. The contract shall also include a confidentiality provision sufficient to provide protection for the vendor's proprietary information and methods.

(f) Each temporary use of the commercial dynamic numbering shall require the vendor to utilize a variety of driver data, including, but not limited to, cross-checking motor vehicle records and the Global Terrorist Watch List database before issuing the dynamic number and authorizing use of the temporary commercial digital plate. In no event shall any temporary commercial digital dynamic number or plate be issued until after an applicant selects and purchases temporary use insurance as made available through the vendor. Such insurance shall be effective for the duration of the temporary dynamic number or usage and all properly licensed insurance providers may participate in the program.

(g) On or before January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall submit a report to the General Assembly concerning the operation of the program, including, but not limited to, the prospect of increased revenues to the State by expanding the program, the nature and cost savings associated with the program, the security and reliability of the digital electronic license plates, options for the driver of the vehicle to display and to change the messages displayed on the digital electronic license plate, and any recommendations on the future use of digital electronic license plates that the Secretary deems appropriate.

(h) This Section specifically grants authority to the Secretary of State to issue digital electronic license plates. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the Secretary of State from creating or implementing any other digital electronic license plate program for vehicles.

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