Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 094-0526
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Public Act 094-0526


 

Public Act 0526 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY



 


 
Public Act 094-0526
 
SB0397 Enrolled LRB094 09071 RSP 39295 b

    AN ACT concerning safety.
 
    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 1-101.5 and adding Section 13B-99 and Chapter 13C as
follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/1-101.5)
    Sec. 1-101.5. Agency. For the purposes of Chapters Chapter
13B and 13C, "Agency" means the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency.
(Source: P.A. 90-89, eff. 1-1-98.)
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13B-99 new)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2007)
    Sec. 13B-99. Repeal. This Chapter 13B is repealed on July
1, 2007.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/Ch. 13C heading new)
CHAPTER 13C. EMISSION INSPECTION

 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-1 new)
    Sec. 13C-1. Short title. This Chapter may be cited as the
Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law of 2005.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-5 new)
    Sec. 13C-5. Definitions. For the purposes of this Chapter:
    "Affected counties" means Cook County; DuPage County; Lake
County; those parts of Kane County that are not included within
any of the following ZIP code areas, as designated by the U.S.
Postal Service on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 94th General Assembly: 60109, 60119, 60135, 60140, 60142,
60144, 60147, 60151, 60152, 60178, 60182, 60511, 60520, 60545,
and 60554; those parts of Kendall County that are not included
within any of the following ZIP code areas, as designated by
the U.S. Postal Service on the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly: 60447, 60450,
60512, 60536, 60537, 60541, those parts of 60543 that are not
within the census defined urbanized area, 60545, 60548, and
60560; those parts of McHenry County that are not included
within any of the following ZIP code areas, as designated by
the U.S. Postal Service on the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly: 60001, 60033,
60034, 60071, 60072, 60097, 60098, 60135, 60142, 60152, and
60180; those parts of Will County that are not included within
any of the following ZIP code areas, as designated by the U.S.
Postal Service on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 94th General Assembly: 60401, 60407, 60408, 60410, 60416,
60418, 60421, 60442, 60447, 60468, 60481, 60935, and 60950;
those parts of Madison County that are not included within any
of the following ZIP code areas, as designated by the U.S.
Postal Service on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 94th General Assembly: 62001, 62012, 62021, 62026, 62046,
62058, 62061, 62067, 62074, 62086, 62088, 62097, 62249, 62275,
62281, and 62293; those parts of Monroe County that are not
included within any of the following ZIP code areas, as
designated by the U.S. Postal Service on the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly: 62244, 62248,
62256, 62261, 62264, 62276, 62277, 62278, 62279, 62295, and
62298; and those parts of St. Clair County that are not
included within any of the following ZIP code areas, as
designated by the U.S. Postal Service on the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly: 62224, 62243,
62248, 62254, 62255, 62257, 62258, 62260, 62264, 62265, 62269,
62278, 62282, 62285, 62289, 62293, and 62298.
    "Board" means the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
    "Claim evaluation center" means an automotive diagnostic
facility that meets the standards prescribed by the Agency for
performing examinations of vehicle emissions inspection damage
claims.
    "Contractor" means the vehicle emissions test contractor
for official inspection stations described in Section 13C-45.
    "Diagnostic code" means a code stored in a vehicle's
on-board diagnostic computer to indicate the occurrence of an
emissions-related condition or malfunction.
    "Inspection area" means Cook County, DuPage County, Lake
County, and those portions of Kane, Kendall, Madison, McHenry,
Monroe, Will, and St. Clair Counties included in the definition
of "affected counties".
    "Malfunction indicator lamp" means a dashboard lamp
designed to illuminate to alert the driver to the occurrence of
a problem or condition resulting in excessive emissions.
    "On-board diagnostic system" or "OBD system" means the
computer-based system built into all 1996 and newer light-duty
vehicles and trucks, as required by the federal Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990, that is designed to monitor the performance
of major engine and emissions controls, to alert the operator
to emissions-related malfunctions, and to store diagnostic
codes and other vehicle operating information useful in
repairing the vehicle.
    "Official inspection station" means a structure or
physical location where the Agency has authorized vehicle
emissions testing to be conducted.
    "Owner" means the registered owner of the vehicle, as
indicated on the vehicle's registration. In the case of an
unregistered vehicle, "owner" has the meaning set forth in
Section 1-155 of this Code.
    "Program" means the vehicle emission inspection program
established under this Chapter.
    "Readiness status" means an indication of whether a
vehicle's on-board diagnostic system has completed a periodic
check of the performance of a monitored system or component.
    "Resident" includes natural persons, foreign and domestic
corporations, partnerships, associations, and all other
commercial and governmental entities. For the purpose of
determining residence, the owner of a vehicle shall be presumed
to reside at the address indicated on the vehicle's
registration. A governmental entity, including the federal
government and its agencies, and any unit of local government
or school district, any part of which is located within an
affected county, shall be deemed a resident of an affected
county for the purpose of any vehicle that is owned by the
governmental entity and regularly operated in an affected
county.
    "Registration" of a vehicle means its registration under
Article IV of Chapter 3 of this Code.
    "Vehicle age" means the numerical difference between the
current calendar year and the vehicle model year.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-10 new)
    Sec. 13C-10. Program.
    (a) The Agency shall establish a program to begin February
1, 2007, to reduce the emission of pollutants by motor
vehicles. This program shall be a replacement for and
continuation of the program established under the Vehicle
Emissions Inspection Law of 1995, Chapter 13B of this Code.
    At a minimum, this program shall provide for all of the
following:
        (1) The inspection of certain motor vehicles every 2
    years, as required under Section 13C-15.
        (2) The establishment and operation of official
    inspection stations.
        (3) The designation of official test equipment and
    testing procedures.
        (4) The training and supervision of inspectors and
    other personnel.
        (5) Procedures to assure the correct operation,
    maintenance, and calibration of test equipment.
        (6) Procedures for certifying test results and for
    reporting and maintaining relevant data and records.
    (b) The Agency shall provide for the operation of a
sufficient number of official inspection stations to prevent
undue difficulty for motorists to obtain the inspections
required under this Chapter. In the event that the Agency
operates inspection stations or contracts with one or more
parties to operate inspection stations on its behalf, the
Agency shall endeavor to: (i) locate the stations so that the
owners of vehicles subject to inspection reside within 12 miles
of an official inspection station; and (ii) have sufficient
inspection capacity at the stations so that the usual wait
before the start of an inspection does not exceed 15 minutes.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-15 new)
    Sec. 13C-15. Inspections.
    (a) Beginning with the implementation of the program
required by this Chapter, every motor vehicle that is owned by
a resident of an affected county, other than a vehicle that is
exempt under subsection (f) or (g), is subject to inspection
under the program.
    The Agency shall send notice of the assigned inspection
month, at least 15 days before the beginning of the assigned
month, to the owner of each vehicle subject to the program. An
initial emission inspection sticker or initial inspection
certificate, as the case may be, expires on the last day of the
third month following the month assigned by the Agency for the
first inspection of the vehicle. A renewal inspection sticker
or certificate expires on the last day of the third month
following the month assigned for inspection in the year in
which the vehicle's next inspection is required.
    The Agency or its agent may issue an interim emission
inspection sticker or certificate for any vehicle subject to
inspection that does not have a currently valid emission
inspection sticker or certificate at the time the Agency is
notified by the Secretary of State of its registration by a new
owner, and for which an initial emission inspection sticker or
certificate has already been issued. An interim emission
inspection sticker or certificate expires no later than the
last day of the sixth complete calendar month after the date
the Agency issued the interim emission inspection sticker or
certificate.
    The owner of each vehicle subject to inspection shall
obtain an emission inspection sticker or certificate for the
vehicle in accordance with this subsection. Before the
expiration of the emission inspection sticker or certificate,
the owner shall have the vehicle inspected and, upon
demonstration of compliance, obtain a renewal emission
inspection sticker or certificate. A renewal emission
inspection sticker or certificate shall not be issued more than
5 months before the expiration date of the previous inspection
sticker or certificate.
    (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), vehicles shall be
inspected every 2 years on a schedule that begins either in the
second, fourth, or later calendar year after the vehicle model
year. The beginning test schedule shall be set by the Agency
and shall be consistent with the State's requirements for
emission reductions as determined by the applicable United
States Environmental Protection Agency vehicle emissions
estimation model and applicable guidance and rules.
    (c) A vehicle may be inspected at a time outside of its
normal 2-year inspection schedule, if (i) the vehicle was
acquired by a new owner and (ii) the vehicle was required to be
in compliance with this Act at the time the vehicle was
acquired by the new owner, but it was not then in compliance.
    (d) The owner of a vehicle subject to inspection shall have
the vehicle inspected and shall obtain and display on the
vehicle or carry within the vehicle, in a manner specified by
the Agency, a valid unexpired emission inspection sticker or
certificate in the manner specified by the Agency. A person who
violates this subsection (d) is guilty of a petty offense,
except that a third or subsequent violation within one year of
the first violation is a Class C misdemeanor. The fine imposed
for a violation of this subsection shall be not less than $50
if the violation occurred within 60 days following the date by
which a new or renewal emission inspection sticker or
certificate was required to be obtained for the vehicle, and
not less than $300 if the violation occurred more than 60 days
after that date.
    (e) For a $20 fee, to be paid into the Vehicle Inspection
Fund, the Agency may inspect:
        (1) A vehicle registered in and subject to the emission
    inspections requirements of another state.
        (2) A vehicle presented for inspection on a voluntary
    basis.
    Any fees collected under this subsection shall not offset
Motor Fuel Tax Funds normally appropriated for the program.
    (f) The following vehicles are not subject to inspection:
        (1) Vehicles not subject to registration under Article
    IV of Chapter 3 of this Code, other than vehicles owned by
    the federal government.
        (2) Motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and motorized
    pedalcycles.
        (3) Farm vehicles and implements of husbandry.
        (4) Implements of warfare owned by the State or federal
    government.
        (5) Antique vehicles, custom vehicles, street rods,
    and vehicles of model year 1967 or before.
        (6) Vehicles operated exclusively for parade or
    ceremonial purposes by any veterans, fraternal, or civic
    organization, organized on a not-for-profit basis.
        (7) Vehicles for which the Secretary of State, under
    Section 3-117 of this Code, has issued a Junking
    Certificate.
        (8) Diesel powered vehicles and vehicles that are
    powered exclusively by electricity.
        (9) Vehicles operated exclusively in organized amateur
    or professional sporting activities, as defined in Section
    3.310 of the Environmental Protection Act.
        (10) Vehicles registered in, subject to, and in
    compliance with the emission inspection requirements of
    another state.
        (11) Vehicles participating in an OBD continuous
    monitoring program operated in accordance with procedures
    adopted by the Agency.
        (12) Vehicles of model year 1995 or earlier that do not
    have an expired emissions test sticker or certificate on
    February 1, 2007.
    The Agency may issue temporary or permanent exemption
stickers or certificates for vehicles temporarily or
permanently exempt from inspection under this subsection (f).
An exemption sticker or certificate does not need to be
displayed.
    (g) According to criteria that the Agency may adopt, a
motor vehicle may be exempted from the inspection requirements
of this Section by the Agency on the basis of an Agency
determination that the vehicle is located and primarily used
outside of the affected counties or in other jurisdictions
where vehicle emission inspections are not required. The Agency
may issue an annual exemption sticker or certificate without
inspection for any vehicle exempted from inspection under this
subsection.
    (h) Any owner or lessee of a fleet of 15 or more motor
vehicles that are subject to inspection under this Section may
apply to the Agency for a permit to establish and operate a
private official inspection station in accordance with rules
adopted by the Agency.
    (i) Pursuant to Title 40, Section 51.371 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, the Agency may establish a program of
on-road testing of in-use vehicles through the use of remote
sensing devices. In any such program, the Agency shall evaluate
the emission performance of 0.5% of the subject fleet or 20,000
vehicles, whichever is less. Under no circumstances shall
on-road testing include any sort of roadblock or roadside
pullover or cause any type of traffic delay. If, during the
course of an on-road inspection, a vehicle is found to exceed
the on-road emissions standards established for the model year
and type of vehicle, the Agency shall send a notice to the
vehicle owner. The notice shall document the occurrence and the
results of the on-road exceedance. The notice of a second
on-road exceedance shall indicate that the vehicle has been
reassigned and is subject to an out-of-cycle follow-up
inspection at an official inspection station. In no case shall
the Agency send a notice of an on-road exceedance to the owner
of a vehicle that was found to exceed the on-road emission
standards established for the model year and type of vehicle,
if the vehicle is registered outside of the affected counties.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-20 new)
    Sec. 13C-20. Rules and standards.
    (a) The rules and emission standards adopted under
subsection (a) of Section 13B-20 of this Code shall apply to
the program established under this Chapter and continue in
effect until amended or repealed by the Board under this
subsection.
    The Agency shall propose any other standards necessary to
achieve reductions in the emission of hydrocarbons, carbon
monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen from motor vehicles subject to
inspection under this Chapter. Within 120 days after the Agency
proposes those standards, the Board shall adopt any necessary
rules establishing standards for the emission of hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen from motor vehicles
subject to inspection under this Chapter. The rules may be
amended from time to time pursuant to Agency proposals. The
Board shall set standards necessary to achieve the reductions
in vehicle hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of
nitrogen emissions, as determined by the applicable vehicle
emission estimation model and rules developed by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency, that are required by
the federal Clean Air Act. A predetermined rate of failure
shall not be used in determining standards necessary to achieve
the reductions in vehicle hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and
oxides of nitrogen emissions. The emission standards
established by the Board for vehicles of model year 1981 or
later shall be identical in substance, as defined in Section
7.2(a) of the Environmental Protection Act, to the emission
standards promulgated by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency.
    Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,
subsection (b) of Section 27 of the Environmental Protection
Act and the rulemaking provisions of the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act do not apply to rules adopted by
the Board under this subsection. Challenges to the validity of
rules adopted by the Board under this subsection or subsection
(a) of Section 13B-20 may be brought only by filing a petition
for review in the Appellate Court under Section 29 of the
Environmental Protection Act within 35 days after the rule is
filed with the Secretary of State.
    (b) The procedures established by the Agency under
subsection (b) of Section 13B-20 of this Code shall apply to
the program established under this Chapter and remain in effect
until amended or repealed under this subsection. The Agency may
at any time amend or repeal those procedures and may establish
additional procedures designed to implement this Chapter.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-25 new)
    Sec. 13C-25. Performance of inspections.
    (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the inspection of
vehicles required under this Chapter shall be performed only:
(i) by inspectors who have been certified by the Agency after
successfully completing a course of training and successfully
passing a written test; (ii) at official inspection stations,
including on-road inspection sites established under this
Chapter; and (iii) with equipment that has been approved by the
Agency for these inspections.
    (b) The requirements of subdivisions (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of
this Section do not preclude the performance of inspections (1)
at self-service official inspection stations, (2) using
Agency-approved wireless communication interfaces, and (3)
using systems designed to perform remote on-board diagnostic
inspections.
    (c) Except as provided in subsection (d), the inspection
shall consist of an on-board diagnostic system test. The owner
of the vehicle or the owner's agent shall be entitled to an
emission inspection certificate issued by the Agency only if
all required tests are passed at the time of the inspection.
    (d) A steady-state idle exhaust gas analysis and the
evaporative system integrity test may be substituted for the
on-board diagnostic system test in the following cases:
        (1) On any heavy duty vehicle with a manufacturer gross
    vehicle weight rating in excess of 8,500 pounds not
    equipped at the time of manufacture with an on-board
    diagnostic system meeting federal OBD-II specifications.
        (2) On any vehicle for which on-board diagnostic
    testing is not possible due to the vehicle's originally
    certified design or its design as modified in accordance
    with federal law and regulations, and on any vehicle with
    known on-board diagnostic communications or software
    problems, as determined by the Agency.
    (e) The exhaust gas analysis shall consist of a test of an
exhaust gas sample to determine whether the quantities of
exhaust gas pollutants emitted by the vehicle meet the
standards set for vehicles of that type under Section 13C-20. A
vehicle shall be deemed to have passed this portion of the
inspection if the evaluation of the exhaust gas sample
indicates that the quantities of exhaust gas pollutants emitted
by the vehicle do not exceed the standards set for vehicles of
that type under Section 13C-20 or an inspector certifies that
the vehicle qualifies for a waiver of the exhaust gas pollutant
standards under Section 13C-30.
    (f) The evaporative system integrity test shall consist of
a procedure to determine if leaks exist in all or a portion of
the vehicle fuel evaporation emission control system. A vehicle
shall be deemed to have passed this test if it meets the
criteria that the Board may adopt for an evaporative system
integrity test.
    (g) The on-board diagnostic system test shall consist of
accessing the vehicle's on-board computer system, determining
the vehicle's readiness status and malfunction indicator lamp
status, and retrieving any stored diagnostic codes that may be
present. The vehicle shall be deemed to have passed this test
if the vehicle readiness status indicates that the vehicle's
OBD system has completed all required system and component
checks, the malfunction indicator lamp status is appropriate,
and the diagnostic codes retrieved do not exceed standards set
for vehicles of that type under Section 13C-20.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-30 new)
    Sec. 13C-30. Waivers.
    (a) The Agency shall certify that a vehicle that has failed
a vehicle emission retest qualifies for a waiver of the
emission inspection standards if all of the following criteria
are met:
        (1) The vehicle has received all repairs and
    adjustments for which it is eligible under any emission
    performance warranty provided under Section 207 of the
    federal Clean Air Act.
        (2) The Agency determines by normal inspection
    procedures that the vehicle's emission control devices are
    present and appear to be properly connected and operating.
        (3) Consistent with Title 40, Section 51.360 of the
    Code of Federal Regulations, for vehicles required to be
    tested under this Chapter, an expenditure of at least $450
    in emission-related repairs (but exclusive of any repairs
    related to tampering) has been made.
        (4) For a vehicle of model year 1981 or later, the
    repairs were performed by a recognized repair technician.
        (5) Evidence of repair is presented, consisting of
    either (i) signed and dated receipts identifying the
    vehicle and describing the work performed and the amount
    charged for the eligible emission-related repairs or (ii)
    an affidavit executed by the person performing the eligible
    emission-related repairs.
    (b) The Agency may issue an emission inspection certificate
to a vehicle failing a retest if a complete documented physical
and functional diagnosis and inspection shows that no
additional emission-related repairs are needed. This
diagnostic inspection must be performed by the Agency or its
designated agent and shall be available only to a vehicle owner
whose vehicle was repaired by a recognized repair technician.
    (c) The Agency may extend the emission inspection
certificate expiration date by one year upon receipt of a
petition by the vehicle owner that needed repairs cannot be
made due to economic hardship. Consistent with Title 40,
Section 51.360 of the Code of Federal Regulations, this
extension may be granted more than once during the life of the
vehicle.
    (d) The Agency may issue an emission inspection certificate
for a vehicle subject to inspection under this Chapter that is
located and primarily used in an area subject to the vehicle
inspection requirements of another state. An emission
inspection certificate shall be issued under this subsection
only upon receipt by the Agency of evidence that the vehicle
has been inspected and is in compliance with the emission
inspection requirements and standards applicable in the state
or local jurisdiction where the vehicle is being used.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-35 new)
    Sec. 13C-35. Inquiries. The Agency shall develop a means of
responding to inquiries from inspectors and members of the
public concerning the program, including (i) when inspections
are required, (ii) what kind of inspections are required, (iii)
whether emission inspection stickers or certificates
previously required for a vehicle have been obtained, and (iv)
the procedures for resolving disputes concerning inspections.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-40 new)
    Sec. 13C-40. Grievance and damage claim requirements and
procedures.
    (a) Emissions inspection and waiver denial grievance
procedures.
        (1) Any person aggrieved by a decision regarding the
    failure of an emissions test or the denial of a waiver may
    file a petition with the Agency within 30 days after the
    decision was made, and the Agency shall thereupon
    investigate the matter. Within 45 days after its receipt of
    the petition, the Agency shall submit to the petitioner and
    any affected inspector or station its written
    determination of the correctness or incorrectness of the
    decision being grieved. The written determination shall
    include a statement of the facts relied upon and the legal
    and technical issues decided by the Agency in making its
    determination, and may also include an order directing the
    inspector (i) to issue an emission inspection certificate
    for the vehicle effective on such date as the Agency may
    specify, (ii) to reinspect the vehicle, (iii) to apply the
    standards that the Agency has determined to be applicable,
    or (iv) to take any other action that the Agency deems to
    be appropriate. In conducting the investigation, the
    Agency may require the petitioner to present the vehicle
    for inspection by the Agency or its designated agent.
        (2) The written determination of the Agency shall be
    subject to review in circuit court in accordance with the
    provisions of the Administrative Review Law, except that no
    challenge to the validity of a rule adopted or continued
    under subsection (a) of Section 13C-20 shall be heard by
    the circuit court if the challenge could have been raised
    in a timely petition for review as provided in Section
    13C-20.
    (b) Vehicle damage claim requirements and procedures.
        (1) The contractor shall make vehicle damage claim
    forms authorized by the Agency available for vehicle owners
    in sufficient quantities at all official inspection
    stations.
        (2) Notice of the vehicle damage claim procedures and
    the vehicle owner's rights in relation to a vehicle damage
    claim shall be conspicuously posted at all official
    inspection stations.
        (3) If a vehicle owner believes that his or her vehicle
    was damaged by an act or omission of the contractor during
    or as a result of an emissions inspection performed on or
    after August 1, 2002, the owner may initiate resolution of
    the damage claim under this subsection by complying with
    the following:
            (A) Within 30 days of the date of the vehicle
        emissions inspection that allegedly caused the vehicle
        damage, the vehicle owner shall submit a vehicle damage
        claim to the contractor at the official inspection
        station at which the vehicle damage allegedly
        occurred.
            (B) Within 30 days of filing the claim, the owner
        shall submit to the contractor any relevant
        information relating to the owner's claim for vehicle
        damage, including but not limited to evaluations
        conducted by a claims evaluation center or automotive
        repair shop meeting standards prescribed by the
        Agency.
        (4) The contractor shall promptly notify the Agency of
    each vehicle damage claim received by the contractor under
    subdivision (b)(3) and shall forward to the Agency any
    additional information provided by the owner.
        (5) Within 60 days after the filing of a vehicle damage
    claim, the contractor shall notify the vehicle owner of its
    proposed resolution of the damage claim.
        (6) Within 30 days after receiving the contractor's
    proposed resolution of the damage claim, the owner may
    petition the Agency for a review of the adequacy and
    completeness of the contractor's proposed resolution. The
    petition shall be in a form specified by the Agency.
        (7) Upon receiving a petition for review, the Agency
    shall request the contractor to deliver to the Agency a
    copy of the contractor's proposed resolution of the damage
    claim, together with all documents, videotapes, and
    information relevant to the damage claim and the proposed
    resolution. The contractor shall provide the requested
    materials to the Agency within 15 days of receiving the
    Agency's request.
        (8) Within 30 days after receiving the relevant
    materials from the contractor, the Agency shall review the
    materials and determine whether the contractor's proposed
    resolution of the damage claim is adequate and complete.
    The Agency may deem the proposed resolution of the damage
    claim to be adequate and complete. If the Agency does not
    deem the proposed resolution of the damage claim to be
    adequate and complete, it may request the contractor to
    further investigate and evaluate the damage claim and
    resubmit its proposed resolution of the claim. The
    contractor shall then have 30 days to respond in writing to
    the Agency with the results of its further evaluation of
    the damage claim and its proposed resolution.
        (9) The Agency shall notify the vehicle owner in
    writing of the result of its review of the adequacy and
    completeness of the contractor's proposed resolution of
    the damage claim. Copies of all correspondence between the
    Agency and the contractor relating to the damage claim
    shall also be sent to the vehicle owner.
        (10) If, after the Agency's review, the vehicle owner
    still does not agree with all or a portion of the proposed
    resolution of the damage claim by the contractor, the
    vehicle owner may further pursue the damage claim through
    the binding arbitration process established by the
    contractor and accepted by the Agency, or in circuit court.
        (11) The Agency's review of the adequacy and
    completeness of the contractor's proposed resolution of a
    damage claim is not binding upon the vehicle owner or the
    contractor and does not affect the rights of the vehicle
    owner or the contractor under law. The Agency's review of
    the adequacy and completeness of the contractor's proposed
    resolution of a damage claim is not a final action subject
    to administrative review and is not subject to review by
    the Pollution Control Board or otherwise appealable.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-45 new)
    Sec. 13C-45. Contracts.
    (a) The Agency may enter into contracts with one or more
responsible parties to construct and operate official
inspection stations, provide and maintain approved test
equipment, administer tests, certify results, issue emission
inspection stickers or certificates, maintain records, train
personnel, provide information to the public concerning the
program, or to otherwise further the goals of this Chapter.
    (b) In preparing its proposals for bidding by potential
contractors, the Agency shall endeavor to include provisions
relating to the following factors:
        (1) The demonstrated financial responsibility of the
    potential contractor.
        (2) The specialized experience and technical
    competence of the potential contractor in connection with
    the type of services required and the complexity of the
    project.
        (3) The potential contractor's past record of
    performance on contracts with the Agency, with other
    government agencies or public bodies, and with private
    industry, including such items as cost, quality of work,
    and ability to meet schedules.
        (4) The capacity of the potential contractor to perform
    the work within the time limitations.
        (5) The familiarity of the potential contractor with
    the types of problems applicable to the project.
        (6) The potential contractor's proposed method to
    accomplish the work required, including where appropriate
    any demonstrated capability of exploring and developing
    innovative or advanced techniques and methods.
        (7) Avoidance of personal and organizational conflicts
    of interest prohibited under federal, State, or local law.
        (8) The potential contractor's present and prior
    involvement in the community and in the State of Illinois.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-50 new)
    Sec. 13C-50. Costs.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of
Section 13C-15, no fee shall be charged to motor vehicle owners
for obtaining inspections required under this Chapter. The
Vehicle Inspection Fund, which is a fund created in the State
treasury for the purpose of receiving moneys from the Motor
Fuel Tax Fund and other sources, shall be used, subject to
appropriation, for the payment of the costs of the program,
including reimbursement of those agencies of the State that
incur expenses in the administration or enforcement of the
program. The Vehicle Inspection Fund shall continue in
existence notwithstanding the repeal of Chapter 13B. Any money
in the Vehicle Inspection Fund on February 1, 2007, shall be
used for the purposes set forth in this Chapter.
    (b) The Agency may acquire, own, maintain, operate, sell,
lease and otherwise transfer real and personal property and
interests in real and personal property for the purpose of
creating or operating inspection stations and for any other
purpose relating to the administration of this Chapter, and may
use money from the Vehicle Inspection Fund for these purposes.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-55 new)
    Sec. 13C-55. Enforcement.
    (a) The Agency shall cooperate in the enforcement of this
Chapter by (i) identifying probable violations through
computer matching of vehicle registration records and
inspection records; (ii) sending one notice to each suspected
violator identified through such matching, stating that
registration and inspection records indicate that the vehicle
owner has not complied with this Chapter; (iii) directing the
vehicle owner to notify the Agency or the Secretary of State if
he or she has ceased to own the vehicle or has changed
residence; and (iv) advising the vehicle owner of the
consequences of violating this Chapter.
    The Agency shall cooperate with the Secretary of State in
the administration of this Chapter and the related provisions
of Chapter 3, and shall provide the Secretary of State with
such information as the Secretary of State may deem necessary
for these purposes, including regular and timely access to
vehicle inspection records.
    The Secretary of State shall cooperate with the Agency in
the administration of this Chapter and shall provide the Agency
with such information as the Agency may deem necessary for the
purposes of this Chapter, including regular and timely access
to vehicle registration records. Section 2-123 of this Code
does not apply to the provision of this information.
    (b) The Secretary of State shall suspend either the driving
privileges or the vehicle registration, or both, of any vehicle
owner who has not complied with this Chapter, if (i) the
vehicle owner has failed to satisfactorily respond to the one
notice sent by the Agency under subsection (a), and (ii) the
Secretary of State has mailed the vehicle owner a notice that
the suspension will be imposed if the owner does not comply
within a stated period, and the Secretary of State has not
received satisfactory evidence of compliance within that
period. The Secretary of State shall send this notice only
after receiving a statement from the Agency that the vehicle
owner has failed to comply with this Section. Notice shall be
effective as specified in subsection (c) of Section 6-211 of
this Code.
    A suspension under this subsection shall not be terminated
until satisfactory proof of compliance has been submitted to
the Secretary of State. No driver's license or permit, or
renewal of a license or permit, may be issued to a person whose
driving privileges have been suspended under this Section until
the suspension has been terminated. No vehicle registration or
registration plate that has been suspended under this Section
may be reinstated or renewed, or transferred by the owner to
any other vehicle, until the suspension has been terminated.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-60 new)
    Sec. 13C-60. Other offenses.
    (a) Any person who knowingly displays an emission
inspection sticker or exemption sticker on any vehicle other
than the one for which the sticker was lawfully issued in
accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, or duplicates,
alters, uses, possesses, issues, or distributes any emission
inspection sticker, exemption sticker, inspection certificate,
or facsimile thereof, except in accordance with the provisions
of this Chapter and the rules and regulations adopted
hereunder, is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
    (b) A vehicle owner shall pay a monetary fine equivalent to
the test fee plus the applicable waiver repair expenditure for
the continued operation of a noncomplying vehicle beyond 4
months past the expiration of the vehicle emission inspection
certificate. Any fines collected under this Section shall be
divided equally between the local jurisdiction issuing the
citation and the Vehicle Inspection Fund.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/13C-75 new)
    Sec. 13C-75. Home rule. The vehicle emission inspection
program created by this Chapter is hereby declared to be the
subject of exclusive State jurisdiction. Pursuant to
subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois
Constitution, the exercise by a home rule unit of any power
that is inconsistent with this Chapter is hereby specifically
denied and preempted.

Effective Date: 1/1/2006