Senate Republicans List New State Laws – 26

Three State Police cars stop a car on I-55 near the Normal Exit in McLean County.

Three State Police cars stop a car on I-55 near the Normal Exit in McLean County.

A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, continues.

Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.

The State Senate meets on the third floor of the north side of the Illinois State Capitol.

However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.

A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, follows.

Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.

However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.

A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, continues.

Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.

The State Senate meets on the third floor of the north side of the Illinois State Capitol.

However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Vehicular Regulation/Safety continued

District 300 school buses and parents drop off kids at Lake in the Hills Elementary School.

District 300 school buses and parents drop off kids at Lake in the Hills Elementary School.

School Bus Cameras (SB 923/PA 98-0556): Allows school buses to be equipped with automated traffic law enforcement systems. These cameras would be designed to issue citations for motor vehicles passing a stopped school bus.  This applies statewide. A House amendment diverts money that was originally set to go to school districts and changes the allocation so that more money will go to the municipalities where they are located.

Golf Cart and ATV Highway Crossing (SB 1530/PA 98-0567): Communities may permit a person operating a non-highway vehicle, such as a golf cart or an all-terrain vehicle, to cross a State highway at an intersection of the highway with another public street, road or highway. This was requested by a community that has a highway as the major street through the town and wants to be able to allow persons to cross the highway. The bill also provides that racing shells, rowing sculls, racing canoes, and racing kayaks are not required to carry personal flotation devices as long as they are participating in an event that the Department of Natural Resources has sanctioned as being personal flotation device optional.

 Disability Parking (SB 1929/PA 98-0577): Requires an application for a metered exempt parking decal to provide evidence of permanent disability. Also states that exemptions from parking fees for disabled persons only apply to metered street parking and public parking areas and not publicly owned parking garages.

Publishing Toll Violators (SB 01214/ PA 98-0559): Provides that the Toll Highway Authority may maintain an online list of persons or entities owing the THA more than $1,000 for tolls, fines, unpaid late fees or administrative costs that remain unpaid after the exhaustion of, or failure to exhaust, the judicial review procedures under the Administrative Review Law. Each entry may include the person or entity’s name as listed on the final order of liability.

Veterans and Military Affairs

Military Driver Skills Exemption (HB 2563/ PA 98-0052): Waives the Commercial Drivers License skills test requirement for an applicant who has military commercial motor vehicle experience and complies with federal rules.

Three State Police cars stop a car on I-55 near the Normal Exit in McLean County.

Three State Police cars stop a car on I-55 near the Normal Exit in McLean County.

Veterans Employment (SB 204/PA 98-0054): Allows honorably discharged veterans as well as members of the Illinois National Guard or other reserves to substitute some overseas service for the collegiate educational requirements to become a trooper with the Illinois State Police. Applies to persons awarded service medals for Southwest Asia, Kosovo, Korean Defense, Afghanistan, Iraq, or Global War on Terrorism.

Veterans Probation Program Clarification (SB 1497/PA 98-0152): Clarifies that eligibility for a Veterans and Service members Court program or a mental health court program (probationary programs) is limited to only those defendants whose crime is eligible for probation. Any defendant who is ineligible for probation is not eligible for a Veterans and Service members Court program or a mental health court program.

Veterans Priority Registration (SB 2245/PA 98-0316): Requires public universities and community colleges to give veterans and service members the earliest possible enrollment opportunity that they offer to any class of students.  This benefit must be used within 15 years after leaving military service. This is to address a problem where the federal government has been slow in reimbursing veterans. The intent is to allow veterans to submit the information to the federal government earlier.

Naval Bases (SB 1953/PA 98-0494): Affects the U.S. naval bases in northern Illinois. Allows the sunset of the PPV lease classification system on January 1, 2016.  A PPV lease is a leasehold interest in U.S. military property that is leased to another.  An amendment was adopted so that the measure would not affect Scott Air Force base near St. Louis.


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