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.
Transportation, Infrastructure and Vehicular Regulation/Safety continued
Driving on Restricted License (SB 1735/PA 98-0285): Increases the penalty for driving while a license is suspended or revoked if the violation results in an accident that causes personal injury or death to a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.
License Plates – Prince Hall Masons (HB 167/PA 98-0300): Creates the Prince Hall Freemasonry License Plate. Prince Hall Freemasonry is a branch of the US Freemasonry consisting predominately of African-Americans but welcomes other races.
Police Privacy (SB 1693/PA 98-0323): Would allow peace officers to provide their work address instead of a home address when applying for an Illinois Identification Card, a driver’s license or instruction permit.
Construction Zone Speeding (HB 1814/PA 98-0337): Creates separate offenses for speeding in a construction or maintenance zone when workers are present and are not present. Removes penalty of license suspension in construction zones when construction workers are not present and no danger of hitting a construction worker exists.
The story about drug dogs in Thursday’s Chicago Tribune reached into McHenry County’s Sheriff’s Department.
License Plates – K-9 Memorial (HB 198/PA 98-0360): Creates the Illinois Police K-9 License Plates.
License Plates – Public Safety Diver (HB 989/PA 98-0376): Creates a new special license plate- the “Public Safety Diver” plate.
License Plates – The H Foundation (HB 1238/PA 98-0382): Provides for the issuance of The H Foundation – Committed to a Cure for Cancer license plates.
License Plates – Retired Law Enforcement (HB 1529/PA 98-0395): Creates the Retired Law Enforcement license plates. Creates the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship and Training Fund to receive a share of revenues from the plates.
Motorcycle Road Guard (HB 1539/PA 98-0396): Provides that local authorities may certify persons to act as traffic control for special events. This is intended to allow local motorcycle groups to assist police in directing traffic during special motorcycle events. The persons must be obeyed in the same manner as a police officer, fireman, or crossing guard when directing traffic.
Sewer Cleaner Trucks (HB 1810/PA 98-0406): Allows combination sewer cleaning jetting vacuum trucks that are registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle to carry additional weight.
Special Hauling Vehicles (HB 2310/PA 98-0409): Extends by 10 years the model years of Special Hauling Vehicles exempt from the federal bridge formula that regulates vehicle weights. Special Hauling Vehicles are generally special purpose trucks, such as cement mixers and multiple-axle trucks designed for hauling special cargo.
IDOT Business Impact (HB 2382/PA 98-0412): Requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to work with property owners, including residents, businesses, and other community members, before and during construction by considering various methods to mitigate and reduce project impacts. This could include, but would not be limited to, detour routing and temporary signage.
License Plates – Fire Department Vehicles (HB 2641/PA 98-0436): Allows for permanent license plates on fire trucks owned by municipalities, fire districts and Mutual Aid systems. Plates are subject to an $8 fee and are exempt from a transfer fee but the department must report the transfer to the Secretary of State.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles (HB 2695/PA 98-0442): Would require 25% of state vehicles to use alternative fuels by January 1, 2016. Exempts the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Corrections. Also allows the Department of Transportation to construct and maintain at least one electric vehicle charging station at each rest area on state highways.
Car Dealer Fees (HB 2773/PA 98-0450): Changes the fees of the Dealer Recovery Trust Fund to a graduated schedule based on the number of cars sold. This would reduce the fee for car dealers selling less than 300 vehicles in a year and keep the same fee for those selling more than 300. Allows an applicant to submit a claim to the fund within two years of the transaction (instead of within 9 months). The Dealer Recovery Trust Fund protects vehicle buyers in cases where a dealer goes out of business without paying off the balance of their customers’ liens on traded-in vehicles.
Ambulance License Renewal (HB 2777/PA 98-0452): Allows ambulance license renewals to take place every four years. Currently this must be done each year.
Bicycles (HB 3367/PA 98-0485): Allows bicycles and other human powered, two wheeled vehicles to pass cars on the right. This is to prevent police in certain areas from writing citations to bicyclists when the prohibition was intended for motorcycles only.
Truck Inspections (SB 1294/PA 98-0489): Reduces the late penalty for meeting the semi-annual inspection requirement for intrastate trucks to a petty offense. The minimum fine is $95 and the maximum fine is $250. If the violation occurs in conjunction with a motor vehicle accident, the person is guilty of a class C misdemeanor. A minimum fine of $95 requires a court appearance.
Speed Limits (SB 2356/PA 98-0511): Increases the maximum speed limit to 70 mph on all interstates, toll highways and four lane divided highways. The speed limit would be 65 for other highways. Provides that Cook and the collar counties may opt out of the higher speed limit via ordinance.
Trucking Regulation (SB 925/PA 98-0512): Repeals the state regulation on the consecutive hours a trucker may drive. This is a cleanup bill, as current state regulations are outdated and federal law already regulates the hours truckers may drive.