(625 ILCS 5/3-634)

Sec. 3-634. Illinois Fire Fighters' License Plate.

(a) The Secretary, upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, may issue special registration plates designated to be Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial license plates. The special plates issued under this Section shall be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division, motorcycles having an engine over 150cc, motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds, or recreational vehicles as defined in Section 1-169 of this Code, and subject to the staggered registration system. Plates issued under this Section shall expire according to the multi-year procedure established by Section 3-414.1 of this Code.

(b) The design and color of the plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity plates or personalized in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. The plates are not required to designate "Land of Lincoln", as prescribed in subsection (b) of Section 3-412 of this Code. The Secretary of State shall prescribe stickers or decals as provided under Section 3-412.

(c) An applicant shall be charged a $27 fee for original issuance in addition to the applicable registration fee. Of this additional fee, $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund and $12 shall be deposited into the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund. For each registration renewal period, a $17 fee, in addition to the appropriate registration fee, shall be charged. Of this fee, $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund and $15 shall be deposited into the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund.

(d) In addition to the purpose specified in Section 2-119(n), moneys in the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund shall, except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) and subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, be used exclusively by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for the following purposes:

(1) maintaining the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial;

(2) holding an annual memorial commemoration and Medal of Honor ceremony and related activities; and

(3) providing scholarships, for graduate study, undergraduate study, or any other post-secondary education approved by the Illinois Firefighter Memorial Foundation, to children and spouses of fire fighters killed in the line of duty.

(e) No more than 10% of the annual proceeds of the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund may, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, be used by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for exhibits for and the maintenance of the Illinois Fire Fighter Museum, except that the 10% limit may be exceeded to pay for emergency repairs related to the structural stability of the Illinois Fire Fighter Museum. Prior to exceeding the 10% limit, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall obtain the approval of a majority of the members of the Illinois Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation.

(Source: P.A. 99-812, eff. 1-1-17; 100-480, eff. 9-8-17.)