Public Act 099-0802
 
HB4344 EnrolledLRB099 15337 RJF 39579 b


  
    AN ACT concerning transportation.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  


 
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Heroes 
Way Designation Program Act.
 
    Section 5. Purpose. This Act establishes a designation 
program, to be known as the "Heroes Way Designation Program", 
to honor the fallen Illinois heroes who have been killed in 
action while performing active military duty with the United 
States Armed Forces.
 
    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
 
    "Department" means the Illinois Department of 
Transportation.

    "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Illinois Department 
of Transportation.

    "United States Armed Forces" means any branch of the United 
States Military, including National Guard and military reserve 
components.
 
    Section 15. Heroes Way Designation Program.

    (a)   Any person who is related by marriage, adoption, or 
consanguinity within the second degree to a member of the 
United States Armed Forces who was killed in action while 
performing active military duty with the Armed Forces, and who 
was a resident of this State at the time he or she was killed in 
action, may apply for a designation allowing the placement of 
an honorary sign alongside roads designated under the 
provisions of this Act.

    (b)   The honorary signs may be placed upon interstate or 
state-numbered highway interchanges or upon bridges or 
segments of highway under the jurisdiction of the Department 
according to the provisions of this Section, and any applicable 
federal and State limitations or conditions on highway signage, 
including location and spacing.

    (c)   Any person described under subsection (a) of this 
Section who desires to have an interstate or state-numbered 
highway interchange or bridge or segment of highway under the 
jurisdiction of the Department designated after his or her 
family member shall petition the Department by submitting an 
application in a form prescribed by the Secretary. The form 
shall include the amount of the fee under subsection (d) of 
this Section. The application must meet the following 
requirements:

        (1)   describe the interstate or state-numbered highway 
    interchange or bridge or segment of highway under the 
    jurisdiction of the Department for which the designation is 
    sought and the proposed name of the interchange, bridge, or 
    relevant segment of highway. The application shall include 
    the name of at least one current member of the General 
    Assembly who will sponsor the designation. The application 
    may contain written testimony for support of the 
    designation;

        (2)   a signed form, prescribed by the Secretary, 
    certifying that the applicant is related by marriage, 
    adoption, or consanguinity within the second degree to the 
    member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in 
    action; and

        (3)   the name of the member of the United States Armed 
    Forces for whom the designation is sought must be listed on 
    the National Gold Star Family Registry.

           
    (d)   After determining that the petitioner meets all of the 
application requirements of subsection (c), the Department 
shall submit a recommendation containing the proposed 
designations to the sponsor in the General Assembly named in 
the application. The Department shall be notified upon the 
approval or denial of a proposed designation. Upon the approval 
of a proposed designation, the petitioner shall submit a fee to 
be determined by the Secretary to cover the costs of 
constructing and maintaining the proposed signs on the 
interchange, bridge, or segment of highway. The fee shall not 
exceed the cost of constructing and maintaining each sign. 
    (e)   The Department shall give notice of any proposed 
designation under this Section on the Department's official 
public website.
         
    (f)   Two signs shall be erected for each interchange, 
bridge, or segment of highway designation processed under this 
Section.
         
    (g)   No interchange, bridge, or segment of highway may be 
named or designated under this Section if it carries an 
existing designation. A designated member of the United States 
Armed Forces shall not be eligible for more than one 
interchange, bridge, or segment of highway designation under 
this Section.
        
    (h)    All moneys received by the Department for the 
construction and maintenance of interchange, bridge, or 
segment of highway signs shall be deposited in the "Road Fund" 
of the State treasury.
       
    (i)   The documents and fees required under this Section 
shall be submitted to the Department.