SB0198 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 06068 LNS 16101 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB0198

Introduced 1/22/2025, by Sen. Chapin Rose

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

605 ILCS 127/5
605 ILCS 127/10
605 ILCS 127/15

Amends the Heroes Way Designation Program Act. Adds a first responder killed while in the line of duty to the people who qualify for the Heroes Way Designation Program.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Heroes Way Designation Program Act is amended by changing Sections 5, 10, and 15 as follows:

(605 ILCS 127/5)

Sec. 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 and the fallen Illinois heroes who have been killed in the line of duty as a first responder.

(Source: P.A. 99-802, eff. 1-1-17.)

(605 ILCS 127/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"First responder" includes emergency medical services personnel, as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act; firefighters; and law enforcement officials.

"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.

(Source: P.A. 99-802, eff. 1-1-17.)

(605 ILCS 127/15)

Sec. 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.

(a-5) Any person related by marriage, adoption, or consanguinity within the second degree to a first responder who was killed in the line of duty and was a resident of this State at the time he or she was killed 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 or, for a first responder, a signed letter from the first responder's presiding Chief Officer certifying that the applicant is related by marriage, adoption, or consanguinity within the second degree to the first responder who was killed in the line of duty; and

(3) if the application is for a member of the United States Armed Forces, 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. Neither a A designated member of the United States Armed Forces nor a designated first responder 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.

(Source: P.A. 99-802, eff. 1-1-17.)