Page 23 - January 2020 FOP Magazine

Update on the No-Fee Sticker program
I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday celebra- tions with their family and friends. Unfor- tunately, we have more than 30 fraternal brothers and sisters around the world who missed the holidays with their families
while on a military deployment. Thanks to
our fraternal brother Darrin Bourret, the Knights of Columbus Council 3024 led by
Gerry Hughes and the assistance of President Graham, these deployed officers were sent care
packages. These gifts are a reminder that they are not forgotten and we acknowledge their sacrifice. We all look forward to their safe return and an easy transition to civilian life. Hooha!
The Office of the City Clerk has expanded the terms of the No-Fee City Sticker Pilot Program. Now residents with a veter- ans’ designation on their Illinois state ID or driver’s license will be able to get a City Sticker at no cost, removing the previous designation date requirement. These changes also include the extension of the current program until Jan. 1, 2021.
Our state government has issued Public Act 101-0106 to make it easier to obtain an Illinois driver’s license or state iden- tification card with a veteran designation. Acceptable forms of proof shall include, among other documents, Department of Defense form DD-2 (Retired) or a United States Department of Veterans Affairs summary of benefits letter. The Secretary of State (SOS) must provide to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) information to verify that the applicant for a vet- eran designation is eligible. If the IDVA cannot confirm that an applicant is a veteran then they shall inform the SOS, and the SOS shall cancel the veteran designation. Therefore, simply go to the Illinois SOS facility with a copy of your DD 214 and apply for the veteran designation. SOS — not the veteran — has the responsibility to check if the veteran is eligible with the IDVA.
Our Illinois state government passed the following laws that might interest veterans and take effect on Jan. 1, 2020:
Military Expedited Licensure (HB 1652/PA 101-0240). Re- quires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to assign a staff member as the “military liaison” who will be responsible for administering the military expedit- ed licensure for military members and their spouses who are redeployed to Illinois. Provides that an expedited license shall be processed within 60 days.
Cold War License Plate (HB 2088/PA 101-0245). Provides that the SOS may issue Cold War license plates to Illinois resi- dents who served in the Armed Forces between Aug. 15, 1945, and Jan. 1, 1992. The plates have no additional fee attached and will be designed by the Secretary of State.
United Nations Protection Force License Plate (HB 2119/ PA 101-0247). Allows the Secretary of State to issue United Na- tions Protection Force license plates to residents who served in the United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia. An ad- ditional initial fee of $15 will be charged and placed into the SOS’s Special License Plate Fund, the renewal fee will be $2, plus the standard registration fee.
K-9 for Veterans License Plate Decals (HB 2126/PA 101- 0248). Authorizes the SOS to issue a universal special license plates on behalf of K9s for Veterans, NFP, and authorizes K9s for Veterans, NFP, to issue decals for the license plates.
the SOS upon receipt of an application, made in the form pre- scribed by the SOS, to issue special registration plates to Illinois residents who are current members, former members, or surviving spouses of former members of the Illinois National Guard, or the National Guard of any other state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or Washington D.C. Allows veterans with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability to receive one set of
any military series registration plate for free.
As we begin a new year, I want to say to all my fraternal
brothers and sisters who serve in the military and those with the Chicago Police that you matter and you’re a special person for what you do every single day.
“All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army plays a vital role. Don’t ever let up. Don’t ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” – General George S. Patton, U.S. Army
Thank you for all you do, and please be careful out there. If you have questions or comments, please email me at ltc_cruz@ wowway.com.
JERRY CRUZ
Disabled Veterans Plates (HB 2618/PA 101-0262). Allows
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