Bills › 89th General Assembly
SSB 1181
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 8, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 10, 2021
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 22, 2021
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 439
- Skipped: House committee
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 16, 2021
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 439 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 439 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill requires the department of transportation (DOT) to include in the electronic database used by the DOT and law enforcement agencies (LEA) to access registration, titling, and driver’s license information a collection of emergency contact information submitted by persons issued a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card. _____ contact using the database. Under the bill, when a person applies for issuance, replacement, or renewal of a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card, the DOT is required to request that the applicant voluntarily submit emergency contact information for inclusion in the database.
Read the full explanation
A person may provide the emergency contact information along with or separate from a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card application. The DOT is prohibited from requiring a person to submit emergency contact information as part of the driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card issuance, replacement, or renewal process. The DOT is required to accept submitted information without payment of a fee. The bill requires the DOT to allow a person to provide the name, address, telephone number, and relationship to the person of no more than two emergency contacts whom the person wishes to be contacted if the person is involved in a motor vehicle accident or emergency situation and the person dies or is seriously injured or rendered unconscious and is unable to communicate with the emergency contact. The DOT must accept the emergency contact information provided by a person, but has no duty to verify any of the information provided. The emergency contact need not be the next of kin of the person, except that if the person is under years of age and is not emancipated, the person shall include a parent, guardian, or custodian of the person as an emergency contact. Information in the database is confidential and only accessible to DOT and LEA employees in the performance of the employee’s official duties and shall not be considered a public record. A person may opt out of being listed as an emergency contact pursuant to rules adopted by the DOT. The bill limits the liability of the DOT, LEAs, and LEA employees who make a good-faith effort to notify the emergency contact of the emergency situation but are unable to do so. _____ The bill takes effect January 1, 2022.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 10, 2021. On February 17, 2021 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill requires the Department of Transportation to collect voluntary emergency contact information from people when they apply for or renew a driver's license or identification card. The Department of Transportation estimates this will cost approximately $18,000 for internal programming and up to $108,000 for an external vendor to update kiosk programming. These costs would be paid from the state's Department of Transportation funds.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 435 requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to include emergency contact information in its electronic database for persons issued a driver’s license or identification card. When a person applies for the issuance, replacement, or renewal of a driver’s license or identification card, the DOT is required to request that person voluntarily submit emergency contact information to the DOT. This information would be kept confidential, and would be accessible only by DOT employees or a member of law enforcement while performing official duties.
The information submitted may include the name, address, telephone number, and relationship of up to two emergency contacts. A person who is younger than 18 years of age and is not emancipated is required to include their parent or guardian as the emergency contact. The contact information provided may be used by law enforcement when responding to an accident where someone dies, or is injured and unable to communicate, to make a good faith effort to reach that person’s emergency contacts.
The Bill is effective January 1, 2022.
Background
Illinois established a similar database in 2013 that is operated by the Secretary of State. Illinois allows residents who hold an Illinois driver’s license, instruction permit, or identification card to voluntarily register their contact information into a database that may be used by law enforcement when that person is incapacitated. The Illinois database also allows for a person to enter basic medical information such as medical conditions or allergies.
Assumptions
The DOT stated programming expenses would be necessary to implement the requirements in the Bill.
Fiscal Impact
The DOT estimates that the Bill will require approximately $18,000 for internal programming, and up to $108,000 paid to an external vendor to update the programming on the DOT kiosks. The DOT has also stated there will be increased administrative workload, which will be addressed within current resources and will not require an increase in personnel.
Sources
- Legislative Services Agency
- Department of Transportation
The estimate held steady
3- Final Fiscal Note — Driver's License, Contact Information · June 10, 2021 · $108,000
- Driver's License, Contact Information · March 1, 2021 · $108,000
- Driver's License, Contact Information · February 15, 2021 · $108,000
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89th General Assembly