Illinois Statutes Chapter 625. Vehicles § 5/3-658. Professional Sports Teams license plates

(a) The Secretary, upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary, may issue special registration plates designated as Professional Sports Teams license plates. The special plates issued under this Section shall be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division, motorcycles, and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds. 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 is wholly within the discretion of the Secretary, except that the plates shall, subject to the permission of the applicable team owner, display the logo of the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Sky, the Chicago Red Stars, the Chicago Fire, or the St. Louis Cardinals, at the applicant's option. The Secretary may allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates under Section 3-405.1 of the Code. The Secretary shall prescribe stickers or decals as provided under Section 3-412 of this Code.

(c) An applicant for the special plate shall be charged a $40 fee for original issuance in addition to the appropriate registration fee. Until July 1, 2023, of this fee, $25 shall be deposited into the Professional Sports Teams Education Fund and $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund, to be used by the Secretary to help defray the administrative processing costs. Beginning July 1, 2023, of this fee, $25 shall be deposited into the Common School Fund and $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund, to be used by the Secretary to help defray the administrative processing costs.

For each registration renewal period, a $27 fee, in addition to the appropriate registration fee, shall be charged. Until July 1, 2023, of this fee, $25 shall be deposited into the Professional Sports Teams Education Fund and $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Beginning July 1, 2023, of this fee, $25 shall be deposited into the Common School Fund and $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund.

(d) The Professional Sports Teams Education Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Until July 1, 2023, the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer all moneys in the Professional Sports Teams Education Fund to the Common School Fund every 6 months.

(e) On July 1, 2023, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the remaining balance from the Professional Sports Teams Education Fund into the Common School Fund. Upon completion of the transfer, the Professional Sports Teams Education Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits due to that Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of that Fund shall pass to the Common School Fund.