SPRINGFIELD, IL – The State of Illinois' new Vehicle Use Act went into effect on Jan. 1. The Act designates a vehicle use officer who will help draft a vehicle use policy, it sets the vehicle use policy’s requirements, and provides for a State agency reimbursing an employee for automotive travel expenses when using his or her personal vehicle.

Other changes in the bill include mandating that the Department of Central Management Services evaluate using GPS systems that State agencies can use to track State-owned vehicles and that the Department must make vehicle cost data and an annual vehicle breakeven analysis available on its Internet website.

Lastly, the Act prohibits the Department from buying any new motor vehicles until it sets up rules for determining a State agency’s need based on a breakeven analysis.