(a) Any veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who has obtained certification from a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse that the service-connected disability qualifies the veteran for issuance of registration plates or digital registration plates or decals to a person with disabilities in accordance with Section 3-616, may, without the payment of any registration fee, make application to the Secretary of State for license plates for veterans with disabilities displaying the international symbol of access, for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division, one motorcycle, or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds.
     (b) Any veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and whose degree of disability has been declared to be 50% or more, but whose disability does not qualify the veteran for a plate or decal for persons with disabilities under Section 3-616, may, without the payment of any registration fee, make application to the Secretary for a special registration plate or digital registration plate without the international symbol of access for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division, one motorcycle, or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds.
     (c) Renewal of such registration must be accompanied with documentation for eligibility of registration without fee unless the applicant has a permanent qualifying disability, and such registration plates or digital registration plates may not be issued to any person not eligible therefor. The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs may assist in providing the documentation of disability.
     (d) The design and color of the plates shall be within the discretion of the Secretary, except that the plates issued under subsection (b) of this Section shall not contain the international symbol of access. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. Registration shall be for a multi-year period and may be issued staggered registration.
     (e) Any person eligible to receive license plates under this Section who has been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, or who has claimed and received a grant under that Act, shall pay a fee of $24 instead of the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates or digital registration plates issued under Section 3-414.1, for motor vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(a), or for recreational vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(b), for a second set of plates under this Section.
     (f) With respect to the supporting documentation required to obtain a plate under this Section, the Secretary shall allow an applicant to redact information on the documentation that pertains to the nature of the applicant’s health issue, unless that information is necessary to confirm that the applicant’s disability is service-connected or to establish the degree of the applicant’s service-connected disability.