The Secretary of State, in his discretion, may make special designations of certain designs or combinations of designs, or alphabetical letters or combination of letters, or colors or combination of colors pertaining to registration plates issued to vehicles owned by governmental agencies, vehicles owned and registered by State and federal elected officials, retired Illinois Supreme Court justices, and appointed federal cabinet officials, vehicles operated by taxi or livery businesses, operated in connection with mileage weight registrations, or operated by a dealer, transporter, or manufacturer as the Secretary of State may deem necessary for the proper administration of this Code. In the case of registration plates issued for vehicles operated by or for persons with disabilities, as defined by Section 1-159.1, under Section 3-616 of this Code, the Secretary of State, upon request, shall make such special designations so that automobiles bearing such plates are easily recognizable through use of the international accessibility symbol as automobiles driven by or for such persons. In the case of registration plates issued for vehicles operated by a person with a disability with a type four hearing disability, as defined pursuant to Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act, the Secretary of State, upon request, shall make such special designations so that a motor vehicle bearing such plate is easily recognizable by a special symbol indicating that such vehicle is driven by a person with a hearing disability. Registration plates issued to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing under this Section shall not entitle a motor vehicle bearing such plates to those parking privileges established for persons with disabilities under this Code. In the case of registration plates issued for State-owned vehicles, they shall be manufactured in compliance with Section 2 of the State Vehicle Identification Act. In the case of plates issued for State officials, such plates may be issued for a 2-year period beginning January 1st of each odd-numbered year and ending December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year.