CHICAGO — In the past six months, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has released four different professional sports teams specially license plates for Illinois residents to purchase.

Anyone who purchases a set of Chicago Blackhawks license plates, Chicago Cub license plates, Chicago Bears licenses plates or Chicago Bulls license plates contributes to the Professional Sports Teams Education Fund that benefits the Common School Fund, which supports public schools throughout Illinois. From each set of the professional sports team license plates sold, $25 is donated to the Professional Sports Teams Education Fund.

Chicago professional sports teams started releasing license plates in October, nearly eight years after Public Act 095-0031 was enacted in 2002, allowing five professional sports teams in Chicago as well as two professional sports teams in St. Louis the opportunity to place their name and logo on Illinois license plates, for the purpose of raising money for public schools.

"This legislation has been in effect back in 2002," said Elizabeth Kaufman, deputy press secretary for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. "The Chicago Blackhawks were the first team to take advantage of it in 2010."

After the Chicago Blackhawks released their license plates on October 26, the Chicago Cubs released their license plates January 26, followed by the Chicago Bears who released their license plates March 28 and the Chicago Bulls who released their license plates last week.

As of April 27, the Illinois Secretary of State Office has sold 6,564 Chicago Blackhawks license plates, 3,534 Chicago Cubs license plates, 1,670 Chicago Bears license plates and 243 Chicago Bulls license plates.

Public Act 095-0031 also allows the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Rams to release license plates. Those teams must get permission from the General Assembly, before they release their license plates.

"It has to go through the General Assembly to get created," said Kaufman. "The legislation includes the White Sox as well as the St. Louis Cardinals and Rams. We expect them all to join in on the license plates."

Purchase fees for all four license plates are the same. For random-numbered license plates, Illinois residents with newly acquired vehicle/first-time insurance pay $234; currently titled vehicle/first-time insurance pay $139; current plates that expire within 90 pay $168; and current plates that do not expire within 90 days pay $69. For vanity license plates, Illinois residents with a newly acquired vehicle/first-time insurance pay $328; currently titled vehicle/first-time insurance pay $233; current plates that expire within 90 pays pay $262; and current plates that do not expire within 90 days pay $163. For personalized license plates, Illinois residents with a newly acquired vehicle/first-time insurance pay $281; currently titled vehicle/first-time insurance pay $186; current plates that expire within 90 pays pay $215; and current plates that do not expire within 90 days pay $116.

In addition to annual license plate registration fees, Illinois residents with one of the four sets of professional sports team license plates must also pay an annual $27 fee. Annual renewal fees are $126 for random-number license plates; $139 for a vanity license plates; and $133 for a personalized license plates.

Professional sports teams license plates are multi-year and may be displayed on passenger vehicles, trucks, sports utility vehicles and vans weighing 8,000 pounds or less.

To order a set of professional sports team license plates, visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com.