Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0044

LRB104 03011 LNS 13029 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB0044

Introduced 1/13/2025, by Sen. Rachel Ventura

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation and beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts that submit a grant application to the State Board requesting funds to purchase an electric vehicle to be used for student driver education courses. Requires the State Board to disseminate a request for applications for grants that shall be accepted on an annual basis. Requires the State Board to establish procedures for submitting requests for grants and issuing funds to approved applicants. Sets forth priority determinations for application selection by the State Board if the appropriation amount in a fiscal year is less than the amount required to fund all applications for grants. Establishes application requirements. Allows the State Board to adopt rules to implement the provisions.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.206 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)

Sec. 2-3.206. Grants for electric vehicles.

(a) As used in this Section, "electric vehicle" means a battery-powered electric vehicle operated solely by electricity.

(b) Subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts that submit a grant application to the State Board of Education requesting funds to purchase an electric vehicle to be used for student driver education courses in accordance with Section 27-24.2 of this Code.

(c) The State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications for grants under this Section to school districts that offer a driver education course. Grant applications shall be accepted on an annual basis. The State Board of Education shall establish procedures for submitting requests for grants and issuing funds to approved applicants.

(d) If the appropriation for grants under this Section for a given fiscal year is less than the amount required to fund all applications for grants, the State Board of Education shall give priority to school districts designated as Tier 1 or Tier 2 pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code that (i) do not have any electric vehicles, (ii) possess below a sufficient amount of vehicles to meet student demand for the district's driver education courses offered, and (iii) have applied for grant funds.

(e) The application for grants under this Section must include the following information:

(1) the school district's tier designation pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code;

(2) the number of students participating in the school district's driver education courses and the number of students on any wait list to participate in the district's driver education courses;

(3) the number of electric vehicles, if any, and gasoline-powered vehicles the school district currently possesses for the driver education courses offered;

(4) the condition of each vehicle that the school district uses for the driver education courses offered; and

(5) a plan detailing how the school district will properly maintain, charge, and store the electric vehicle once purchased.

(f) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.