SB2873 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37852 RJT 67982 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2873

Introduced 1/24/2024, by Sen. John F. Curran

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/29-6.3
625 ILCS 5/11-1414.1	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1414.1

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Allows the use of a multi-function school activity bus that is manufactured to transport not more than 15 persons, including the driver, or a vehicle manufactured to transport not more than 10 persons, including the driver, for the transportation of students in any of grades 9 through 12 or who attends an alternative education program operated by a regional office of education for any curriculum-related activity (other than for transportation to and from home on regular bus routes) if the driver (i) holds a minimum of a valid driver's license and (ii) is an employee or contractual employee of the school district or alternative education program or of a third-party contractor (rather than allowing the use of a

multi-function school activity bus for transporting students in grades 9 through 12 only if the driver holds a valid school bus driver permit). Makes a conforming change to the Illinois Vehicle Code. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 29-6.3 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/29-6.3)

Sec. 29-6.3. Transportation to and from specified interscholastic or school-sponsored activities.

(a) Any school district transporting students in grade 12 or below for an interscholastic, interscholastic athletic, or school-sponsored, noncurriculum-related activity that (i) does not require student participation as part of the educational services of the district and (ii) is not associated with the students' regular class-for-credit schedule or required 5 clock hours of instruction under Section 10-19.05 shall transport the students only in a school bus, a vehicle manufactured to transport not more than 10 persons, including the driver, or a multifunction school-activity bus manufactured to transport not more than 15 persons, including the driver.

(a-5) A student in any of grades 9 through 12 or who attends an alternative education program operated by a regional office of education may be transported in a multi-function school activity bus (MFSAB) as defined in Section 1-148.3a-5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code that is manufactured to transport not more than 15 persons, including the driver, or a vehicle manufactured to transport not more than 10 persons, including the driver, for any curriculum-related activity except for transportation on regular bus routes from home to school or from school to home, subject to the following conditions:

(i) The MFSAB or vehicle may be used to transport students under this subsection if the driver holds a minimum of a valid driver's license and is an employee or contractual employee of the school district or alternative education program or of a third-party contractor. A MFSAB may not be used to transport students under this Section unless the driver holds a valid school bus driver permit.

(ii) The use of a MFSAB under this Section is subject to the requirements of Sections 6-106.11, 6-106.12, 12-707.01, 13-101, and 13-109 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(b) Any school district or regional office of education furnishing transportation for students under the authority of this Section shall insure against any loss or liability of the district or regional office of education resulting from the maintenance, operation, or use of the vehicle.

(c) Vehicles used to transport students under this Section may claim a depreciation allowance of 20% over 5 years as provided in Section 29-5 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 101-12, eff. 7-1-19.)

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 11-1414.1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-1414.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1414.1)

Sec. 11-1414.1. School transportation of students.

(a) Every student enrolled in grade 12 or below in any entity listed in subsection (a) of Section 1-182 of this Code must be transported in a school bus or a vehicle described in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (b) of Section 1-182 of this Code for any curriculum-related school activity, except that unless subsection (a-5) of Section 29-6.3 of the School Code provides otherwise, a student in any of grades 9 through 12 or a student in any of grades K through 12 with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with a staff to student ratio of 1 to 5, and attending Acacia Academy, Alexander Leigh, Marklund, Helping Hands Center, Connections Organization, Soaring Eagle Academy, or New Horizon Academy may be transported in a multi-function school activity bus (MFSAB) as defined in Section 1-148.3a-5 of this Code for any curriculum-related activity except for transportation on regular bus routes from home to school or from school to home, subject to the following conditions:

(i) A MFSAB may not be used to transport students under this Section unless the driver holds a valid school bus driver permit.

(ii) The use of a MFSAB under this Section is subject to the requirements of Sections 6-106.11, 6-106.12, 12-707.01, 13-101, and 13-109 of this Code.

"Curriculum-related school activity" as used in this subsection (a) includes transportation from home to school or from school to home, tripper or shuttle service between school attendance centers, transportation to a vocational or career center or other trade-skill development site or a regional safe school or other school-sponsored alternative learning program, or a trip that is directly related to the regular curriculum of a student for which he or she earns credit.

(b) Every student enrolled in grade 12 or below in any entity listed in subsection (a) of Section 1-182 of this Code who is transported in a vehicle that is being operated by or for a public or private primary or secondary school, including any primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution, for an interscholastic, interscholastic-athletic, or school-sponsored, noncurriculum-related activity that (i) does not require student participation as part of the educational services of the entity and (ii) is not associated with the students' regular class-for-credit schedule shall transport students only in a school bus or vehicle described in subsection (b) of Section 1-182 of this Code. A student participating in an agrarian-related activity may also be transported in a second division pick-up truck registered under paragraph 7 of subsection (b) of Section 3-808.1. For purposes of this subsection, "pick-up truck" means a truck weighing 12,000 pounds or less with an enclosed cabin that can seat up to 6 passengers with seatbelts, including the driver, and an open cargo area. This subsection (b) does not apply to any second division vehicle used by an entity listed in subsection (a) of Section 1-182 of this Code for a parade, homecoming, or a similar noncurriculum-related school activity.

(Source: P.A. 102-544, eff. 8-20-21.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.