HB0402eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0402 Engrossed LRB094 05645 RAS 35694 b

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 changing Section 27-23 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-23)

Sec. 27-23. Motor Vehicle Code. The curriculum in all public schools shall include a course dealing with the content of Chapters 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to those Chapters insofar as they pertain to the operation of motor vehicles, and the portions of the Litter Control Act relating to the operation of motor vehicles. Instruction shall be given in safety education in each grade, 1 through 8, equivalent to 1 class period each week, and in at least 1 of the years in grades 10 through 12. The course of instruction required of each eligible student at the high school level shall consist of a minimum of 30 clock hours of classroom instruction taught by a certified high school teacher who has acquired special qualifications as required for participation under the terms of Section 27-24.2 of this Act. Each school district maintaining grades 9 through 12: (i) shall provide the classroom course for each public and non-public high school student resident of the school district who either has received a passing grade in at least 8 courses during the previous 2 semesters or has received a waiver of that requirement from the local superintendent of schools (with respect to a public high school student) or chief school administrator (with respect to a non-public high school student), as provided in Section 27-24.2, and for each out-of-school resident of the district between the age of 15 and 21 years who requests the classroom course, and (ii) may provide such classroom course for any resident of the district over age 55 who requests the classroom course, but only if space therein remains available after all eligible public and non-public high school student residents and out-of-school residents between the age of 15 and 21 who request such course have registered therefor, and only if such resident of the district over age 55 has not previously been licensed as a driver under the laws of this or any other state or country. Each school district (i) shall provide an approved course in practice driving consisting of a minimum of 6 clock hours of individual behind-the-wheel instruction or its equivalent in a car, as determined by the State Board of Education, for each eligible resident of the district between the age of 15 and 21 years who has started an approved high school classroom driver education course on request, and (ii) may provide such approved course in practice driving for any resident of the district over age 55 on request and without regard to whether or not such resident has started any high school classroom driver education course, but only if space therein remains available after all eligible residents of the district between the ages of 15 and 21 years who have started an approved classroom driver education course and who request such course in practice driving have registered therefor, and only if such resident of the district over age 55 has not previously been licensed as a driver under the laws of this or any other state or country. Subject to rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, the district may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed $250 $50, to students who participate in the course, unless a student is unable to pay for such a course, in which event the fee for such a student shall be waived. The total amount from driver education fees and reimbursement from the State for driver education must not exceed the total cost of the driver education program in any year and must be deposited into the school district's driver education fund as a separate line item budget entry. All moneys deposited into the school district's driver education fund must be used solely for the purpose of funding a high school driver education program approved by the State Board of Education that uses instructors certified by the State Board of Education. If ; provided, that if a district provides the classroom or practice driving course or both of such courses to any residents of the district over age 55, the district may charge such residents a fee in any amount up to but not exceeding the actual cost of the course or courses in which such residents participate. The course of instruction given in grades 10 through 12 shall include an emphasis on the development of knowledge, attitudes, habits and skills necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles including motorcycles insofar as they can be taught in the classroom, and in addition the course shall include instruction on special hazards existing at, and required extra safety and driving precautions that must be observed at, emergency situations, highway construction and maintenance zones, and railroad crossings and the approaches thereto.

(Source: P.A. 92-497, eff. 11-29-01.)

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