95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0166

 

Introduced 1/31/2007, by Sen. Christine Radogno

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/12-816 new

    Amends the Vehicle Code. Provides that each school district in the State shall have in place, by January 1, 2008, a policy to ensure that the school bus driver is the last person leaving every school bus and that no passenger is left behind or remains on the vehicle at the end of a route, a work shift, or the work day. Establishes requirements for the policy. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0166 LRB095 05332 DRH 25415 b

1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Vehicle Code is amended by adding Section
5 12-816 as follows:
 
6     (625 ILCS 5/12-816 new)
7     Sec. 12-816. Post-trip inspection policy for school buses.
8     (a) In order to provide for the welfare and safety of
9 children who are transported on school buses throughout the
10 State of Illinois, each school district shall have in place, by
11 January 1, 2008, a policy to ensure that the school bus driver
12 is the last person leaving the bus and that no passenger is
13 left behind or remains on the vehicle at the end of a route, a
14 work shift, or the work day.
15     (b) If a school district has a contract with a private
16 sector school bus company for the transportation of the
17 district's students, the school district shall require in the
18 contract with the private sector company that the company have
19 a post-trip inspection policy in place. This policy and
20 procedure shall, at a minimum, require the school bus driver,
21 before leaving the bus at the end of each route, work shift, or
22 work day, to walk to the rear of the bus and check in and under
23 each seat for sleeping children.

 

 

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1     (c) Before this inspection, the school bus driver shall
2 activate the interior lights of the bus to assist the driver in
3 seeing in and under the seats during a visual sweep of the bus.
4     (d) This policy may include, at the discretion of the
5 school district, the installation of a mechanical or electronic
6 post-trip inspection reminder system which requires the school
7 bus driver to walk to the rear of the bus to deactivate the
8 system before the driver leaves the bus. The system shall
9 require that when the driver turns off the vehicle's ignition
10 system, the vehicle's interior lights must illuminate to assist
11 the driver in seeing in and under the seats during a visual
12 sweep of the bus.
 
13     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14 becoming law.