Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB3715
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Full Text of SB3715  102nd General Assembly

SB3715 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  
  

 


 
102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3715

 

Introduced 1/21/2022, by Sen. Chapin Rose

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new
625 ILCS 5/6-106.1  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-106.1

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall accept all required school bus permit renewal materials and fees by electronic means. Provides that the Secretary, in accordance with established rules, shall establish an online or electronic renewal process. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to allow the Secretary to adopt emergency rules. Effective immediately.


LRB102 22715 RAM 31861 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3715LRB102 22715 RAM 31861 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is
5amended by adding Section 5-45.21 as follows:
 
6    (5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new)
7    Sec. 5-45.21. Emergency rulemaking; Secretary of State. To
8provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of this
9amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, emergency rules
10implementing this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly
11may be adopted in accordance with Section 5-45 by the
12Secretary of State. The adoption of emergency rules authorized
13by Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be necessary for
14the public interest, safety, and welfare.
15    This Section is repealed 180 days after the effective date
16of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
 
17    Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
18changing Section 6-106.1 as follows:
 
19    (625 ILCS 5/6-106.1)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-106.1)
20    Sec. 6-106.1. School bus driver permit.
21    (a) The Secretary of State shall issue a school bus driver

 

 

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1permit to those applicants who have met all the requirements
2of the application and screening process under this Section to
3insure the welfare and safety of children who are transported
4on school buses throughout the State of Illinois. Applicants
5shall obtain the proper application required by the Secretary
6of State from their prospective or current employer and submit
7the completed application to the prospective or current
8employer along with the necessary fingerprint submission as
9required by the Illinois State Police to conduct fingerprint
10based criminal background checks on current and future
11information available in the state system and current
12information available through the Federal Bureau of
13Investigation's system. Applicants who have completed the
14fingerprinting requirements shall not be subjected to the
15fingerprinting process when applying for subsequent permits or
16submitting proof of successful completion of the annual
17refresher course. Individuals who on July 1, 1995 (the
18effective date of Public Act 88-612) possess a valid school
19bus driver permit that has been previously issued by the
20appropriate Regional School Superintendent are not subject to
21the fingerprinting provisions of this Section as long as the
22permit remains valid and does not lapse. The applicant shall
23be required to pay all related application and fingerprinting
24fees as established by rule including, but not limited to, the
25amounts established by the Illinois State Police and the
26Federal Bureau of Investigation to process fingerprint based

 

 

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1criminal background investigations. All fees paid for
2fingerprint processing services under this Section shall be
3deposited into the State Police Services Fund for the cost
4incurred in processing the fingerprint based criminal
5background investigations. All other fees paid under this
6Section shall be deposited into the Road Fund for the purpose
7of defraying the costs of the Secretary of State in
8administering this Section. All applicants must:
9        1. be 21 years of age or older;
10        2. possess a valid and properly classified driver's
11    license issued by the Secretary of State;
12        3. possess a valid driver's license, which has not
13    been revoked, suspended, or canceled for 3 years
14    immediately prior to the date of application, or have not
15    had his or her commercial motor vehicle driving privileges
16    disqualified within the 3 years immediately prior to the
17    date of application;
18        4. successfully pass a written test, administered by
19    the Secretary of State, on school bus operation, school
20    bus safety, and special traffic laws relating to school
21    buses and submit to a review of the applicant's driving
22    habits by the Secretary of State at the time the written
23    test is given;
24        5. demonstrate ability to exercise reasonable care in
25    the operation of school buses in accordance with rules
26    promulgated by the Secretary of State;

 

 

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1        6. demonstrate physical fitness to operate school
2    buses by submitting the results of a medical examination,
3    including tests for drug use for each applicant not
4    subject to such testing pursuant to federal law, conducted
5    by a licensed physician, a licensed advanced practice
6    registered nurse, or a licensed physician assistant within
7    90 days of the date of application according to standards
8    promulgated by the Secretary of State;
9        7. affirm under penalties of perjury that he or she
10    has not made a false statement or knowingly concealed a
11    material fact in any application for permit;
12        8. have completed an initial classroom course,
13    including first aid procedures, in school bus driver
14    safety as promulgated by the Secretary of State; and after
15    satisfactory completion of said initial course an annual
16    refresher course; such courses and the agency or
17    organization conducting such courses shall be approved by
18    the Secretary of State; failure to complete the annual
19    refresher course, shall result in cancellation of the
20    permit until such course is completed;
21        9. not have been under an order of court supervision
22    for or convicted of 2 or more serious traffic offenses, as
23    defined by rule, within one year prior to the date of
24    application that may endanger the life or safety of any of
25    the driver's passengers within the duration of the permit
26    period;

 

 

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1        10. not have been under an order of court supervision
2    for or convicted of reckless driving, aggravated reckless
3    driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol,
4    other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or
5    any combination thereof, or reckless homicide resulting
6    from the operation of a motor vehicle within 3 years of the
7    date of application;
8        11. not have been convicted of committing or
9    attempting to commit any one or more of the following
10    offenses: (i) those offenses defined in Sections 8-1,
11    8-1.2, 9-1, 9-1.2, 9-2, 9-2.1, 9-3, 9-3.2, 9-3.3, 10-1,
12    10-2, 10-3.1, 10-4, 10-5, 10-5.1, 10-6, 10-7, 10-9,
13    11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 11-6, 11-6.5,
14    11-6.6, 11-9, 11-9.1, 11-9.1A, 11-9.3, 11-9.4, 11-9.4-1,
15    11-14, 11-14.1, 11-14.3, 11-14.4, 11-15, 11-15.1, 11-16,
16    11-17, 11-17.1, 11-18, 11-18.1, 11-19, 11-19.1, 11-19.2,
17    11-20, 11-20.1, 11-20.1B, 11-20.3, 11-21, 11-22, 11-23,
18    11-24, 11-25, 11-26, 11-30, 12-2.6, 12-3.05, 12-3.1,
19    12-3.3, 12-4, 12-4.1, 12-4.2, 12-4.2-5, 12-4.3, 12-4.4,
20    12-4.5, 12-4.6, 12-4.7, 12-4.9, 12-5.3, 12-6, 12-6.2,
21    12-7.1, 12-7.3, 12-7.4, 12-7.5, 12-11, 12-13, 12-14,
22    12-14.1, 12-15, 12-16, 12-21.5, 12-21.6, 12-33, 12C-5,
23    12C-10, 12C-20, 12C-30, 12C-45, 16-16, 16-16.1, 18-1,
24    18-2, 18-3, 18-4, 18-5, 19-6, 20-1, 20-1.1, 20-1.2,
25    20-1.3, 20-2, 24-1, 24-1.1, 24-1.2, 24-1.2-5, 24-1.6,
26    24-1.7, 24-2.1, 24-3.3, 24-3.5, 24-3.8, 24-3.9, 31A-1.1,

 

 

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1    33A-2, and 33D-1, in subsection (A), clauses (a) and (b),
2    of Section 24-3, and those offenses contained in Article
3    29D of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of
4    2012; (ii) those offenses defined in the Cannabis Control
5    Act except those offenses defined in subsections (a) and
6    (b) of Section 4, and subsection (a) of Section 5 of the
7    Cannabis Control Act; (iii) those offenses defined in the
8    Illinois Controlled Substances Act; (iv) those offenses
9    defined in the Methamphetamine Control and Community
10    Protection Act; and (v) any offense committed or attempted
11    in any other state or against the laws of the United
12    States, which if committed or attempted in this State
13    would be punishable as one or more of the foregoing
14    offenses; (vi) the offenses defined in Section 4.1 and 5.1
15    of the Wrongs to Children Act or Section 11-9.1A of the
16    Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (vii)
17    those offenses defined in Section 6-16 of the Liquor
18    Control Act of 1934; and (viii) those offenses defined in
19    the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act;
20        12. not have been repeatedly involved as a driver in
21    motor vehicle collisions or been repeatedly convicted of
22    offenses against laws and ordinances regulating the
23    movement of traffic, to a degree which indicates lack of
24    ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable care in the
25    safe operation of a motor vehicle or disrespect for the
26    traffic laws and the safety of other persons upon the

 

 

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1    highway;
2        13. not have, through the unlawful operation of a
3    motor vehicle, caused an accident resulting in the death
4    of any person;
5        14. not have, within the last 5 years, been adjudged
6    to be afflicted with or suffering from any mental
7    disability or disease;
8        15. consent, in writing, to the release of results of
9    reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing under
10    Section 6-106.1c of this Code by the employer of the
11    applicant to the Secretary of State; and
12        16. not have been convicted of committing or
13    attempting to commit within the last 20 years: (i) an
14    offense defined in subsection (c) of Section 4, subsection
15    (b) of Section 5, and subsection (a) of Section 8 of the
16    Cannabis Control Act; or (ii) any offenses in any other
17    state or against the laws of the United States that, if
18    committed or attempted in this State, would be punishable
19    as one or more of the foregoing offenses.
20    (b) A school bus driver permit shall be valid for a period
21specified by the Secretary of State as set forth by rule. It
22shall be renewable upon compliance with subsection (a) of this
23Section.
24    (b-1) The Secretary of State shall accept all required
25renewal materials and payments electronically. The Secretary,
26in accordance with established rules, shall establish an

 

 

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1online or electronic renewal process. The Secretary may adopt
2emergency rules under Section 5-45 of the Illinois
3Administrative Procedure Act to implement this subsection.
4    (c) A school bus driver permit shall contain the holder's
5driver's license number, legal name, residence address, zip
6code, and date of birth, a brief description of the holder and
7a space for signature. The Secretary of State may require a
8suitable photograph of the holder.
9    (d) The employer shall be responsible for conducting a
10pre-employment interview with prospective school bus driver
11candidates, distributing school bus driver applications and
12medical forms to be completed by the applicant, and submitting
13the applicant's fingerprint cards to the Illinois State Police
14that are required for the criminal background investigations.
15The employer shall certify in writing to the Secretary of
16State that all pre-employment conditions have been
17successfully completed including the successful completion of
18an Illinois specific criminal background investigation through
19the Illinois State Police and the submission of necessary
20fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for
21criminal history information available through the Federal
22Bureau of Investigation system. The applicant shall present
23the certification to the Secretary of State at the time of
24submitting the school bus driver permit application.
25    (e) Permits shall initially be provisional upon receiving
26certification from the employer that all pre-employment

 

 

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1conditions have been successfully completed, and upon
2successful completion of all training and examination
3requirements for the classification of the vehicle to be
4operated, the Secretary of State shall provisionally issue a
5School Bus Driver Permit. The permit shall remain in a
6provisional status pending the completion of the Federal
7Bureau of Investigation's criminal background investigation
8based upon fingerprinting specimens submitted to the Federal
9Bureau of Investigation by the Illinois State Police. The
10Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report the findings
11directly to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State
12shall remove the bus driver permit from provisional status
13upon the applicant's successful completion of the Federal
14Bureau of Investigation's criminal background investigation.
15    (f) A school bus driver permit holder shall notify the
16employer and the Secretary of State if he or she is issued an
17order of court supervision for or convicted in another state
18of an offense that would make him or her ineligible for a
19permit under subsection (a) of this Section. The written
20notification shall be made within 5 days of the entry of the
21order of court supervision or conviction. Failure of the
22permit holder to provide the notification is punishable as a
23petty offense for a first violation and a Class B misdemeanor
24for a second or subsequent violation.
25    (g) Cancellation; suspension; notice and procedure.
26        (1) The Secretary of State shall cancel a school bus

 

 

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1    driver permit of an applicant whose criminal background
2    investigation discloses that he or she is not in
3    compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
4    Section.
5        (2) The Secretary of State shall cancel a school bus
6    driver permit when he or she receives notice that the
7    permit holder fails to comply with any provision of this
8    Section or any rule promulgated for the administration of
9    this Section.
10        (3) The Secretary of State shall cancel a school bus
11    driver permit if the permit holder's restricted commercial
12    or commercial driving privileges are withdrawn or
13    otherwise invalidated.
14        (4) The Secretary of State may not issue a school bus
15    driver permit for a period of 3 years to an applicant who
16    fails to obtain a negative result on a drug test as
17    required in item 6 of subsection (a) of this Section or
18    under federal law.
19        (5) The Secretary of State shall forthwith suspend a
20    school bus driver permit for a period of 3 years upon
21    receiving notice that the holder has failed to obtain a
22    negative result on a drug test as required in item 6 of
23    subsection (a) of this Section or under federal law.
24        (6) The Secretary of State shall suspend a school bus
25    driver permit for a period of 3 years upon receiving
26    notice from the employer that the holder failed to perform

 

 

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1    the inspection procedure set forth in subsection (a) or
2    (b) of Section 12-816 of this Code.
3        (7) The Secretary of State shall suspend a school bus
4    driver permit for a period of 3 years upon receiving
5    notice from the employer that the holder refused to submit
6    to an alcohol or drug test as required by Section 6-106.1c
7    or has submitted to a test required by that Section which
8    disclosed an alcohol concentration of more than 0.00 or
9    disclosed a positive result on a National Institute on
10    Drug Abuse five-drug panel, utilizing federal standards
11    set forth in 49 CFR 40.87.
12    The Secretary of State shall notify the State
13Superintendent of Education and the permit holder's
14prospective or current employer that the applicant has (1) has
15failed a criminal background investigation or (2) is no longer
16eligible for a school bus driver permit; and of the related
17cancellation of the applicant's provisional school bus driver
18permit. The cancellation shall remain in effect pending the
19outcome of a hearing pursuant to Section 2-118 of this Code.
20The scope of the hearing shall be limited to the issuance
21criteria contained in subsection (a) of this Section. A
22petition requesting a hearing shall be submitted to the
23Secretary of State and shall contain the reason the individual
24feels he or she is entitled to a school bus driver permit. The
25permit holder's employer shall notify in writing to the
26Secretary of State that the employer has certified the removal

 

 

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1of the offending school bus driver from service prior to the
2start of that school bus driver's next workshift. An employing
3school board that fails to remove the offending school bus
4driver from service is subject to the penalties defined in
5Section 3-14.23 of the School Code. A school bus contractor
6who violates a provision of this Section is subject to the
7penalties defined in Section 6-106.11.
8    All valid school bus driver permits issued under this
9Section prior to January 1, 1995, shall remain effective until
10their expiration date unless otherwise invalidated.
11    (h) When a school bus driver permit holder who is a service
12member is called to active duty, the employer of the permit
13holder shall notify the Secretary of State, within 30 days of
14notification from the permit holder, that the permit holder
15has been called to active duty. Upon notification pursuant to
16this subsection, (i) the Secretary of State shall characterize
17the permit as inactive until a permit holder renews the permit
18as provided in subsection (i) of this Section, and (ii) if a
19permit holder fails to comply with the requirements of this
20Section while called to active duty, the Secretary of State
21shall not characterize the permit as invalid.
22    (i) A school bus driver permit holder who is a service
23member returning from active duty must, within 90 days, renew
24a permit characterized as inactive pursuant to subsection (h)
25of this Section by complying with the renewal requirements of
26subsection (b) of this Section.

 

 

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1    (j) For purposes of subsections (h) and (i) of this
2Section:
3    "Active duty" means active duty pursuant to an executive
4order of the President of the United States, an act of the
5Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor.
6    "Service member" means a member of the Armed Services or
7reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois
8National Guard.
9    (k) A private carrier employer of a school bus driver
10permit holder, having satisfied the employer requirements of
11this Section, shall be held to a standard of ordinary care for
12intentional acts committed in the course of employment by the
13bus driver permit holder. This subsection (k) shall in no way
14limit the liability of the private carrier employer for
15violation of any provision of this Section or for the
16negligent hiring or retention of a school bus driver permit
17holder.
18(Source: P.A. 101-458, eff. 1-1-20; 102-168, eff. 7-27-21;
19102-299, eff. 8-6-21; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; revised
2010-13-21.)
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.