103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1799

 

Introduced 2/9/2023, 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 (MFSAB) 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 an MFSAB 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.


LRB103 29067 RJT 55453 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1799LRB103 29067 RJT 55453 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 School Code is amended by changing Section
529-6.3 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/29-6.3)
7    Sec. 29-6.3. Transportation to and from specified
8interscholastic or school-sponsored activities.
9    (a) Any school district transporting students in grade 12
10or below for an interscholastic, interscholastic athletic, or
11school-sponsored, noncurriculum-related activity that (i) does
12not require student participation as part of the educational
13services of the district and (ii) is not associated with the
14students' regular class-for-credit schedule or required 5
15clock hours of instruction under Section 10-19.05 shall
16transport the students only in a school bus, a vehicle
17manufactured to transport not more than 10 persons, including
18the driver, or a multifunction school-activity bus
19manufactured to transport not more than 15 persons, including
20the driver.
21    (a-5) A student in any of grades 9 through 12 or who
22attends an alternative education program operated by a
23regional office of education may be transported in a

 

 

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1multi-function school activity bus (MFSAB) as defined in
2Section 1-148.3a-5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code that is
3manufactured to transport not more than 15 persons, including
4the driver, or a vehicle manufactured to transport not more
5than 10 persons, including the driver, for any
6curriculum-related activity except for transportation on
7regular bus routes from home to school or from school to home,
8subject to the following conditions:
9        (i) The MFSAB or vehicle may be used to transport
10    students under this subsection if the driver holds a
11    minimum of a valid driver's license and is an employee or
12    contractual employee of the school district or alternative
13    education program or of a third-party contractor. A MFSAB
14    may not be used to transport students under this Section
15    unless the driver holds a valid school bus driver permit.
16        (ii) The use of a MFSAB under this Section is subject
17    to the requirements of Sections 6-106.11, 6-106.12,
18    12-707.01, 13-101, and 13-109 of the Illinois Vehicle
19    Code.
20    (b) Any school district or regional office of education
21furnishing transportation for students under the authority of
22this Section shall insure against any loss or liability of the
23district or regional office of education resulting from the
24maintenance, operation, or use of the vehicle.
25    (c) Vehicles used to transport students under this Section
26may claim a depreciation allowance of 20% over 5 years as

 

 

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1provided in Section 29-5 of this Code.
2(Source: P.A. 101-12, eff. 7-1-19.)
 
3    Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
4changing Section 11-1414.1 as follows:
 
5    (625 ILCS 5/11-1414.1)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1414.1)
6    Sec. 11-1414.1. School transportation of students.
7    (a) Every student enrolled in grade 12 or below in any
8entity listed in subsection (a) of Section 1-182 of this Code
9must be transported in a school bus or a vehicle described in
10subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (b) of Section 1-182 of
11this Code for any curriculum-related school activity, except
12that unless subsection (a-5) of Section 29-6.3 of the School
13Code provides otherwise, a student in any of grades 9 through
1412 or a student in any of grades K through 12 with an
15Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with a staff to student
16ratio of 1 to 5, and attending Acacia Academy, Alexander
17Leigh, Marklund, Helping Hands Center, Connections
18Organization, Soaring Eagle Academy, or New Horizon Academy
19may be transported in a multi-function school activity bus
20(MFSAB) as defined in Section 1-148.3a-5 of this Code for any
21curriculum-related activity except for transportation on
22regular bus routes from home to school or from school to home,
23subject to the following conditions:
24        (i) A MFSAB may not be used to transport students

 

 

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1    under this Section unless the driver holds a valid school
2    bus driver permit.
3        (ii) The use of a MFSAB under this Section is subject
4    to the requirements of Sections 6-106.11, 6-106.12,
5    12-707.01, 13-101, and 13-109 of this Code.
6    "Curriculum-related school activity" as used in this
7subsection (a) includes transportation from home to school or
8from school to home, tripper or shuttle service between school
9attendance centers, transportation to a vocational or career
10center or other trade-skill development site or a regional
11safe school or other school-sponsored alternative learning
12program, or a trip that is directly related to the regular
13curriculum of a student for which he or she earns credit.
14    (b) Every student enrolled in grade 12 or below in any
15entity listed in subsection (a) of Section 1-182 of this Code
16who is transported in a vehicle that is being operated by or
17for a public or private primary or secondary school, including
18any primary or secondary school operated by a religious
19institution, for an interscholastic,
20interscholastic-athletic, or school-sponsored,
21noncurriculum-related activity that (i) does not require
22student participation as part of the educational services of
23the entity and (ii) is not associated with the students'
24regular class-for-credit schedule shall transport students
25only in a school bus or vehicle described in subsection (b) of
26Section 1-182 of this Code. A student participating in an

 

 

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1agrarian-related activity may also be transported in a second
2division pick-up truck registered under paragraph 7 of
3subsection (b) of Section 3-808.1. For purposes of this
4subsection, "pick-up truck" means a truck weighing 12,000
5pounds or less with an enclosed cabin that can seat up to 6
6passengers with seatbelts, including the driver, and an open
7cargo area. This subsection (b) does not apply to any second
8division vehicle used by an entity listed in subsection (a) of
9Section 1-182 of this Code for a parade, homecoming, or a
10similar noncurriculum-related school activity.
11(Source: P.A. 102-544, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13becoming law.