99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB1410

 

Introduced , by Rep. Thomas Bennett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-24.2  from Ch. 122, par. 27-24.2

    Amends the Driver Education Act in the School Code. Requires behind-the-wheel instruction to incorporate motorcycle safety and awareness to ensure that students understand their surroundings when operating a motor vehicle. Effective immediately.


LRB099 06100 NHT 26155 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1410LRB099 06100 NHT 26155 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
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
527-24.2 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-24.2)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-24.2)
7    Sec. 27-24.2. Safety education; driver education course.
8Instruction shall be given in safety education in each of
9grades one though 8, equivalent to one class period each week,
10and any school district which maintains grades 9 through 12
11shall offer a driver education course in any such school which
12it operates. Its curriculum shall include content dealing with
13Chapters 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 of the Illinois Vehicle Code,
14the rules adopted pursuant to those Chapters insofar as they
15pertain to the operation of motor vehicles, and the portions of
16the Litter Control Act relating to the operation of motor
17vehicles. The course of instruction given in grades 10 through
1812 shall include an emphasis on the development of knowledge,
19attitudes, habits, and skills necessary for the safe operation
20of motor vehicles, including motorcycles insofar as they can be
21taught in the classroom, and instruction on distracted driving
22as a major traffic safety issue. In addition, the course shall
23include instruction on special hazards existing at and required

 

 

HB1410- 2 -LRB099 06100 NHT 26155 b

1safety and driving precautions that must be observed at
2emergency situations, highway construction and maintenance
3zones, and railroad crossings and the approaches thereto. The
4course of instruction required of each eligible student at the
5high school level shall consist of a minimum of 30 clock hours
6of classroom instruction and a minimum of 6 clock hours of
7individual behind-the-wheel instruction in a dual control car
8on public roadways taught by a driver education instructor
9endorsed by the State Board of Education. The behind-the-wheel
10instruction shall incorporate motorcycle safety and awareness
11to ensure that students understand their surroundings when
12operating a motor vehicle. Both the classroom instruction part
13and the practice driving part of such driver education course
14shall be open to a resident or non-resident student attending a
15non-public school in the district wherein the course is
16offered. Each student attending any public or non-public high
17school in the district must receive a passing grade in at least
188 courses during the previous 2 semesters prior to enrolling in
19a driver education course, or the student shall not be
20permitted to enroll in the course; provided that the local
21superintendent of schools (with respect to a student attending
22a public high school in the district) or chief school
23administrator (with respect to a student attending a non-public
24high school in the district) may waive the requirement if the
25superintendent or chief school administrator, as the case may
26be, deems it to be in the best interest of the student. A

 

 

HB1410- 3 -LRB099 06100 NHT 26155 b

1student may be allowed to commence the classroom instruction
2part of such driver education course prior to reaching age 15
3if such student then will be eligible to complete the entire
4course within 12 months after being allowed to commence such
5classroom instruction.
6    Such a course may be commenced immediately after the
7completion of a prior course. Teachers of such courses shall
8meet the certification requirements of this Act and regulations
9of the State Board as to qualifications.
10    Subject to rules of the State Board of Education, the
11school district may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed $50,
12to students who participate in the course, unless a student is
13unable to pay for such a course, in which event the fee for
14such a student must be waived. However, the district may
15increase this fee to an amount not to exceed $250 by school
16board resolution following a public hearing on the increase,
17which increased fee must be waived for students who participate
18in the course and are unable to pay for the course. The total
19amount from driver education fees and reimbursement from the
20State for driver education must not exceed the total cost of
21the driver education program in any year and must be deposited
22into the school district's driver education fund as a separate
23line item budget entry. All moneys deposited into the school
24district's driver education fund must be used solely for the
25funding of a high school driver education program approved by
26the State Board of Education that uses driver education

 

 

HB1410- 4 -LRB099 06100 NHT 26155 b

1instructors endorsed by the State Board of Education.
2(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09; 97-145, eff. 7-14-11.)
 
3    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
4becoming law.