Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that school boards may enter into contracts for any period of time deemed appropriate by those school boards (rather than for up to 3 years) for transportation of pupils to and from school, except that no contract, inclusive of any proposed renewals, may exceed 10 years (rather than allowing such contracts to be extended for up to 2 additional years by mutual agreement of the parties and thereafter extended on a year-to-year basis by mutual agreement of the parties, unless a school board receives a timely request from another interested contractor that a contract be let by bid). Requires all contracts for a period of time greater than 5 years that do not include the use of electric vehicles for pupil transportation to include a termination option after 5 years. Allows contract opener clauses for any purpose to be included in the contract. Provides that a contract for pupil transportation that utilizes a significant percentage of electric vehicles may be entered into by a school board for up to 15 years if the contract relies on capital or infrastructure purchases or improvements that cannot reasonably be justified in a shorter-term contract.

  CURRENT STATUS

8/4/2023 - Effective Date January 1, 2024

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that all school buses that are newly purchased, leased, or contracted after January 1, 2028, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students operating primarily within an equity investment eligible community or primarily serving students living in an equity investment eligible community after January 1, 2030, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students in the State after January 1, 2035, shall be an electric vehicle. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes language classifying motor vehicles of the first division used and registered as school buses as vehicles of the second division. In provisions concerning school bus driver permits, provides that the Secretary of State shall offer for issuance a separate permit valid only for the operation of first division vehicles being operated as school buses. Provides that the written test an applicant for a school bus driver permit must pass shall be a first division or second division written test. Requires the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education, to develop a separate classroom course and refresher course for operation of vehicles of the first division being operated as school buses. Provides that regional superintendents of schools, working with the Illinois State Board of Education, shall offer the course. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Fleet Electrification Incentive Program to provide fleet owners and operators in the State grants to promote the use of eligible electric vehicles. Provides that the Program shall offer qualifying purchasers a grant up to specified base amounts toward the purchase of eligible electric vehicles based on the Class of vehicle. Requires the Agency to award grants under the Program on a competitive basis according to the availability of funding. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant under the Program a purchaser must satisfy all of the required criteria. Provides that the Agency shall give weight to an application based upon the potential impact of the geographic location and route of the purchaser's fleet on pollution affecting an equity investment eligible community. Requires the Agency to ensure that resale of a vehicle serving a public school or located within an equity investment eligible community shall result in the vehicle servicing a similarly situated community. Provides that grants under the Program may be combined with other public incentives but the total of governmental incentives shall not exceed a maximum of 80% of the purchase price of the vehicle. Requires the Agency to set aside 20% of the appropriated funds under the Program for grants to the purchaser of electric school buses. Provides that all awards granted are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Defines terms.

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes a provision that the Environmental Protection Agency shall offer increased grant incentives of an additional 15% of the base amount for the purchase of eligible electric vehicles that will be located within an equity investment eligible community. Provides that the Agency shall use a points-based evaluation and shall award additional points to an application from an eligible purchaser whose eligible electric vehicles are to be domiciled in an equity investment eligible community (rather than give weight to an application based on the potential impact of the location and route of the purchaser's fleet on pollution affecting an equity investment eligible community). Adds a definition of "eligible purchaser" using language from the introduced bill describing purchasers who are eligible to receive a grant under the Program. Makes conforming changes. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/17/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. With respect to the provision of free transportation for pupils, allows a school district to pay the public transit fees of pupils instead (rather than providing an exception for pupils for whom the school board certifies to the State Board of Education that adequate transportation for the public is available). In provisions allowing for free transportation if conditions are such that walking constitutes a serious hazard, removes the provision specifying that such transportation shall not be provided if adequate transportation for the public is available. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that it shall be the policy of the State to encourage foreign-born drivers to apply and work as school bus drivers in the State. No State law or action shall prohibit, directly or indirectly, the application of a foreign-born, non-citizen, or non-domiciled driver from applying for a CLP or a CDL for a driver ultimately seeking a type S endorsement as a school bus driver or a school bus driver permit. Provides that where reasonable, all course work, course descriptions, and test proctoring and the application of other requirements for a CLP, CDL, initial or renewal classroom training course administered by the Illinois State Board of Education, or a type S endorsement for a driver ultimately seeking a type S endorsement as a school bus driver, written or in person, may be made available or be obtainable in Spanish, in addition to other languages as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of State or the Illinois State Board of Education.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

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.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/9/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that all school buses that are newly purchased, leased, or contracted after January 1, 2028, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students operating primarily within an equity investment eligible community or primarily serving students living in an equity investment eligible community after January 1, 2030, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students in the State after January 1, 2035, shall be an electric vehicle. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall distribute grants to early childhood education and care nonprofit organizations that are established as a Section 501(c)(3) organization and that are dedicated to providing early childhood education and care services to children and families to provide transportation services to families that have trouble affording transportation to early childhood education and care centers. Creates the Early Childhood Education and Care Transportation Fund. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop an application process for this grant program. Provides that grant funds be distributed annually. Provides that the application process shall require that early childhood education and care nonprofit organizations detail how many families and children would receive transportation assistance from the program, the amount of funding needed per child in their area to fund adequate transportation for the year, and how the funding will be used to provide transportation for each family in the application. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require that any early childhood education and care nonprofit organizations that receive funding shall report the amount of money used for transportation during the State's previous fiscal year and return unused funds back to the Early Childhood Education and Care Transportation Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a multifunction school activity bus may be used to transport a student in any of grades 9 through 12 who participates in a career exploration program, as approved by a parent or guardian. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Fleet Electrification Incentive Program to provide fleet owners and operators in the State grants to promote the use of eligible electric vehicles. Provides that the Program shall offer qualifying purchasers a grant up to specified base amounts toward the purchase of eligible electric vehicles based on the Class of vehicle. Requires the Agency to award grants under the Program on a competitive basis according to the availability of funding. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant under the Program a purchaser must satisfy all of the required criteria. Provides that the Agency shall give weight to an application based upon the potential impact of the geographic location and route of the purchaser's fleet on pollution affecting an equity investment eligible community. Requires the Agency to ensure that resale of a vehicle serving a public school or located within an equity investment eligible community shall result in the vehicle servicing a similarly situated community. Provides that grants under the Program may be combined with other public incentives but the total of governmental incentives shall not exceed a maximum of 80% of the purchase price of the vehicle. Requires the Agency to set aside 20% of the appropriated funds under the Program for grants to the purchaser of electric school buses. Provides that all awards granted are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Defines terms.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a school district or a school bus company under contract with a school district shall not operate a Type I or Type II school bus manufactured after the effective date of the bill unless the bus is equipped with a set of 3-point seat belts or any other federally approved restraint system in good operating condition for each passenger seat and a rooftop safety hatch. Provides that, on or after January 1, 2028, all newly purchased school buses shall be equipped with 3-point seat belts or any other federally approved restraint system in good operating condition for each passenger. Provides that the provision shall not apply to a school bus that is legally registered in another state and displaying valid registration plates of that state if the bus is not operated in Illinois on a regular basis and the bus is operated in Illinois in connection with a cultural, tourist, athletic, or other similar activity for students enrolled in a school located outside of the State. Provides that nothing in the provision shall make a school district or a school bus company liable for a passenger's failure to properly adjust or fasten a seat belt or other restraint system. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. In provisions requiring a school district to provide free transportation for pupils residing one and one-half miles or more from school, provides that a pupil's parent or guardian may designate more than one home for the pupil if the parent or guardian has shared custody of the pupil at a different address within the district.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Allows the use of a multi-function school activity bus 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 a multi-function school activity bus 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.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Creates the Zero Emissions School Bus Funding Program Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall administer a Zero Emissions School Bus Funding Program for public schools to acquire funding to transition their school bus fleets to zero-emission fleets. Provides requirements for the Program, as well as factors for the Agency to consider in awarding funds, including demonstrating the ability to deploy the largest number of electric buses feasible, leveraging local, State, and federal funding, as well as incorporating microgrid technology. Authorities the Agency to adopt rules to implement and administer the Act. Defines terms.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. With respect to the provision of free transportation for pupils, allows a school district to pay the public transit fees of pupils instead (rather than providing an exception for pupils for whom the school board certifies to the State Board of Education that adequate transportation for the public is available). In provisions allowing for free transportation if conditions are such that walking constitutes a serious hazard, removes the provision specifying that such transportation shall not be provided if adequate transportation for the public is available. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments