Section 444.10  General Requirements

a)         Generally, a school bus used for transporting children declared eligible for special transportation services shall comply with the applicable minimum safety standards for either a Type I school bus (see 92 Ill. Adm. Code 440) or a Type II school bus (92 Ill. Adm. Code 442).

b)         Due to the nature of certain challenging conditions, vehicles utilized for special transportation shall be adapted to the specific needs of the children receiving this service.  These needs may require modification of the minimum standards.

c)         Equipment (e.g., additional restraints, harnesses) necessary for the transportation of special education students must be resolved in the student's Individualized Education Program.

d)         In all buses manufactured on or after January 17, 1994 and having one or more locations designed for carrying a person seated in a wheelchair, the bus must comply with all applicable standards established in 49 CFR 571.222 (S5.4 through S5.4.4) (October 1, 1992; as amended by 58 FR 4586, January 15, 1993 and 58 FR 46873, September 3, 1993).  Certain children may be better transported in a manner not required by 49 CFR 571.222 (S5.4 through S5.4.4). In those instances, the student's Individualized Education Program must dictate what is necessary for the child.

(Source:  Amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 14800, effective September 20, 1994)