100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4334

 

Introduced , by Rep. Charles Meier

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/6-106.1

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an applicant for a school bus driver permit who is unable to submit fingerprints due to a condition that has removed his or her fingerprints shall submit to a non-fingerprint based criminal background check. Provides that non-fingerprint based criminal background checks shall be conducted through a search of the Illinois State Police's computerized criminal history record files using identifiers such as the name, sex, race, and date of birth of the applicant. Makes conforming changes.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB4334LRB100 16808 AXK 31949 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 Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Section 6-106.1 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/6-106.1)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-106.1)
7    Sec. 6-106.1. School bus driver permit.
8    (a) The Secretary of State shall issue a school bus driver
9permit to those applicants who have met all the requirements of
10the application and screening process under this Section to
11insure the welfare and safety of children who are transported
12on school buses throughout the State of Illinois. Applicants
13shall obtain the proper application required by the Secretary
14of State from their prospective or current employer and submit
15the completed application to the prospective or current
16employer along with the necessary fingerprint submission as
17required by the Department of State Police to conduct
18fingerprint based criminal background checks on current and
19future information available in the state system and current
20information available through the Federal Bureau of
21Investigation's system. An applicant who is unable to submit
22fingerprints due to a condition that has removed his or her
23fingerprints shall submit to a non-fingerprint based criminal

 

 

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1background check. The non-fingerprint based criminal
2background check shall result in a search of the Illinois State
3Police's computerized criminal history record files using
4identifiers such as the name, sex, race, and date of birth of
5the applicant. Applicants who have completed the
6fingerprinting or non-fingerprinting requirements shall not be
7subjected to the fingerprinting or non-fingerprinting process
8when applying for subsequent permits or submitting proof of
9successful completion of the annual refresher course.
10Individuals who on July 1, 1995 (the effective date of Public
11Act 88-612) possess a valid school bus driver permit that has
12been previously issued by the appropriate Regional School
13Superintendent are not subject to the fingerprinting or
14non-fingerprinting provisions of this Section as long as the
15permit remains valid and does not lapse. The applicant shall be
16required to pay all related application and fingerprinting or
17non-fingerprinting fees as established by rule including, but
18not limited to, the amounts established by the Department of
19State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to process
20fingerprint or non-fingerprint based criminal background
21investigations. All fees paid for fingerprint or
22non-fingerprint processing services under this Section shall
23be deposited into the State Police Services Fund for the cost
24incurred in processing the fingerprint or non-fingerprint
25based criminal background investigations. All other fees paid
26under this Section shall be deposited into the Road Fund for

 

 

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1the purpose of defraying the costs of the Secretary of State in
2administering this Section. All applicants must:
3        1. be 21 years of age or older;
4        2. possess a valid and properly classified driver's
5    license issued by the Secretary of State;
6        3. possess a valid driver's license, which has not been
7    revoked, suspended, or canceled for 3 years immediately
8    prior to the date of application, or have not had his or
9    her commercial motor vehicle driving privileges
10    disqualified within the 3 years immediately prior to the
11    date of application;
12        4. successfully pass a written test, administered by
13    the Secretary of State, on school bus operation, school bus
14    safety, and special traffic laws relating to school buses
15    and submit to a review of the applicant's driving habits by
16    the Secretary of State at the time the written test is
17    given;
18        5. demonstrate ability to exercise reasonable care in
19    the operation of school buses in accordance with rules
20    promulgated by the Secretary of State;
21        6. demonstrate physical fitness to operate school
22    buses by submitting the results of a medical examination,
23    including tests for drug use for each applicant not subject
24    to such testing pursuant to federal law, conducted by a
25    licensed physician, a licensed advanced practice
26    registered nurse, or a licensed physician assistant within

 

 

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1    90 days of the date of application according to standards
2    promulgated by the Secretary of State;
3        7. affirm under penalties of perjury that he or she has
4    not made a false statement or knowingly concealed a
5    material fact in any application for permit;
6        8. have completed an initial classroom course,
7    including first aid procedures, in school bus driver safety
8    as promulgated by the Secretary of State; and after
9    satisfactory completion of said initial course an annual
10    refresher course; such courses and the agency or
11    organization conducting such courses shall be approved by
12    the Secretary of State; failure to complete the annual
13    refresher course, shall result in cancellation of the
14    permit until such course is completed;
15        9. not have been under an order of court supervision
16    for or convicted of 2 or more serious traffic offenses, as
17    defined by rule, within one year prior to the date of
18    application that may endanger the life or safety of any of
19    the driver's passengers within the duration of the permit
20    period;
21        10. not have been under an order of court supervision
22    for or convicted of reckless driving, aggravated reckless
23    driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol,
24    other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or
25    any combination thereof, or reckless homicide resulting
26    from the operation of a motor vehicle within 3 years of the

 

 

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1    date of application;
2        11. not have been convicted of committing or attempting
3    to commit any one or more of the following offenses: (i)
4    those offenses defined in Sections 8-1.2, 9-1, 9-1.2, 9-2,
5    9-2.1, 9-3, 9-3.2, 9-3.3, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3.1, 10-4, 10-5,
6    10-5.1, 10-6, 10-7, 10-9, 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40,
7    11-1.50, 11-1.60, 11-6, 11-6.5, 11-6.6, 11-9, 11-9.1,
8    11-9.3, 11-9.4, 11-14, 11-14.1, 11-14.3, 11-14.4, 11-15,
9    11-15.1, 11-16, 11-17, 11-17.1, 11-18, 11-18.1, 11-19,
10    11-19.1, 11-19.2, 11-20, 11-20.1, 11-20.1B, 11-20.3,
11    11-21, 11-22, 11-23, 11-24, 11-25, 11-26, 11-30, 12-2.6,
12    12-3.1, 12-4, 12-4.1, 12-4.2, 12-4.2-5, 12-4.3, 12-4.4,
13    12-4.5, 12-4.6, 12-4.7, 12-4.9, 12-5.01, 12-6, 12-6.2,
14    12-7.1, 12-7.3, 12-7.4, 12-7.5, 12-11, 12-13, 12-14,
15    12-14.1, 12-15, 12-16, 12-16.2, 12-21.5, 12-21.6, 12-33,
16    12C-5, 12C-10, 12C-20, 12C-30, 12C-45, 16-16, 16-16.1,
17    18-1, 18-2, 18-3, 18-4, 18-5, 19-6, 20-1, 20-1.1, 20-1.2,
18    20-1.3, 20-2, 24-1, 24-1.1, 24-1.2, 24-1.2-5, 24-1.6,
19    24-1.7, 24-2.1, 24-3.3, 24-3.5, 24-3.8, 24-3.9, 31A-1,
20    31A-1.1, 33A-2, and 33D-1, and in subsection (b) of Section
21    8-1, and in subdivisions (a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), (e)(1),
22    (e)(2), (e)(3), (e)(4), and (f)(1) of Section 12-3.05, and
23    in subsection (a) and subsection (b), clause (1), of
24    Section 12-4, and in subsection (A), clauses (a) and (b),
25    of Section 24-3, and those offenses contained in Article
26    29D of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of

 

 

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

 

 

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1    person;
2        14. not have, within the last 5 years, been adjudged to
3    be afflicted with or suffering from any mental disability
4    or disease; and
5        15. consent, in writing, to the release of results of
6    reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing under
7    Section 6-106.1c of this Code by the employer of the
8    applicant to the Secretary of State.
9    (b) A school bus driver permit shall be valid for a period
10specified by the Secretary of State as set forth by rule. It
11shall be renewable upon compliance with subsection (a) of this
12Section.
13    (c) A school bus driver permit shall contain the holder's
14driver's license number, legal name, residence address, zip
15code, and date of birth, a brief description of the holder and
16a space for signature. The Secretary of State may require a
17suitable photograph of the holder.
18    (d) The employer shall be responsible for conducting a
19pre-employment interview with prospective school bus driver
20candidates, distributing school bus driver applications and
21medical forms to be completed by the applicant, and submitting
22the applicant's fingerprint cards, if required, to the
23Department of State Police that are required for the criminal
24background investigations. The employer shall certify in
25writing to the Secretary of State that all pre-employment
26conditions have been successfully completed including the

 

 

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1successful completion of an Illinois specific criminal
2background investigation through the Department of State
3Police and the submission of necessary fingerprints to the
4Federal Bureau of Investigation for criminal history
5information available through the Federal Bureau of
6Investigation system, if applicable. The applicant shall
7present the certification to the Secretary of State at the time
8of submitting the school bus driver permit application.
9    (e) Permits shall initially be provisional upon receiving
10certification from the employer that all pre-employment
11conditions have been successfully completed, and upon
12successful completion of all training and examination
13requirements for the classification of the vehicle to be
14operated, the Secretary of State shall provisionally issue a
15School Bus Driver Permit. The permit shall remain in a
16provisional status pending the completion of the Federal Bureau
17of Investigation's criminal background investigation based
18upon fingerprinting specimens submitted to the Federal Bureau
19of Investigation by the Department of State Police, or of a
20non-fingerprint based criminal background investigation by the
21Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Federal Bureau of
22Investigation shall report the findings directly to the
23Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall remove the bus
24driver permit from provisional status upon the applicant's
25successful completion of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's
26criminal background investigation.

 

 

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1    (f) A school bus driver permit holder shall notify the
2employer and the Secretary of State if he or she is issued an
3order of court supervision for or convicted in another state of
4an offense that would make him or her ineligible for a permit
5under subsection (a) of this Section. The written notification
6shall be made within 5 days of the entry of the order of court
7supervision or conviction. Failure of the permit holder to
8provide the notification is punishable as a petty offense for a
9first violation and a Class B misdemeanor for a second or
10subsequent violation.
11    (g) Cancellation; suspension; notice and procedure.
12        (1) The Secretary of State shall cancel a school bus
13    driver permit of an applicant whose criminal background
14    investigation discloses that he or she is not in compliance
15    with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section.
16        (2) The Secretary of State shall cancel a school bus
17    driver permit when he or she receives notice that the
18    permit holder fails to comply with any provision of this
19    Section or any rule promulgated for the administration of
20    this Section.
21        (3) The Secretary of State shall cancel a school bus
22    driver permit if the permit holder's restricted commercial
23    or commercial driving privileges are withdrawn or
24    otherwise invalidated.
25        (4) The Secretary of State may not issue a school bus
26    driver permit for a period of 3 years to an applicant who

 

 

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1    fails to obtain a negative result on a drug test as
2    required in item 6 of subsection (a) of this Section or
3    under federal law.
4        (5) The Secretary of State shall forthwith suspend a
5    school bus driver permit for a period of 3 years upon
6    receiving notice that the holder has failed to obtain a
7    negative result on a drug test as required in item 6 of
8    subsection (a) of this Section or under federal law.
9        (6) The Secretary of State shall suspend a school bus
10    driver permit for a period of 3 years upon receiving notice
11    from the employer that the holder failed to perform the
12    inspection procedure set forth in subsection (a) or (b) of
13    Section 12-816 of this Code.
14        (7) The Secretary of State shall suspend a school bus
15    driver permit for a period of 3 years upon receiving notice
16    from the employer that the holder refused to submit to an
17    alcohol or drug test as required by Section 6-106.1c or has
18    submitted to a test required by that Section which
19    disclosed an alcohol concentration of more than 0.00 or
20    disclosed a positive result on a National Institute on Drug
21    Abuse five-drug panel, utilizing federal standards set
22    forth in 49 CFR 40.87.
23    The Secretary of State shall notify the State
24Superintendent of Education and the permit holder's
25prospective or current employer that the applicant has (1) has
26failed a criminal background investigation or (2) is no longer

 

 

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1eligible for a school bus driver permit; and of the related
2cancellation of the applicant's provisional school bus driver
3permit. The cancellation shall remain in effect pending the
4outcome of a hearing pursuant to Section 2-118 of this Code.
5The scope of the hearing shall be limited to the issuance
6criteria contained in subsection (a) of this Section. A
7petition requesting a hearing shall be submitted to the
8Secretary of State and shall contain the reason the individual
9feels he or she is entitled to a school bus driver permit. The
10permit holder's employer shall notify in writing to the
11Secretary of State that the employer has certified the removal
12of the offending school bus driver from service prior to the
13start of that school bus driver's next workshift. An employing
14school board that fails to remove the offending school bus
15driver from service is subject to the penalties defined in
16Section 3-14.23 of the School Code. A school bus contractor who
17violates a provision of this Section is subject to the
18penalties defined in Section 6-106.11.
19    All valid school bus driver permits issued under this
20Section prior to January 1, 1995, shall remain effective until
21their expiration date unless otherwise invalidated.
22    (h) When a school bus driver permit holder who is a service
23member is called to active duty, the employer of the permit
24holder shall notify the Secretary of State, within 30 days of
25notification from the permit holder, that the permit holder has
26been called to active duty. Upon notification pursuant to this

 

 

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1subsection, (i) the Secretary of State shall characterize the
2permit as inactive until a permit holder renews the permit as
3provided in subsection (i) of this Section, and (ii) if a
4permit holder fails to comply with the requirements of this
5Section while called to active duty, the Secretary of State
6shall not characterize the permit as invalid.
7    (i) A school bus driver permit holder who is a service
8member returning from active duty must, within 90 days, renew a
9permit characterized as inactive pursuant to subsection (h) of
10this Section by complying with the renewal requirements of
11subsection (b) of this Section.
12    (j) For purposes of subsections (h) and (i) of this
13Section:
14    "Active duty" means active duty pursuant to an executive
15order of the President of the United States, an act of the
16Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor.
17    "Service member" means a member of the Armed Services or
18reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois
19National Guard.
20    (k) A private carrier employer of a school bus driver
21permit holder, having satisfied the employer requirements of
22this Section, shall be held to a standard of ordinary care for
23intentional acts committed in the course of employment by the
24bus driver permit holder. This subsection (k) shall in no way
25limit the liability of the private carrier employer for
26violation of any provision of this Section or for the negligent

 

 

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1hiring or retention of a school bus driver permit holder.
2(Source: P.A. 99-148, eff. 1-1-16; 99-173, eff. 7-29-15;
399-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)