Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.

Filed: 3/3/2015

 

 


 

 


 
09900SB0052sam001LRB099 04205 SXM 31061 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 52

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 52 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
529-3 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/29-3)  (from Ch. 122, par. 29-3)
7    Sec. 29-3. Transportation in school districts. School
8boards of community consolidated districts, community unit
9districts, consolidated districts, consolidated high school
10districts, optional elementary unit districts, combined high
11school - unit districts, combined school districts if the
12combined district includes any district which was previously
13required to provide transportation, and any newly created
14elementary or high school districts resulting from a high
15school - unit conversion, a unit to dual conversion, or a
16multi-unit conversion if the newly created district includes

 

 

09900SB0052sam001- 2 -LRB099 04205 SXM 31061 a

1any area that was previously required to provide transportation
2shall provide free transportation for pupils residing at a
3distance of one and one-half miles or more from any school to
4which they are assigned for attendance maintained within the
5district, except for those pupils for whom the school board
6shall certify to the State Board of Education that adequate
7transportation for the public is available.
8    For the purpose of this Act 1 1/2 miles distance shall be
9from the exit of the property where the pupil resides to the
10point where pupils are normally unloaded at the school
11attended; such distance shall be measured by determining the
12shortest distance on normally traveled roads or streets.
13    Such school board may comply with the provisions of this
14Section by providing free transportation for pupils to and from
15an assigned school and a pick-up point located not more than
16one and one-half miles from the home of each pupil assigned to
17such point.
18    For the purposes of this Act "adequate transportation for
19the public" shall be assumed to exist for such pupils as can
20reach school by walking, one way, along normally traveled roads
21or streets less than 1 1/2 miles irrespective of the distance
22the pupil is transported by public transportation.
23    In addition to the other requirements of this Section, each
24school board may provide free transportation for any pupil
25residing within 1 1/2 miles from the school attended where
26conditions are such that walking, either to or from the school

 

 

09900SB0052sam001- 3 -LRB099 04205 SXM 31061 a

1to which a pupil is assigned for attendance or to or from a
2pick-up point or bus stop, constitutes a serious hazard to the
3safety of the pupil due to either (i) vehicular traffic or rail
4crossings or (ii) a significant risk of violent crime. Such
5transportation shall not be provided if adequate
6transportation for the public is available.
7    The determination as to what constitutes a serious safety
8hazard shall be made by the school board, in accordance with
9guidelines promulgated by the Illinois Department of
10Transportation regarding vehicular traffic or rail crossings
11or in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Department of
12State Police regarding a significant risk of violent crime, in
13consultation with the State Superintendent of Education. A
14school board, on written petition of the parent or guardian of
15a pupil for whom adequate transportation for the public is
16alleged not to exist because the pupil is required to walk
17along normally traveled roads or streets where walking is
18alleged to constitute a serious safety hazard due to either (i)
19vehicular traffic or rail crossings or (ii) a significant risk
20of violent crime, or who is required to walk between the
21pupil's home and assigned school or between the pupil's home or
22assigned school and a pick-up point or bus stop along roads or
23streets where walking is alleged to constitute a serious safety
24hazard due to either (i) vehicular traffic or rail crossings or
25(ii) a significant risk of violent crime, shall conduct a study
26and make findings, which the Department of Transportation, with

 

 

09900SB0052sam001- 4 -LRB099 04205 SXM 31061 a

1respect to vehicular traffic or rail crossings, or the local
2police, with respect to a significant risk of violent crime,
3shall review and approve or disapprove as provided in this
4Section, to determine whether a serious safety hazard exists as
5alleged in the petition. The Department of Transportation shall
6review the findings of the school board concerning vehicular
7traffic or rail crossings and shall approve or disapprove the
8school board's determination that a serious safety hazard
9exists within 30 days after the school board submits its
10findings to the Department of Transportation. The local police
11shall review the findings of the school board concerning a
12significant risk of violent crime and shall approve or
13disapprove the school board's determination that a serious
14safety hazard exists within 30 days after the school board
15submits its findings to the Department of State Police. The
16school board shall annually review the conditions and determine
17whether or not the hazardous conditions remain unchanged. The
18State Superintendent of Education may request that the Illinois
19Department of Transportation or the local police verify that
20the conditions have not changed. No action shall lie against
21the school board, the State Superintendent of Education, or the
22Illinois Department of Transportation, or the local police for
23decisions made in accordance with this Section. The provisions
24of the Administrative Review Law and all amendments and
25modifications thereof and the rules adopted pursuant thereto
26shall apply to and govern all proceedings instituted for the

 

 

09900SB0052sam001- 5 -LRB099 04205 SXM 31061 a

1judicial review of final administrative decisions of the
2Department of Transportation or the local police under this
3Section.
4(Source: P.A. 94-439, eff. 8-4-05; 95-903, eff. 8-25-08.)
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
6becoming law.".