Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2864

Amends the School Code and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes a provision in the School Code that allows a school district to transport not more than 15 students to and from an interscholastic athletic or other interscholastic or school-sponsored activity in a van. Provides instead that a school district transporting students in grade 12 or below for an interscholastic, interscholastic athletic, or school-sponsored, noncurriculum-related activity that (i) does not require student participation as part of the educational services of the district and (ii) is not associated with the students' regular class-for-credit schedule or required 5 clock hours of instruction shall transport the students only in a school bus, a vehicle manufactured to transport not more than 10 persons, including the driver, or a multifunction school-activity bus manufactured to transport not more than 15 persons, including the driver; allows for a depreciation allowance claim. In the Illinois Vehicle Code, makes changes with regard to the definition of "school bus" and the requirement that every student enrolled in grade 12 or below in a public or private nursery, primary, or secondary school be transported in specified types of vehicles for certain activities. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2009.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as engrossed, with the following changes. Further amends the School Code. Adds contracts providing for the transportation of pupils with special needs or disabilities to the list of exceptions to the requirement that certain contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Provides that these contracts must be advertised in the same manner as competitive bids and awarded by first considering the bidder or bidders most able to provide safety and comfort for the pupils with special needs or disabilities, stability of service, and any other factors set forth in the request for proposal regarding quality of service, and then price. Requires the State Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children to research and discuss best practices for addressing the needs of "twice-exceptional" children, those who are gifted and talented and have a disability. Requires the Councils to then jointly make recommendations to the State Board of Education with respect to the State Board of Education providing guidance and technical assistance to school districts in furthering improved educational outcomes for gifted and twice-exceptional children. Sets forth what the recommendations must include. Provides that there is no rulemaking authority under certain provisions of the amendatory Act, but that the Governor may suggest rules by filing them with the General Assembly and requesting that the General Assembly authorize such rulemaking by law, enact the suggested rules into law, or take other appropriate action in the General Assembly's discretion. Varied effective date.

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