Public Act 1025 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3367 Enrolled LRB097 16373 NHT 65137 b

Public Act 097-1025

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 2-3.25g and 27-24.4 and by adding Sections 27-24.9 and 27-24.10 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)

Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within the School Code and administrative rules and regulations.

(a) In this Section:

"Board" means a school board or the governing board or administrative district, as the case may be, for a joint agreement.

"Eligible applicant" means a school district, joint agreement made up of school districts, or regional superintendent of schools on behalf of schools and programs operated by the regional office of education.

"Implementation date" has the meaning set forth in Section 24A-2.5 of this Code.

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, eligible applicants may petition the State Board of Education for the waiver or modification of the mandates of this School Code or of the administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of administrative rules and regulations and modifications of mandates of this School Code may be requested when an eligible applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code may be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate innovation or improve student performance. Waivers may not be requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to special education, teacher certification, teacher tenure and seniority, or Section 5-2.1 of this Code or from compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110). On and after the applicable implementation date, eligible applicants may not seek a waiver or seek a modification of a mandate regarding the requirements for (i) student performance data to be a significant factor in teacher or principal evaluations or (ii) for teachers and principals to be rated using the 4 categories of "excellent", "proficient", "needs improvement", or "unsatisfactory". On the applicable implementation date, any previously authorized waiver or modification from such requirements shall terminate.

(c) Eligible applicants, as a matter of inherent managerial policy, and any Independent Authority established under Section 2-3.25f may submit an application for a waiver or modification authorized under this Section. Each application must include a written request by the eligible applicant or Independent Authority and must demonstrate that the intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or be based upon a specific plan for improved student performance and school improvement. Any eligible applicant requesting a waiver or modification for the reason that intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more economical manner shall include in the application a fiscal analysis showing current expenditures on the mandate and projected savings resulting from the waiver or modification. Applications and plans developed by eligible applicants must be approved by the board or regional superintendent of schools applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the regional office of education following a public hearing on the application and plan and the opportunity for the board or regional superintendent to hear testimony from staff directly involved in its implementation, parents, and students. The time period for such testimony shall be separate from the time period established by the eligible applicant for public comment on other matters. If the applicant is a school district or joint agreement requesting a waiver or modification of Section 27-6 of this Code, the public hearing shall be held on a day other than the day on which a regular meeting of the board is held.

(c-5) If the applicant is a school district, then the district shall post information that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the district is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the district will request. All school districts must publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing. Districts requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the district will request. If the applicant is a joint agreement or regional superintendent, then the joint agreement or regional superintendent shall post information that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the joint agreement or regional superintendent is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will request. All joint agreements and regional superintendents must publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each school district that is a member of the joint agreement or that is served by the educational service region that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing, provided that a notice appearing in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with respect to all of the affected districts. Joint agreements or regional superintendents requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will request. If the applicant is a school district, the public hearing must be preceded by at least one published notice occurring at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing. If the applicant is a joint agreement or regional superintendent, the public hearing must be preceded by at least one published notice (setting forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing) occurring at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each school district that is a member of the joint agreement or that is served by the educational service region, provided that a notice appearing in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with respect to all of the affected districts. The eligible applicant must notify in writing the affected exclusive collective bargaining agent and those State legislators representing the eligible applicant's territory of its intent to seek approval of a waiver or modification and of the hearing to be held to take testimony from staff. The affected exclusive collective bargaining agents shall be notified of such public hearing at least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing and shall be allowed to attend such public hearing. The eligible applicant shall attest to compliance with all of the notification and procedural requirements set forth in this Section.

(d) A request for a waiver or modification of administrative rules and regulations or for a modification of mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State Board of Education within 15 days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall include a description of the public hearing. Except with respect to contracting for adaptive driver education, an eligible applicant wishing to request a modification or waiver of administrative rules of the State Board of Education regarding contracting with a commercial driver training school to provide the course of study authorized under Section 27-24.2 of this Code must provide evidence with its application that the commercial driver training school with which it will contract holds a license issued by the Secretary of State under Article IV of Chapter 6 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and that each instructor employed by the commercial driver training school to provide instruction to students served by the school district holds a valid teaching certificate or teaching license, as applicable, issued under the requirements of this Code and rules of the State Board of Education. Such evidence must include, but need not be limited to, a list of each instructor assigned to teach students served by the school district, which list shall include the instructor's name, personal identification number as required by the State Board of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If the modification or waiver is granted, then the eligible applicant shall notify the State Board of Education of any changes in the personnel providing instruction within 15 calendar days after an instructor leaves the program or a new instructor is hired. Such notification shall include the instructor's name, personal identification number as required by the State Board of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If a school district maintains an Internet website, then the district shall post a copy of the final contract between the district and the commercial driver training school on the district's Internet website. If no Internet website exists, then the district shall make available the contract upon request. A record of all materials in relation to the application for contracting must be maintained by the school district and made available to parents and guardians upon request. The instructor's date of birth and driver's license number and any other personally identifying information as deemed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 must be redacted from any public materials. Following receipt of the waiver or modification request, the State Board shall have 45 days to review the application and request. If the State Board fails to disapprove the application within that 45 day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted. The State Board may disapprove any request if it is not based upon sound educational practices, endangers the health or safety of students or staff, compromises equal opportunities for learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the rule or mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or have improved student performance as a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the State Board may be appealed to the General Assembly by the eligible applicant as outlined in this Section.

A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15 days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall include a description of the public hearing. The description shall include, but need not be limited to, the means of notice, the number of people in attendance, the number of people who spoke as proponents or opponents of the waiver, a brief description of their comments, and whether there were any written statements submitted. The State Board shall review the applications and requests for completeness and shall compile the requests in reports to be filed with the General Assembly. The State Board shall file reports outlining the waivers requested by eligible applicants and appeals by eligible applicants of requests disapproved by the State Board with the Senate and the House of Representatives before each March 1 and October 1. The General Assembly may disapprove the report of the State Board in whole or in part within 60 calendar days after each house of the General Assembly next convenes after the report is filed by adoption of a resolution by a record vote of the majority of members elected in each house. If the General Assembly fails to disapprove any waiver request or appealed request within such 60 day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by the General Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board in whole or in part shall be binding on the State Board.

(e) An approved waiver or modification (except a waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate) may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 5 school years and may be renewed upon application by the eligible applicant. However, such waiver or modification may be changed within that 5-year period by a board or regional superintendent of schools applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the regional office of education following the procedure as set forth in this Section for the initial waiver or modification request. If neither the State Board of Education nor the General Assembly disapproves, the change is deemed granted.

An approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 2 school years and may be renewed no more than 2 times upon application by the eligible applicant. An approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may be changed within the 2-year period by the board or regional superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following the procedure set forth in this Section for the initial waiver or modification request. If neither the State Board of Education nor the General Assembly disapproves, the change is deemed granted.

(f) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 95-223, eff. 1-1-08; 96-861, eff. 1-15-10; 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-24.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-24.4)

Sec. 27-24.4. Reimbursement amount.

(a) Each school district shall be entitled to reimbursement for each student who finishes either the classroom instruction part or the practice driving part of a driver education course that meets the minimum requirements of this Act. Reimbursement under this Act is payable from the Drivers Education Fund in the State treasury.

Each year all funds appropriated from the Drivers Education Fund to the State Board of Education, with the exception of those funds necessary for administrative purposes of the State Board of Education, shall be distributed in the manner provided in this paragraph to school districts by the State Board of Education for reimbursement of claims from the previous school year. As soon as may be after each quarter of the year, if moneys are available in the Drivers Education Fund in the State treasury for payments under this Section, the State Comptroller shall draw his or her warrants upon the State Treasurer as directed by the State Board of Education. The warrant for each quarter shall be in an amount equal to one-fourth of the total amount to be distributed to school districts for the year. Payments shall be made to school districts as soon as may be after receipt of the warrants.

The base reimbursement amount shall be calculated by the State Board by dividing the total amount appropriated for distribution by the total of: (a) the number of students who have completed the classroom instruction part for whom valid claims have been made times 0.2; plus (b) the number of students who have completed the practice driving instruction part for whom valid claims have been made times 0.8.

The amount of reimbursement to be distributed on each claim shall be 0.2 times the base reimbursement amount for each validly claimed student who has completed the classroom instruction part, plus 0.8 times the base reimbursement amount for each validly claimed student who has completed the practice driving instruction part.

(b) The school district which is the residence of a student who attends a nonpublic school in another district that has furnished the driver education course shall reimburse the district offering the course, the difference between the actual per capita cost of giving the course the previous school year and the amount reimbursed by the State, which, for purposes of this subsection (b), shall be referred to as "course cost". If the course cost offered by the student's resident district is less than the course cost of the course in the district where the nonpublic school is located, then the student is responsible for paying the district that furnished the course the difference between the 2 amounts. If a nonpublic school student chooses to attend a driver's education course in a school district besides the district where the nonpublic school is located, then the student is wholly responsible for the course cost; however, the nonpublic school student may take the course in his or her resident district on the same basis as public school students who are enrolled in that district.

By April 1 the nonpublic school shall notify the district offering the course of the names and district numbers of the nonresident students desiring to take such course the next school year. The district offering such course shall notify the district of residence of those students affected by April 15. The school district furnishing the course may claim the nonresident student for the purpose of making a claim for State reimbursement under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-793, eff. 1-1-09; 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-24.9 new)

Sec. 27-24.9. Driver education standards. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall adopt course content standards for driver education for those persons under the age of 18 years, which shall include the operation and equipment of motor vehicles.

(105 ILCS 5/27-24.10 new)

Sec. 27-24.10. Cost report. The State Board of Education shall annually prepare a report to be posted on the State Board's Internet website that indicates the approximate per capita driver education cost for each school district required to provide driver education. This report, compiled each spring from data reported the previous school year, shall be computed from expenditure data for driver education submitted by school districts on the annual financial statements required pursuant to Section 3-15.1 of this Code and the number of students provided driver education for that school year, as required to be reported under Section 27-24.5 of this Code.

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 6-419, 13-101, and 13-109 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/6-419) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-419)

Sec. 6-419. Rules and Regulations. The Secretary is authorized to prescribe by rule standards for the eligibility, conduct and operation of driver training schools, and instructors and to adopt other reasonable rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The Secretary may adopt rules exempting particular types of driver training schools from specific statutory provisions in Sections 6-401 through 6-424, where application of those provisions would be inconsistent with the manner of instruction offered by those schools. The Secretary, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall adopt course content standards for driver education for those persons under the age of 18 years, which shall include the operation and equipment of motor vehicles.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10; 97-229, eff. 7-28-11.)

(625 ILCS 5/13-101) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 13-101)

Sec. 13-101. Submission to safety test; Certificate of safety. To promote the safety of the general public, every owner of a second division vehicle, medical transport vehicle, tow truck, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, motor vehicle used for driver education training, or contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State in a vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers shall, before operating the vehicle upon the highways of Illinois, submit it to a "safety test" and secure a certificate of safety furnished by the Department as set forth in Section 13-109. Each second division motor vehicle that pulls or draws a trailer, semitrailer or pole trailer, with a gross weight of more than 8,000 lbs or is registered for a gross weight of more than 8,000 lbs, motor bus, religious organization bus, school bus, senior citizen transportation vehicle, and limousine shall be subject to inspection by the Department and the Department is authorized to establish rules and regulations for the implementation of such inspections.

The owners of each salvage vehicle shall submit it to a "safety test" and secure a certificate of safety furnished by the Department prior to its salvage vehicle inspection pursuant to Section 3-308 of this Code. In implementing and enforcing the provisions of this Section, the Department and other authorized State agencies shall do so in a manner that is not inconsistent with any applicable federal law or regulation so that no federal funding or support is jeopardized by the enactment or application of these provisions.

However, none of the provisions of Chapter 13 requiring safety tests or a certificate of safety shall apply to:

(a) farm tractors, machinery and implements, wagons, wagon-trailers or like farm vehicles used primarily in agricultural pursuits;

(b) vehicles other than school buses, tow trucks and medical transport vehicles owned or operated by a municipal corporation or political subdivision having a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants and which are subject to safety tests imposed by local ordinance or resolution;

(c) a semitrailer or trailer having a gross weight of 5,000 pounds or less including vehicle weight and maximum load;

(d) recreational vehicles;

(e) vehicles registered as and displaying Illinois antique vehicle plates and vehicles registered as expanded-use antique vehicles and displaying expanded-use antique vehicle plates;

(f) house trailers equipped and used for living quarters;

(g) vehicles registered as and displaying Illinois permanently mounted equipment plates or similar vehicles eligible therefor but registered as governmental vehicles provided that if said vehicle is reclassified from a permanently mounted equipment plate so as to lose the exemption of not requiring a certificate of safety, such vehicle must be safety tested within 30 days of the reclassification;

(h) vehicles owned or operated by a manufacturer, dealer or transporter displaying a special plate or plates as described in Chapter 3 of this Code while such vehicle is being delivered from the manufacturing or assembly plant directly to the purchasing dealership or distributor, or being temporarily road driven for quality control testing, or from one dealer or distributor to another, or are being moved by the most direct route from one location to another for the purpose of installing special bodies or equipment, or driven for purposes of demonstration by a prospective buyer with the dealer or his agent present in the cab of the vehicle during the demonstration;

(i) pole trailers and auxiliary axles;

(j) special mobile equipment;

(k) vehicles properly registered in another State pursuant to law and displaying a valid registration plate, except vehicles of contract carriers transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State in a vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers are only exempted to the extent that the safety testing requirements applicable to such vehicles in the state of registration are no less stringent than the safety testing requirements applicable to contract carriers that are lawfully registered in Illinois;

(l) water-well boring apparatuses or rigs;

(m) any vehicle which is owned and operated by the federal government and externally displays evidence of such ownership; and

(n) second division vehicles registered for a gross weight of 8,000 pounds or less, except when such second division motor vehicles pull or draw a trailer, semi-trailer or pole trailer having a gross weight of or registered for a gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds; motor buses; religious organization buses; school buses; senior citizen transportation vehicles; medical transport vehicles and tow trucks.

The safety test shall include the testing and inspection of brakes, lights, horns, reflectors, rear vision mirrors, mufflers, safety chains, windshields and windshield wipers, warning flags and flares, frame, axle, cab and body, or cab or body, wheels, steering apparatus, and other safety devices and appliances required by this Code and such other safety tests as the Department may by rule or regulation require, for second division vehicles, school buses, medical transport vehicles, tow trucks, first division vehicles including taxis which are used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, motor vehicles used for driver education training, vehicles designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers operated by a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State, trailers, and semitrailers subject to inspection.

For tow trucks, the safety test and inspection shall also include the inspection of winch mountings, body panels, body mounts, wheel lift swivel points, and sling straps, and other tests and inspections the Department by rule requires for tow trucks.

For driver education vehicles used by public high schools, the vehicle must also be equipped with dual control brakes, a mirror on each side of the vehicle so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear, and a sign visible from the front and the rear identifying the vehicle as a driver education car.

For trucks, truck tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, buses, and first division vehicles including taxis which are used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, the safety test shall be conducted in accordance with the Minimum Periodic Inspection Standards promulgated by the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation and contained in Appendix G to Subchapter B of Chapter III of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Those standards, as now in effect, are made a part of this Code, in the same manner as though they were set out in full in this Code.

The passing of the safety test shall not be a bar at any time to prosecution for operating a second division vehicle, medical transport vehicle, motor vehicle used for driver education training, or vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers operated by a contract carrier as provided in this Section that which is unsafe, as determined by the standards prescribed in this Code.

(Source: P.A. 97-224, eff. 7-28-11; 97-412, eff. 1-1-12; revised 10-4-11.)

(625 ILCS 5/13-109) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 13-109)

Sec. 13-109. Safety test prior to application for license - Subsequent tests - Repairs - Retest.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 13, each second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, and medical transport vehicle, except those vehicles other than school buses or medical transport vehicles owned or operated by a municipal corporation or political subdivision having a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants which are subjected to safety tests imposed by local ordinance or resolution, operated in whole or in part over the highways of this State, motor vehicle used for driver education training, and each vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers operated by a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State, shall be subjected to the safety test provided for in Chapter 13 of this Code. Tests shall be conducted at an official testing station within 6 months prior to the application for registration as provided for in this Code. Subsequently each vehicle shall be subject to tests (i) at least every 6 months, (ii) and in the case of school buses and first division vehicles including taxis which are used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, at least every 6 months or 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first, or (iii) in the case of driver education vehicles used by public high schools, at least every 12 months for vehicles over 5 model years of age or having an odometer reading of over 75,000 miles, whichever occurs first, and according to schedules established by rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. Any component subject to regular inspection which is damaged in a reportable accident must be reinspected before the bus or first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit is returned to service.

(b) The Department shall also conduct periodic nonscheduled inspections of school buses, of buses registered as charitable vehicles and of religious organization buses. If such inspection reveals that a vehicle is not in substantial compliance with the rules promulgated by the Department, the Department shall remove the Certificate of Safety from the vehicle, and shall place the vehicle out-of-service. A bright orange, triangular decal shall be placed on an out-of-service vehicle where the Certificate of Safety has been removed. The vehicle must pass a safety test at an official testing station before it is again placed in service.

(c) If the violation is not substantial a bright yellow, triangular sticker shall be placed next to the Certificate of Safety at the time the nonscheduled inspection is made. The Department shall reinspect the vehicle after 3 working days to determine that the violation has been corrected and remove the yellow, triangular decal. If the violation is not corrected within 3 working days, the Department shall place the vehicle out-of-service in accordance with procedures in subsection (b).

(d) If a violation is not substantial and does not directly affect the safe operation of the vehicle, the Department shall issue a warning notice requiring correction of the violation. Such correction shall be accomplished as soon as practicable and a report of the correction shall be made to the Department within 30 days in a manner established by the Department. If the Department has not been advised that the corrections have been made, and the violations still exist, the Department shall place the vehicle out-of-service in accordance with procedures in subsection (b).

(e) The Department is authorized to promulgate regulations to implement its program of nonscheduled inspections. Causing or allowing the operation of an out-of-service vehicle with passengers or unauthorized removal of an out-of-service sticker is a Class 3 felony. Causing or allowing the operation of a vehicle with a 3-day sticker for longer than 3 days with the sticker attached or the unauthorized removal of a 3-day sticker is a Class C misdemeanor.

(f) If a second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, medical transport vehicle, or vehicle operated by a contract carrier as provided in subsection (a) of this Section is in safe mechanical condition, as determined pursuant to Chapter 13, the operator of the official testing station must at once issue to the second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, or medical transport vehicle a certificate of safety, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department, which shall be affixed to the vehicle by the certified safety tester who performed the safety tests. The owner of the second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, or medical transport vehicle or the contract carrier shall at all times display the Certificate of Safety on the second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, medical transport vehicle, or vehicle operated by a contract carrier in the manner prescribed by the Department.

(g) If a test shows that a second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, medical transport vehicle, or vehicle operated by a contract carrier is not in safe mechanical condition as provided in this Section, it shall not be operated on the highways until it has been repaired and submitted to a retest at an official testing station. If the owner or contract carrier submits the vehicle to a retest at a different official testing station from that where it failed to pass the first test, he or she shall present to the operator of the second station the report of the original test, and shall notify the Department in writing, giving the name and address of the original testing station and the defects which prevented the issuance of a Certificate of Safety, and the name and address of the second official testing station making the retest.

(Source: P.A. 97-224, eff. 7-28-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2013.