HB4697 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 15810 LNS 29009 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4697

Introduced , by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-23.19 new

Amends the School Code. Requires each school district maintaining any elementary grades to provide its public school pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 8 with age-appropriate, active-transportation safety training. Sets forth the requirements for the active-transportation safety training. Allows a nonpublic school maintaining any elementary grades to provide its nonpublic school pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 8 with active-transportation safety training. Establishes timing requirements for receiving active-transportation safety training for students who have not previously received active-transportation safety training. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to maintain a comprehensive collection of active-transportation safety training materials. Makes other changes.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 adding Section 27-23.19 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-23.19 new)

Sec. 27-23.19. Active-transportation safety training.

(a) As used in this Section, "active transportation" means bicycling, pedestrian activities, and other forms of nonmotorized transportation.

(b) Each school district maintaining any elementary grades must provide its public school pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 3 with age-appropriate, active-transportation safety training. At a minimum, the active-transportation safety training must include pedestrian safety, including crossing roads.

(c) Each school district maintaining any elementary grades must provide its public school pupils enrolled in grades 4 through 8 with age-appropriate, active-transportation safety training. At a minimum, the active-transportation safety training must include:

(1) pedestrian safety, including crossing roads safely using the technique of searching left, right, and left for vehicles in traffic;

(2) bicycle safety, including relevant traffic laws, the use and proper fit of protective headgear, bicycle parts and safety features, and safe biking techniques; and

(3) electric-assisted bicycle safety, including that a person under the age of 16 is not allowed to operate an electric-assisted bicycle.

(d) A nonpublic school maintaining any elementary grades may provide its nonpublic school pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 8 with active-transportation safety training as specified in subsections (b) and (c).

(e) Students under subsection (b) who are enrolled during the first or second week of school and have not previously received active-transportation safety training as specified in subsection (b) must receive the active-transportation safety training by the end of the third week of school.

(f) Students under subsection (c) who are enrolled during the first or second week of school and have not previously received active-transportation safety training as specified in subsection (c) must receive the active-transportation safety training by the end of the sixth week of school.

(g) Students under subsection (b) or (c) who enroll in a school after the second week of school and have not received the appropriate active-transportation safety training from their previous school must undergo the training or receive active-transportation safety instructional materials within 4 weeks after the first day of attendance.

(h) A school district and a nonpublic school may provide kindergarten pupils with active-transportation safety training under this Section before the first day of school.

(i) A school district may provide active-transportation safety training under this Section through an online program or course.

(j) A school district and a nonpublic school must make reasonable accommodations under this Section for the active-transportation safety training of pupils known to speak English as a second language and pupils with disabilities.

(k) The Secretary of Transportation must maintain a comprehensive collection of active-transportation safety training materials that meets the requirements of this Section.

(l) This Section is in addition to any other transportation-safety training laws.