93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6954


 
Introduced 02/09/04, by Ronald A. Wait - Renee Kosel - Elizabeth Coulson - Sidney H. Mathias
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













105 ILCS 5/2-3.135 new










    Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education,
in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and the
Department of State Police, to establish and administer a Safe Routes to
School Construction Program for the construction of bicycle and
pedestrian safety and traffic-calming projects using federal
transportation funds, with
construction grants being made available to local governmental agencies.
Effective
immediately.
















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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB6954

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    AN ACT concerning school students. 

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


 
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    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 
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2-3.135
as follows:


 
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    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.135 new)

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    Sec. 2-3.135. Safe Routes to School Construction Program.

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    (a) The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the

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Department of Transportation and the Department of State 
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Police, shall
establish and administer a Safe Routes to School 
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Construction Program
for the construction of bicycle and 
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pedestrian safety and traffic-calming
projects using federal 
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transportation funds.

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    (b) The State Board of Education shall make construction 
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grants
available to local governmental agencies under the Safe 
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Routes to School
Construction Program based on the results of a 
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statewide competition
that requires submission of Safe Routes 
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to School proposals for funding
and that rates those proposals 
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on all of the following factors:

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        (1) Demonstrated needs of the grant applicant.

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        (2) Potential of the proposal for reducing child 
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    injuries and
fatalities.

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        (3) Potential of the proposal for encouraging 
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    increased
walking and bicycling among students.

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        (4) Identification of safety hazards.

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        (5) Identification of current and potential walking 
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    and
bicycling routes to school.

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        (6) Consultation and support for projects by 
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    school-based
associations, local traffic engineers, local 
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    elected officials, law
enforcement agencies, and school 
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    officials.

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    With respect to the use of federal transportation funds, 
 


 






HB6954
- 2 -
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1
prior to
the award of a construction grant or the use of those 
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funds for a Safe Routes
to
School
project encompassing a 
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freeway,
State highway, or county road, the State Board of 
4
Education shall
consult with and obtain approval from the 
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Department of State Police
ensuring that the Safe Routes to 
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School proposal is consistent with a
statewide pedestrian 
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safety statistical analysis.

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    (c) On March 30, 2005 and each March 30th thereafter, the 
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State
Board of Education shall submit a report to the General 
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Assembly listing
and describing the projects funded under the 
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Safe Routes to School
Construction Program.

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    (d) The State Board of Education shall study the 
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effectiveness of
the Safe Routes to School Construction 
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Program, with particular emphasis on the
Program's 
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effectiveness in reducing traffic accidents and its 
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contribution
to improving safety and reducing the number of 
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child injuries and
fatalities in the vicinity of a Safe Routes 
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to School project. The State Board
of
Education shall
submit a 
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report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2005

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regarding the results of the study.

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    (e) The State Board of Education, Department of 
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Transportation,
and Department of State Police may adopt any 
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rules necessary to
implement this Section.



 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.