HJ0006 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0006 LRB096 04490 DRJ 14542 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Physical activity advances the social and physical development of children; and

WHEREAS, Children are expected to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 60 minutes a day; and

WHEREAS, More than 14% of school-age children in Illinois are overweight; and

WHEREAS, Obesity rates vary widely based on environmental conditions and location; and

WHEREAS, Environment and policy changes can increase physical activity and decrease obesity rates; and

WHEREAS, Obesity and lack of physical activity are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers; and

WHEREAS, In 1969, the number of children in the U.S. who walked or biked to school was 42% and in 2001, the number of children who walked or biked to school was 16%; and

WHEREAS, In FY 1999, 113,271 elementary students were transported less than 1.5 miles to/from home to school; and

WHEREAS, In FY 2009, 159,591 elementary students were transported less than 1.5 miles to/from home to school; and

WHEREAS, That translates to a 41% increase in the number of students transported less than 1.5 miles to/from home to school in one decade; and

WHEREAS, The number of students transported at least 1.5 miles to/from home to school increased only 8% in the same time period; and

WHEREAS, The average cost to transport a single child to and from school for one school year is more than $440; and

WHEREAS, More than 1.1 million elementary and high school students are transported each day by bus to and from public schools in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, More than $850 million is spent annually on school transportation programs in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, School transportation costs have increased more than 300 percent in the last 15 years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the School Transportation Task Force, to be appointed as follows:

(1) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(2) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and

(3) 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(4) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and

(5) One member appointed by the State Superintendent of Education; and

(6) One member appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation; and

(7) Two members representing non-profit community based transportation organizations appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all appointments shall be made no later than 45 days following adoption of this resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study the possibility of enacting legislation making changes to current transportation programs offered by the Illinois State Board of Education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall choose its chair and other officers and meet at the call of the chair; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Board of Education shall provide administrative and financial support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on or before December 31, 2010; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Governor, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, and the State Superintendent of Education.