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

 

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1     AN ACT concerning school students.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
5 2-3.135 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/2-3.135 new)
7     Sec. 2-3.135. Safe Routes to School Construction Program.
8     (a) The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the
9 Department of Transportation and the Department of State
10 Police, shall establish and administer a Safe Routes to School
11 Construction Program for the construction of bicycle and
12 pedestrian safety and traffic-calming projects using federal
13 transportation funds.
14     (b) The State Board of Education shall make construction
15 grants available to local governmental agencies under the Safe
16 Routes to School Construction Program based on the results of a
17 statewide competition that requires submission of Safe Routes
18 to School proposals for funding and that rates those proposals
19 on all of the following factors:
20         (1) Demonstrated needs of the grant applicant.
21         (2) Potential of the proposal for reducing child
22     injuries and fatalities.
23         (3) Potential of the proposal for encouraging
24     increased walking and bicycling among students.
25         (4) Identification of safety hazards.
26         (5) Identification of current and potential walking
27     and bicycling routes to school.
28         (6) Consultation and support for projects by
29     school-based associations, local traffic engineers, local
30     elected officials, law enforcement agencies, and school
31     officials.
32     With respect to the use of federal transportation funds,

 

 

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1 prior to the award of a construction grant or the use of those
2 funds for a Safe Routes to School project encompassing a
3 freeway, State highway, or county road, the State Board of
4 Education shall consult with and obtain approval from the
5 Department of State Police ensuring that the Safe Routes to
6 School proposal is consistent with a statewide pedestrian
7 safety statistical analysis.
8     (c) On March 30, 2005 and each March 30th thereafter, the
9 State Board of Education shall submit a report to the General
10 Assembly listing and describing the projects funded under the
11 Safe Routes to School Construction Program.
12     (d) The State Board of Education shall study the
13 effectiveness of the Safe Routes to School Construction
14 Program, with particular emphasis on the Program's
15 effectiveness in reducing traffic accidents and its
16 contribution to improving safety and reducing the number of
17 child injuries and fatalities in the vicinity of a Safe Routes
18 to School project. The State Board of Education shall submit a
19 report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2005
20 regarding the results of the study.
21     (e) The State Board of Education, Department of
22 Transportation, and Department of State Police may adopt any
23 rules necessary to implement this Section.
 
24     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25 becoming law.