95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1557

 

Introduced 2/9/2007, by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-24.2   from Ch. 122, par. 27-24.2

    Amends the Driver Education Act of the School Code. Requires a driver education course to include classroom instruction on distracted driving as a major traffic safety issue. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
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 changing Section
5 27-24.2 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/27-24.2)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-24.2)
7     Sec. 27-24.2. Driver education course. Any school district
8 which maintains grades 9 through 12 shall offer a driver
9 education course in any such school which it operates. Both the
10 classroom instruction part and the practice driving part of
11 such driver education course shall be open to a resident or
12 non-resident pupil attending a non-public school in the
13 district wherein the course is offered and to each resident of
14 the district who acquires or holds a currently valid driver's
15 license during the term of the course and who is at least 15
16 but has not reached 21 years of age, without regard to whether
17 any such person is enrolled in any other course offered in any
18 school that the district operates. Each student attending any
19 public or non-public high school in the district must receive a
20 passing grade in at least 8 courses during the previous 2
21 semesters prior to enrolling in a driver education course, or
22 the student shall not be permitted to enroll in the course;
23 provided that the local superintendent of schools (with respect

 

 

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1 to a student attending a public high school in the district) or
2 chief school administrator (with respect to a student attending
3 a non-public high school in the district) may waive the
4 requirement if the superintendent or chief school
5 administrator, as the case may be, deems it to be in the best
6 interest of the student. Any school district required to offer
7 a driver education course or courses as provided in this
8 Section also is authorized to offer either the classroom
9 instruction part or the practice driving part or both such
10 parts of a driver education course to any resident of the
11 district who is over age 55; provided that any such school
12 district which elects to offer either or both parts of such
13 course to such residents shall be entitled to make either or
14 both parts of such course available to such residents at any
15 attendance center or centers within the district designated by
16 the school board; and provided further that no part of any such
17 driver education course shall be offered to any resident of the
18 district over age 55 unless space therein remains available
19 after all persons to whom such part of the driver education
20 course is required to be open as provided in this Section and
21 who have requested such course have registered therefor, and
22 unless such resident of the district over age 55 is a person
23 who has not previously been licensed as a driver under the laws
24 of this or any other state or country. However, a student may
25 be allowed to commence the classroom instruction part of such
26 driver education course prior to reaching age 15 if such

 

 

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1 student then will be eligible to complete the entire course
2 within 12 months after being allowed to commence such classroom
3 instruction.
4     Such a driver education course shall include classroom
5 instruction on distracted driving as a major traffic safety
6 issue. Such a driver education course may include classroom
7 instruction on the safety rules and operation of motorcycles or
8 motor driven cycles.
9     Such a course may be commenced immediately after the
10 completion of a prior course. Teachers of such courses shall
11 meet the certification requirements of this Act and regulations
12 of the State Board as to qualifications.
13 (Source: P.A. 88-188.)
 
14     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15 becoming law.