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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 6

 
2     WHEREAS, Physical activity advances the social and
3 physical development of children; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Children are expected to engage in moderate to
5 vigorous physical activity at least 60 minutes a day; and
 
6     WHEREAS, More than 14% of school-age children in Illinois
7 are overweight; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Obesity rates vary widely based on environmental
9 conditions and location; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Environment and policy changes can increase
11 physical activity and decrease obesity rates; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Obesity and lack of physical activity are risk
13 factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and
14 certain cancers; and
 
15     WHEREAS, In 1969, the number of children in the U.S. who
16 walked or biked to school was 42% and in 2001, the number of
17 children who walked or biked to school was 16%; and
 
18     WHEREAS, In FY 1999, 113,271 elementary students were

 

 

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1 transported less than 1.5 miles to/from home to school; and
 
2     WHEREAS, In FY 2009, 159,591 elementary students were
3 transported less than 1.5 miles to/from home to school; and
 
4     WHEREAS, That translates to a 41% increase in the number of
5 students transported less than 1.5 miles to/from home to school
6 in one decade; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The number of students transported at least 1.5
8 miles to/from home to school increased only 8% in the same time
9 period; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The average cost to transport a single child to
11 and from school for one school year is more than $440; and
 
12     WHEREAS, More than 1.1 million elementary and high school
13 students are transported each day by bus to and from public
14 schools in Illinois; and
 
15     WHEREAS, More than $850 million is spent annually on school
16 transportation programs in Illinois; and
 
17     WHEREAS, School transportation costs have increased more
18 than 300 percent in the last 15 years; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
3 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the School
4 Transportation Task Force, to be appointed as follows:
5         (1) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House
6     of Representatives; and
7         (2) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
8     House of Representatives; and
9         (3) Two members appointed by the President of the
10     Senate; and
11         (4) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
12     Senate; and
13         (5) Two members representing non-profit community
14     based transportation organizations appointed by the
15     Governor; and
16         (6) One member representing school transportation
17     providers appointed by the Governor; and
18         (7) One member representing school boards appointed by
19     the Governor; and
20         (8) One member representing school administrators
21     appointed by the Governor; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That the State Superintendent of Education and
23 the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, or their
24 designees, may at their discretion serve on the Task Force ex
25 officio; and be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That all appointments shall be made no later than
2 45 days following adoption of this resolution; and be it
3 further
 
4     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study the possibility
5 of enacting legislation making changes to current
6 transportation programs offered by the Illinois State Board of
7 Education; and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall choose its chair and
9 other officers and meet at the call of the chair; and be it
10 further
 
11     RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve
12 without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their
13 reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for
14 that purpose; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That the Office of the Governor shall provide
16 administrative support to the Task Force to the extent of its
17 abilities; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings and
19 recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on or
20 before June 30, 2010; and be it further
 

 

 

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