Public Act 90-0756 of the 90th General Assembly
Public Act 90-0756
HB2802 Enrolled LRB9010538THpk
AN ACT to amend the School Code by adding Section 29-18.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
29-18 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/29-18 new)
Sec. 29-18. Loan program for first-time transportation
costs.
(a) To assist school districts that are not providing
free pupil transportation on the effective date of this
amendatory Act of 1998, there is created a new pupil
transportation interest-free start-up loan program. This
loan program shall be administered by the State Board of
Education and shall be funded from appropriations made
expressly for that purpose.
(b) A school district providing free transportation
services for the first time during fiscal year 1999, 2000, or
2001 may receive a loan during the first year of operation
from an appropriation designated for such initial services.
To qualify for that funding, the district shall file a notice
of intent to provide free transportation indicating the
number of students to be transported no later than August 15
of the first year of operation. From the appropriation for
such initial services, the district shall receive 4 quarterly
payments based upon the number of students to be transported
multiplied by the average State reimbursement per pupil
transported paid to school districts under Section 29-5 for
the prior year's regular transportation services. However,
if the amount appropriated for such initial services is
insufficient to fund total loan amounts for any fiscal year,
the State Board of Education shall reduce each district's
allowable loan amount proportionately to make total adjusted
loan amounts equal to the total amount appropriated. Vouchers
for the quarterly payments shall be prepared and transmitted
by the State Board of Education to the State Comptroller for
payment on October 15, January 15, April 15, and July 15.
(c) A school district that obtains a start-up loan under
this Section shall be allowed to claim reimbursement under
Section 29-5 for transportation costs associated with
students who are transported using this start-up loan.
(d) To repay the funds received under this start-up
loan, the State Superintendent of Education shall subtract
one-tenth of the amount of the loan from the amount due for
the school district's reimbursement claim under Section 29-5
each year until the loan is repaid. The difference shall be
the new amount due for the district's reimbursement claim
under Section 29-5.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act shall take effect
upon becoming law.