104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1613 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately. LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1613 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately. LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1613 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index See Index
See Index
Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately.
LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
SB1613LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b SB1613 LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
SB1613 LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
1 AN ACT concerning transportation.
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 29-21 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/29-21 new)
7 Sec. 29-21. Proper use of seat safety belts on school
8 buses.
9 (a) A public or nonpublic school, school district,
10 transportation provider or contractor, or other entity
11 operating a school bus shall provide written or verbal
12 instruction concerning the availability and correct use of
13 seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or
14 legal guardians. This includes instructing passengers on the
15 correct use, fastening, and unfastening of seat safety belts.
16 This instruction shall occur at least 2 times per calendar or
17 school year.
18 Before July 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall
19 provide guidance for school districts on how to provide the
20 written and verbal instruction required under this Section to
21 student passengers and their parents or legal guardians on its
22 website.
23 (b) A school bus driver or aide shall provide a verbal or
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1613 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index See Index
See Index
Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately.
LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
See Index
LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
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1 posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety
2 belts properly before the bus begins to move. This reminder is
3 to be given prior to the start of each trip.
4 (c) Nothing in this Section makes a public or nonpublic
5 school, school district, transportation provider or
6 contractor, or other entity operating a school bus, such as a
7 bus driver, bus aide, volunteer, or other staff, liable for a
8 passenger's failure to correctly adjust and fasten a seat
9 safety belt or other restraint system under this Section.
10 (d) No public or nonpublic school, school district,
11 transportation provider or contractor, or other entity
12 operating a school bus, such as a bus driver, bus aide,
13 volunteer, or other staff, is liable for damages for an injury
14 resulting solely from a passenger's use, misuse, or failure to
15 use a seat safety belt installed on a school bus.
16 Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding
17 Section 12-826 as follows:
18 (625 ILCS 5/12-826 new)
19 Sec. 12-826. Proper use of seat safety belts on school
20 buses.
21 (a) As used in this Section, "school bus" includes a
22 school bus, school activity bus, multi-function school
23 activity bus, or school-chartered bus.
24 (b) Beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or
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1 more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a
2 seat safety belt system, those seats shall be prioritized for
3 use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the
4 passengers of the school bus. A public or nonpublic school,
5 school district, transportation provider or contractor, or
6 other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers
7 on the correct use of seat safety belt systems as defined by
8 the school bus manufacturer's instructions or Section 29-21 of
9 the School Code. Enforcement is the responsibility of the
10 public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation
11 provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus
12 at the time of transportation.
13 (c) When operating other vehicles not defined as a school
14 bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district,
15 transportation provider or contractor, or other entity
16 transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint
17 requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act.
18 (d) A public or nonpublic school, school district,
19 transportation provider or contractor, or other entity
20 operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation of
21 this Code or any rule adopted under this Code requiring a
22 passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on
23 the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat safety
24 belt system, as long as the other provisions of this Section
25 have been followed.
26 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
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1 becoming law.
SB1613- 5 -LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance SB1613- 5 -LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b SB1613 - 5 - LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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SB1613 - 5 - LRB104 08626 LNS 18678 b
1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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