Illinois Senate Bill 1613

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: Introduced on February 4 2025 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2025-03-04 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons
Pending: Senate Assignments Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

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.

SCHOOL BUS-SEAT SAFETY BELTS

Sen. Julie Morrison [D]

Sen. Mike Simmons [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2025-03-04	Senate	Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons
2025-02-04	Senate	Referred to Assignments
2025-02-04	Senate	First Reading
2025-02-04	Senate	Filed with Secretary by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
105	5	29-21	New Code	See Bill Text
625	5	12-826	New Code	See Bill Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=1613&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=160406&SessionID=114
Text	https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus/FullText?LegDocId=200193&DocName=10400SB1613&DocNum=1613&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=160406&GAID=18&SessionID=114&SpecSess=&Session=