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SB 2410

Uniform Standards Code for Factory-Built Homes Law; revise definition for modular homes.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Walter Michel

Establishes dedicated training for first-division school bus drivers and tighter permit screening to improve driver qualifications and safety.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 2410

SB 2410 — School Bus Driver Permits and Training (2025)

Status: Died in Committee
Introduced by: Sen. Ram Villivalam (filed Feb 7, 2025; received Mar 12, 2025)
Subject area: Transportation / Vehicle Code (affects school bus operation)
Companion bills: HB 135, HB 3303
Effective date if enacted: July 1, 2025

Overview / Purpose

SB 2410 would have revised provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code governing school bus driver permits and vehicle safety testing. The bill’s primary goals were to (1) create a separate classroom and refresher training curriculum for drivers of first-division vehicles used as school buses, (2) tighten/clarify permit application and screening requirements, and (3) update certain vehicle safety-testing and medical-exam rules—while allowing a telematics-based medical-exam exemption in limited circumstances.

Key provisions

  • Training curriculum
    • Requires the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, to develop a distinct classroom course and annual refresher course specifically for operation of first-division vehicles when used as school buses.
    • Applicants to operate a first-division school bus must either complete the required classroom/refresher course or a comparable employer-administered training covering: safe driving practices with first-division vehicles; transporting students with disabilities; emergency preparedness; and safe pick-up/drop-off procedures.
  • Permit application and screening
    • Continues and clarifies fingerprint-based criminal background checks, fee collection, and where those fees are deposited (State Police Services Fund for fingerprint processing; Road Fund for other permit-related fees).
    • Retains existing eligibility criteria (age requirement, valid driver’s license, driving-record and disqualification standards, drug testing, first-aid training, prohibitions based on certain criminal convictions, etc.).
    • Clarifies that individuals holding a valid school bus permit previously issued by a Regional School Superintendent (per Public Act 88-612) are not subject to new fingerprinting when the permit remains valid.
  • Medical-exam exemption tied to telematics
    • Allows an applicant to be exempt from demonstrating physical fitness by submitting a recent medical exam if the transportation provider uses a telematics system that sends, receives, and stores telemetry data (i.e., a data-based monitoring system).
  • Vehicle safety testing frequency
    • Requires safety tests for first-division vehicles to be conducted at least every 12 months or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.
  • Administrative and other changes
    • Revises procedural wording related to fingerprinting, fee payments, and Secretary of State responsibilities.

Who would be affected

  • School bus drivers and prospective drivers (especially those operating first-division/full-size buses)
  • School districts and private transportation providers (training, telematics adoption, compliance)
  • Secretary of State and State Board of Education (curriculum development, oversight)
  • Students and families (training and vehicle inspection standards intended to affect safety)

Potential impacts

  • Increased, standardized training for first-division school bus operators (potential safety benefits)
  • Administrative workload and costs for developing/implementing new courses and for providers to ensure employees complete training
  • Possible operational or compliance incentives to adopt telematics systems (to obtain medical-exam exemptions), with data-privacy and cost implications
  • Slightly stricter or more frequent vehicle inspection cadence for large school buses, potentially increasing maintenance/inspection costs but aiming to improve safety

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced and referred through standard committee channels in early 2025; ultimately listed as “Died In Committee” (bill did not advance to enactment).
  • If reenacted or included in companion legislation, provisions would have taken effect July 1, 2025 (per bill text).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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