HB2980 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 09180 LNS 19236 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2980

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. Removes motor driven cycle and moped from the definition of "cycle". Defines "Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" and "Provider" as a for-profit or nonprofit business, community agency, community organization, community college, or State university that is capable of providing courses. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall put out notices to the public seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers to provide courses in the State, and that such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver's license and who have reached their 16th birthday before the first day of the course to be held. Allows providers to charge a nominal registration fee set by the Department. Provides that responses from potential providers shall include the location where classes are to be held at, the number of students they intend to train, whether they would be providing motorcycles or using motorcycles owned by the Department, and the cost for courses provided on a per student basis. Provides that contracts shall be awarded by the Department to providers based on training needs and cost effectiveness of each bid or proposal. Provides that a provider shall only be paid grant funds under one of the following conditions: a course was held; expenses submitted related to the maintenance of department owned equipment; or submitting other non-personnel expenses. Provides that a provider awarded a contract with grant funding shall: submit proof that each instructor employed by the provider meets the qualifications to teach the curriculum for the courses; have at least one employee on staff certified to do quality assurance or quality control visits where instructors are evaluated per curriculum standards on teaching; perform at least one quality assurance or quality control visit on each instructor employed during the year and submit the results of those visits to the Department; maintain appropriate liability insurance to cover training activities; submit requests for payment in a timely manner; and adhere to additional program rules and regulations. Prohibits a provider awarded a contract with grant funding from adopting any policy, requirement, or expectation regarding employee's manner of dress outside of the employee's scheduled work hours. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Cycle Rider Safety Training Act is amended by changing Sections 2.01, 2.03, 4, and 7 and by adding Section 2.03a as follows:

(625 ILCS 35/2.01) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 802.01)

Sec. 2.01. "Cycle" means a motorcycle, motor driven cycle or moped, as defined in The Illinois Vehicle Code.

(Source: P.A. 96-554, eff. 1-1-10.)

(625 ILCS 35/2.03) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 802.03)

Sec. 2.03. "Cycle Rider Safety Training Courses" and "Courses" mean courses of instruction in the use and operation of cycles, including instruction in the safe on-road operation of cycles, the rules of the road and the laws of this State relating to motor vehicles, which courses meet the minimum requirements of this Act, the standards established in the model national administrative standards for state motorcycle rider training programs by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the rules and regulations issued hereunder by the Department and which have been approved by the Department as meeting such requirements.

(Source: P.A. 82-649.)

(625 ILCS 35/2.03a new)

Sec. 2.03a. Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider. "Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" and "Provider" means a for-profit or nonprofit business, community agency, community organization, community college, or State university that is capable of providing courses meeting the definition in this Act in accordance with the rules set forth by the Department and the regulations of this Act.

(625 ILCS 35/4) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 804)

Sec. 4. (a) The Department shall, on an as needed basis, put out notices to the public seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers to provide courses in this State. Such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver's license and who have reached their 16th birthday before the first day of the course to be held. Such courses may be offered throughout the calendar year.

Providers may charge a nominal registration fee set by the Department, which shall be refunded upon completion of the course.

Responses from potential providers shall include, at a minimum, the location where classes are to be held at, the number of students they intend to train, whether they would be providing motorcycles or using motorcycles owned by the Department, and the cost for courses provided on a per student basis.

Contracts shall be awarded by the Department to providers based on training needs and cost effectiveness of each bid or proposal.

(b) A provider shall only be paid grant funds under one of the following conditions:

(1) a course was held, in which case the provider shall be paid per student rate multiplied by the number of students present on the first day of the course;

(2) expenses submitted related to the maintenance of department owned equipment; or

(3) submitting other non-personnel expenses as deemed appropriate by the Department.

(c) A provider awarded a contract with grant funding under this Act shall:

(1) submit proof to the Department that each instructor employed by the provider meets the qualifications to teach the curriculum for the courses;

(2) have at least one employee on staff certified to do quality assurance or quality control visits where instructors are evaluated per curriculum standards on teaching;

(3) perform at least one quality assurance or quality control visit on each instructor employed during the year and submit the results of those visits to the Department;

(4) maintain appropriate liability insurance to cover training activities;

(5) submit requests for payment in a timely manner; and

(6) adhere to additional program rules and regulations as determined by the Department.

(d) A provider awarded a contract with grant funding under this Act shall not adopt any policy, requirement, or expectation regarding employee's manner of dress outside of the employee's scheduled work hours, nor may the provider pose any questions regarding such on job applications or during interviews with potential employees. Any State or community college, State university or community agency designated by the Department may organize a Regional Cycle Rider Safety Training Center and may offer cycle rider safety training courses through such Training Centers which it operates. The curriculum and accreditation for the courses, and the geographic areas in which each Training Center may offer the courses, shall be provided for by rules and regulations of the Department. Instructors of such courses shall meet the qualification and certification requirements of the regulations of the Department and the college, university or community agency offering the program and may be employed on a calendar year rather than a school year basis. Such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver's license and who have reached their 16th birthday without regard to whether such person is enrolled in any other course offered by said State or community college, State university or community agency. Such courses may be offered throughout the calendar year. The courses may be offered as credit or noncredit courses, but no fee shall be charged except for a nominal registration fee which shall be refunded upon completion of the course.

(Source: P.A. 86-1005.)

(625 ILCS 35/7) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 807)

Sec. 7. The Department is authorized to and shall award contracts out of appropriations to the Department from "The Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund" to qualifying providers Regional Cycle Rider Safety Training Centers for the conduct of approved Cycle Rider Safety Training courses.

(Source: P.A. 82-649.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.