104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB0044
 
Introduced 1/13/2025, by Sen. Rachel Ventura
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new
    Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation and beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts that submit a grant application to the State Board requesting funds to purchase an electric vehicle to be used for student driver education courses. Requires the State Board to disseminate a request for applications for grants that shall be accepted on an annual basis. Requires the State Board to establish procedures for submitting requests for grants and issuing funds to approved applicants. Sets forth priority determinations for application selection by the State Board if the appropriation amount in a fiscal year is less than the amount required to fund all applications for grants. Establishes application requirements. Allows the State Board to adopt rules to implement the provisions.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 
52-3.206 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)
7    Sec. 2-3.206. Grants for electric vehicles. 
8    (a) As used in this Section, "electric vehicle" means a 
9battery-powered electric vehicle operated solely by 
10electricity.
11    (b) Subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 
12school year, the State Board of Education shall award 
13competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts that 
14submit a grant application to the State Board of Education 
15requesting funds to purchase an electric vehicle to be used 
16for student driver education courses in accordance with 
17Section 27-24.2 of this Code.
18    (c) The State Board of Education shall annually 
19disseminate a request for applications for grants under this 
20Section to school districts that offer a driver education 
21course. Grant applications shall be accepted on an annual 
22basis. The State Board of Education shall establish procedures 
23for submitting requests for grants and issuing funds to 
 
 
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1approved applicants.
2    (d) If the appropriation for grants under this Section for 
3a given fiscal year is less than the amount required to fund 
4all applications for grants, the State Board of Education 
5shall give priority to school districts designated as Tier 1 
6or Tier 2 pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of 
7Section 18-8.15 of this Code that (i) do not have any electric 
8vehicles, (ii) possess below a sufficient amount of vehicles 
9to meet student demand for the district's driver education 
10courses offered, and (iii) have applied for grant funds.
11    (e) The application for grants under this Section must 
12include the following information:
13        (1) the school district's tier designation pursuant to 
14    paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15 of this 
15    Code;
16        (2) the number of students participating in the school 
17    district's driver education courses and the number of 
18    students on any wait list to participate in the district's 
19    driver education courses;
20        (3) the number of electric vehicles, if any, and 
21    gasoline-powered vehicles the school district currently 
22    possesses for the driver education courses offered;
23        (4) the condition of each vehicle that the school 
24    district uses for the driver education courses offered; 
25    and
26        (5) a plan detailing how the school district will 
 
 
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1    properly maintain, charge, and store the electric vehicle 
2    once purchased.
3    (f) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules 
4necessary for the implementation of this Section.