SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois motorcoach operators have won an eight-month-old battle to upend an Illinois law requiring motorcoach drivers to have state school bus drivers licenses before transporting children on school trips.
On Aug. 8, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill that overhauls an Illinois law requiring coach drivers to have school bus licenses if they are making a school-related trip.
Blagojevich had two nearly identical bills to pick from and he chose House Bill 2840, which was backed by the Illinois motorcoach industry.
The governor shunned Senate Bill 150, which had been pushed by the Illinois State Police. The State Police had language inserted in the Senate version spelling out how the law's fingerprinting requirements are handled. Among other things, the police wanted to be reimbursed for the cost of processing fingerprint requests. The motorcoach industry didn't oppose the Senate bill.
It is highly doubtful whether the new law would have through the Illlinois legislature had not the United Motorcoach Association and the American Bus Association stepped in and hired a lobbyist to run interference.
Tim Hennessey, the lobbyist hired by UMA and ABA, said it was something of struggle at the end to get the governor's signature on the bill. "We had to fight for it," he said.
The new law provides that as long as motorcoach drivers have current, valid commercial driver licenses they can transport children on school activity trips.
A law that had gone into effect last January required coach drivers to have a school bus driver license before transporting school kids. The new law effectively nullifies that requirement.
The law does require schools that contract for charter bus service with Illinois-based operators to insert a clause in their contracts requiring that coach drivers providing transportation have:
* Been fingerprinted
* Had a criminal background check
* Submitted to a medical examination, including drug testing.
Out-of-state operators that contract with Illinois school districts must affirm their drivers have submitted to background checks and a medical examination.
The battle this spring to revise the school bus licensing bill was a major impetus for the formation of the Illinois Motorcoach Association in May. Hennessey's firm is managing the new association.
Information about the association can be obtained by calling (217) 525-3474.