SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Karina Villa championed a bill that will cut down on the school bus driver shortage.

“Accessible transportation to and from school is important to provide to our students,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This bill will help provide transportation to our students by clarifying confusing training requirement for bus drivers of vehicles of different sizes.”

Senator Villa, alongside the Secretary of State’s office, streamlined the training and permit process for school bus drivers. House Bill 1688 will establish an initial course and annual refresher training courses for Small School Bus Driver Permits and maintain the existing courses for Larger School Bus Driver Permits.

“The safety of our children is important,” Villa said. “This bill will uphold existing safety protocols, while also shortening the turnaround time in training and processing school bus driver permit applications.”

HB 1688 passed out of the Senate on Sunday.

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