Sen. Ram Villivalam

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a person to request an informal hearing regarding a suspension, revocation, or denial of the issuance of a license, permit, registration, or certificate of title at a Secretary of State driver services facility. Provides that if a person is convicted of a specified offense and the use of alcohol or other drugs is stated as an element of the offense, the Secretary may issue to the person a restricted driving permit granting the privilege of driving a motor vehicle 6 days per week, 12 hours per day within a 200-mile radius of the person's residence for any legal purpose. In provisions regarding the mandatory revocation of a license or permit, the discretionary authority to suspend or revoke a license or permit, and the period of suspension, provides that some convictions may be based on a similar out-of-state offense or similar offense committed on a military installation. Allows the Secretary to grant an employment exception to the prohibition against driving a vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock device if the person is operating an occupational vehicle owned or leased by that person's employer when used solely for employment purposes. Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to establish an information portal on its website for challenges to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Requires the portal to include: (1) all active and pending litigation against the DBE program; (2) information on the Department's procedures and policies to comply with any court orders; (3) the names of any prime contractors or subcontractors who have brought claims against the Department or exercised any rights pursuant to a court order to eliminate any DBE goals for any projects; (4) all projects that have had DBE goals removed pursuant to litigation; and (5) all federal administrative actions related to the DBE program and the Department's policies and procedures it has implemented to comply with any federal actions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Requires the Suburban Bus Board to adopt responsible bidding rules applicable to bids for contracts solicited for drivers, dispatchers, customer service aides, and reservationists. Requires a bidder to submit specified information before a bidder may be considered a responsible bidder. Provides that it is the sole responsibility of the bidder to comply with all submission requirements at the time it submits its bid to the Suburban Bus Board. Provides that upon designation by the Suburban Bus Board that a contractor's or subcontractor's submission in anticipation of a bid is complete and timely, and upon any further consideration deemed necessary by the Suburban Bus Board, the contractor or subcontractor may be prequalified for future contracts with the Suburban Bus Board. Provides that a contractor's classification as qualified shall exempt the contractor or sub-contractor from the submission requirements for a period of 12 months. Provides that contractors and subcontractors who are prequalified must submit a complete application for continuation of prequalified standing on a form provided by the Suburban Bus Board by December 31st for the upcoming calendar year. Provides that failure by any prequalified contractor or subcontractor to timely submit its complete application for continuation of prequalified standing shall result in automatic removal of the designation. Allows a contractor or subcontractor removed from prequalified status to still bid on Suburban Bus Board contracts.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. In provisions concerning small businesses, HUBZone business contracts, and bid preferences, provides that, if a bidder has failed to be awarded a contract after 4 consecutive bids to provide the same services to a single agency, the applicable chief procurement officer for that agency shall in writing detail why all 4 bids were rejected.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may issue an instruction permit to a child who is not less than 15 years of age if the child receives permission from a driver education teacher or administrator from a school offering an approved driver education course (rather than if the child is enrolled in an approved driver education course).

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, upon receiving an election authority's request, if a school district demonstrates to the election authority that the use of a school as a polling place would interfere with scheduled programming or pose a threat to the safety of staff or students, the election authority and the school district shall work cooperatively to find an alternative location to serve as a polling place. Provides that, if the school district and the election authority are unable to identify a mutually agreeable alternative location, the school district and the election authority shall submit a report to the Board of County Commissioners that includes specified information. Provides that, after receiving the report, the Board of County Commissioners shall determine a location to be used as a polling place as soon as practicable to avoid further delay in determining a polling place.

Declares April 2025 as Assyrian American Heritage Month in the State of Illinois in celebration of the Assyrian American community. Recognizes the resilience, culture, and contributions of the Assyrian people and joins them in celebrating their rich heritage and the dawn of Assyrian New Year 6775.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that any student with an individualized education program or any child with a disability who has not been removed from the regular education environment shall receive educational services at the local building that the child would attend if the child did not require special education services.

Amends the Innovations for Transportation Infrastructure Act. Provides that the Department of Transportation or the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority may use the design-build project delivery method for transportation facilities if the capital costs for transportation facilities delivered utilizing the design-build project delivery method or Construction Manager/General Contractor project delivery method or Alternative Technical Concepts in a design-bid-build project delivery method do not for transportation facilities delivered by the Department, exceed the value of 20% of the projects annually programmed in (rather than $400 million of contracts awarded during) the Department's multi-year highway improvement program on an annual basis (rather than for any 5-year period). Removes language that provides that notwithstanding any other law, and as authority supplemental to its existing powers, the Department may use the Construction Manager/General Contractor project delivery method for up to 2 transportation facilities per year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Right to Play Act. Provides that a student who is a member of a school athletic activity may participate in a nonschool athletic activity that is of the same sport as the school athletic activity during the season in which the student participates in the school athletic activity without losing eligibility to participate in the school athletic activity, provided that the student may not participate in both the nonschool athletic activity and a school athletic practice or competition for the same sport on the same day.