HB3743: SCH CD-RAILROAD SAFETY

HB3743 Enrolled LRB104 11404 LNS 21492 b 1 AN ACT concerning education. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 5 22-101 as follows: 6 (105 ILCS 5/22-101 new) 7 Sec. 22-101. Railroad safety messaging. Each school 8 district shall include in its student handbook for grades 9 kindergarten through 12 the following railroad safety 10 messaging: 11 (1) Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or 12 roadway crossings and observe and obey all warning signs 13 and signals. 14 (2) Never walk down a train track; it is illegal and 15 dangerous. By the time a locomotive engineer sees a 16 trespasser or vehicle on the tracks, it is too late to stop 17 even when the emergency brakes are activated. 18 (3) The only safe place to cross is at a designated 19 public crossing, equipped with crossbucks, flashing red 20 lights, or gates. Crossing anywhere else is trespassing, 21 which can result in a ticket and fine. 22 (4) Do not cross tracks immediately after a train 23 passes. Additional trains may be approaching when blocked HB3743 Enrolled - 2 - LRB104 11404 LNS 21492 b 1 by the first. Trains can travel at any time and in either 2 direction. Wait until both directions can be clearly 3 observed. 4 (5) Flashing red lights signal that a train or rail 5 equipment is approaching from either direction, and a fine 6 can be charged for ignoring such signals. Never walk 7 around or stop between lowered gates at a crossing. Do not 8 cross the tracks until the red lights stop flashing and it 9 is safe to do so. 10 (6) Rails and recreation do not mix. 11 A school district may opt-out of this requirement if the 12 school board of the school district determines that the 13 inclusion of such messaging is unnecessary based on local 14 context or the messaging's alignment with curriculum. 15 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on July 16 1, 2026.