Seat belts could be added to school buses under IL plan

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Democratic bill requiring the addition of seatbelts to all school buses passed the Illinois Senate Wednesday.

School bus accident on Interstate 72 near Harristown — Harristown Fire Protection District Facebook page

This plan would require all buses to have seat belts by 2031. The idea for the proposal came after state Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) received concerns from parents over bus safety following a school bus crash in her district.

GOP lawmakers expressed opposition to the bill, who said the seat belts could be used as a weapon or could stop kids from escaping an emergency.

"A terrible incident in my community where a school bus driver lost consciousness and swerved into the other lane hitting a semi-truck," Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) said. "Both the bus driver and truck driver were killed immediately. There were preschool children. Those children are incapable of unbelting themselves."

Morrison responded to the GOP concerns. The Democrat Senator said children's safety comes first.

"When we're talking about safety for children, does a two year old have trouble unbuckling? Maybe. But so does a baby getting out of a car seat and that is mandated," Morrison said.

The bill passed the Senate on a partisan 39-13 vote. This plan will now head to the House for further debate.