225 ILCS 10/5.1
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-594)
(a) The Department shall ensure that no day care center, group home, or child care institution as defined in this Act shall on a regular basis transport a child or children with any motor vehicle unless such vehicle is operated by a person who complies with the following requirements:
1. is 21 years of age or older;
2. currently holds a valid driver's license, which has not been revoked or suspended for one or more traffic violations during the 3 years immediately prior to the date of application; 3. demonstrates physical fitness to operate vehicles by submitting the results of a medical examination conducted by a licensed physician; 4. has not been convicted of more than 2 offenses against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles within a 12-month period; 5. has not been convicted of reckless driving or driving under the influence or manslaughter or reckless homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle within the past 3 years; 6. has signed and submitted a written statement certifying that the person has not, through the unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused a crash which resulted in the death of any person within the 5 years immediately prior to the date of application. However, such day care centers, group homes, and child care institutions may provide for transportation of a child or children for special outings, functions, or purposes that are not scheduled on a regular basis without verification that drivers for such purposes meet the requirements of this Section.
(a-5) As a means of ensuring compliance with the requirements set forth in subsection (a), the Department shall implement appropriate measures to verify that every individual who is employed at a group home or child care institution meets those requirements.
For every person employed at a group home or child care institution who regularly transports children in the course of performing the person's duties, the Department must make the verification every 2 years. Upon the Department's request, the Secretary of State shall provide the Department with the information necessary to enable the Department to make the verifications required under subsection (a).
In the case of an individual employed at a group home or child care institution who becomes subject to subsection (a) for the first time after January 1, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 94-943), the Department must make that verification with the Secretary of State before the individual operates a motor vehicle to transport a child or children under the circumstances described in subsection (a).
In the case of an individual employed at a group home or child care institution who is subject to subsection (a) on January 1, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 94-943), the Department must make that verification with the Secretary of State within 30 days after January 1, 2007.
If the Department discovers that an individual fails to meet the requirements set forth in subsection (a), the Department shall promptly notify the appropriate group home or child care institution.
(Source: P.A. 102-982, eff. 7-1-23; 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)