A measure sponsored by State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) that would improve the safety of children on school busses passed the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday. House Bill 2121 makes changes to the eligibility standards for individuals with criminal convictions applying for a bus driver license. The legislation would add several criminal offenses to the list of those that would make an individual eligible for a lifetime ban from receiving a license. “We need to make sure that schools are safe and nurturing environments for our students and that includes ensuring that they have a safe commute to and from school every day,” Sandoval said. “It’s critical that those charged with transporting our children safely have been properly vetted and are deemed fit to carry out their work.” Criminal offenses that would newly allow an individual to be banned for life under the legislation include permitting the sexual abuse of a child, all aggravated battery offenses and loitering of a sexual predator near a public park. The measure will now go before the entire Senate.