STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1613-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 45

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 45 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO RECOGNIZE AND REMEDY STATEWIDE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION INEQUITIES BY INCREASING AND PRIORITIZING SCHOOL BUS SERVICES FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to remedy transportation inequity by increasing more school bus routes, with priority given to the creation of routes that serve students from low- to moderate-income families.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that access to and from school is a fundamental part of public education's mission to ensure all children have access to equal educational opportunities. Your Committee further finds that a lack of school transportation services leads to tardiness, absenteeism, and poor educational performances and outcomes for schoolchildren. Your Committee notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the size of Hawaii's school bus driver workforce and resulted in the suspension of at least thirty statewide school bus routes. Your Committee finds that the Department of Education needs to urgently increase school bus routes and services, particularly on neighbor islands and in rural areas, to ensure children have equal opportunities to attend public school.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Department of Education to convene a working group to remedy school bus transportation inequity for low- to moderate-income families and report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2023;

(2) Inserting language urging the working group to consider the possibility of paying shortage differentials to incentivize the hiring of more school bus drivers to help remedy school bus transportation inequity, especially on the neighbor islands and in rural areas;

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 45, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 45, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair