HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

171

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the department of education to develop a comprehensive plan for the reinstatement of cancelled school bus service routes.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the availability of school bus services is essential to student attendance; and

 

     WHEREAS, school bus services are particularly crucial for families who live in rural and remote areas, as well as students who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education provides bus services in neighborhoods across the State to ensure broad access to educational opportunities for Hawaii's students, serving approximately twelve thousand student riders on Oahu and thirteen thousand student riders on the neighbor islands; and

 

     WHEREAS, currently, there is a nationwide shortage of school bus drivers; and

 

     WHEREAS, due to the shortage of qualified school bus drivers in the State, student bus transportation services have been completely or partially suspended at ten Oahu high schools and four schools on Kauai in the 2023-2024 school year; and

 

     WHEREAS, suspensions of additional school bus service routes in other counties of the State are anticipated if the shortage of qualified school bus drivers continues; and

 

     WHEREAS, a comprehensive plan to reinstate previously cancelled school bus service routes is needed to ensure that all students in Hawaii are able to use school bus services to arrive at public schools on time; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the Department of Education is urged to develop a comprehensive plan for the reinstatement of cancelled school bus service routes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit the comprehensive plan, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Chairperson of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Department of Education; School Bus Service Routes; Comprehensive Plan