THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2671

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that traditional internal combustion school bus engines emit exhaust that children inhale while riding buses and while buses are idling in traffic, which may exacerbate asthma and other health problems.  In contrast, electric school buses offer potential benefits to the quality of student health, the environment, utility infrastructure, and cost savings.  Additionally, electric buses have lower operational, maintenance, and labor costs than comparable buses powered by internal combustion engines.  The use and operation of green forms of transportation also aligns with Hawaii's established goals of achieving a carbon-negative economy by 2045.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to include zero‑emission transportation for Hawaii's public schools in the department of education's sustainable schools initiative.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-1510, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§302A-1510[]]  Sustainable schools initiative.  (a)  The department shall establish [a goal] goals of [becoming]:

     (1)  Becoming net-zero with respect to energy use, producing as much renewable energy as the department consumes across all public school facilities, by January 1, 2035[.]; and

     (2)  Using zero-emission vehicles for all school-related transportation, including contracted transportation services, by January 1, 2035.

     (b)  The department shall use the amount and value of energy consumed by the department across all public school facilities during the 2015-2016 fiscal year as the benchmark for measuring the department's progress toward the energy usage goal set forth in subsection [(a).

     (c)  The department shall submit an annual report that shall include information on:

     (1)  The overall progress toward the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a);

     (2)  Its plans and recommendations to advance the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a); and

     (3)  Any challenges or barriers encountered or anticipated by the department in meeting the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a).

     (d)] (a)(1).

     (c)  The department shall expedite the cooling of all public school classrooms to a temperature acceptable for student learning.  When implementing classroom cooling measures, the department, and any contractor hired to implement classroom cooling measures, shall maximize energy efficiency and installation and operating cost savings over the entire life of the project.

     [(e)  Pursuant to this section, the department shall include in the report the]

     (d)  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, the department shall submit a report to the legislature that shall include:

     (1)  The department's progress toward the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a)(1), including:

          (A)  Overall progress toward the goal; and

          (B)  The department's plans and recommendations to advance the net-zero energy goal;

     (2)  The department's progress toward the zero-emission transportation goal set forth in subsection (a)(2), including:

          (A)  An assessment of current transportation services contracts and vehicle inventory; and

          (B)  The department's plans and recommendations to advance the zero-emission transportation goal;

     (3)  The status of the implementation of measures taken to cool public school classrooms as required by subsection [(d).  The report shall include the following information:

          (1)] (c), including:

          (A)  The number of completed classrooms in which cooling measures were implemented and the number of classrooms remaining that require cooling;

         [(2)] (B)  The different types of cooling measures implemented;

         [(3)] (C)  The approximate cost per classroom for planned cooling measures, including installation, upgrades, equipment, maintenance, and projected operating costs over the life of the installed cooling measures;

         [(4)] (D)  The approximate cost per completed classroom for cooling measures implemented, including installation, upgrades, equipment, maintenance, and projected operating costs over the life of the installed cooling measures;

         [(5)] (E)  The number of completed classrooms in which energy efficiency measures were installed or implemented and the number of classrooms remaining that require energy efficiency measures; and

         [(6)] (F)  The different types of energy efficiency measures installed or implemented[.

          (f)  The findings]; and

     (4)  Findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, [to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.] if any."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

DOE; Sustainable Schools Initiative; Electric Transportation

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to establish zero-emission vehicle goals as part of the sustainable schools initiative.  Requires annual report to the Legislature.

 

 

 

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