STAND. COM. REP. NO. 314-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2280

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2280 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require Department of Education school bus contracts to include provisions that require contractors to prioritize the use of motor vehicles that do not require those drivers to hold a commercial driver's license.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committees find that there is a shortage of school bus drivers in Hawaii, contributing to the suspension or cancelation of bus transportation services across the State. Your Committees further find that many school buses transport few students, making standard size school buses unnecessary. Your Committees note that drivers of standard size school buses are required to hold commercial driver's licenses, while those that drive motor vehicles that do not fall within the definition of a commercial motor vehicle, including passenger vans carrying less than sixteen people, do not. Your Committees believe that requiring Department of Education school bus contracts to include consideration for the use of smaller vehicles for certain routes will alleviate the shortage of school bus drivers and ultimately the lack of student transportation services.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Department of Education school bus contracts shall require contractors to consider the use of smaller vehicles that do not require drivers to hold a commercial driver's license for routes with low ridership or specific geographical limitations, as determined by the Department;

(2) Requiring that the smaller vehicles used by the contractor shall meet all relevant safety standards and the contractor shall ensure the safety and well-being of all passengers;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Transportation that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2280, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2280, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Transportation,

____________________________ CHRIS TODD, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair