STAND. COM. REP. NO. 898

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 971

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 971, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address student transportation needs throughout the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Education to collect data on the city bus pass program for public high school students and charter school students and submit a report to the Legislature on the Department's findings and data collected; and

(2) Appropriates moneys for bus passes for all public high school and charter school students.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii Public Health Institute, OahuMPO,Ulupono Initiative, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that providing high school students with access to public transportation will help to address the State's shortage of school bus drivers and increase the affected students' educational well-being.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Department of Education shall collect data on the EXPRESS county bus pass program;

(2) Clarifying that the Department of Education is only required to submit reports to the Legislature through the duration of the EXPRESS county bus program;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 971, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 971, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair