STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3442

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 31

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 31 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LICENSING, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Department of Education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and workforce pipeline for school bus drivers in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Mayor of the County of Kauaʻi, Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu, two members of the Hawaii County Council, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that reliable transportation is necessary to ensure equitable access to public education for students across the State, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities. However, persistent shortages of qualified school bus drivers have resulted in route cancellations, service disruptions, and barriers to consistent school attendance for many students. Challenges relating to commercial driver's licensing access, testing availability, training coordination, and geographic inequities in licensing opportunities are significant factors that contribute to school bus driver shortages. This measure will address these shortages and support improvements in interagency coordination and targeted policy reforms to expand the pool of qualified school bus drivers in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 31 and recommends its adoption.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair