RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

SB2202

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2202

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to school bus drivers
.

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

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SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 302A,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to subpart C of part
I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

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"
�302-A
�
School
bus driver recruitment grant program
.
�
(a)
�
There is established within
the department
a school
bus driver recruitment grant program to help increase the State's recruitment
and retention of school bus drivers.

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(b)
�

The program shall authorize grants to:

����
(1)
�
Fund
the requirements to obtain commercial learner's permits pursuant to section
286-238.2;

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(2)
�
Fund
the requirements for the issuance of commercial driver's licenses pursuant to
section 286-236; and

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(3)
�
Provide
for additional costs relating to commercial driver's licenses and commercial
learner's permits, including but not limited to applications, testing, driver
training, and medical fees.

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�302-A
�
School bus driver recruitment special fund.
�
(a)
�
There is established the school bus driver
recruitment special fund to be administered by the department into which shall
be deposited:

����
(1)
�
Appropriations
by the legislature;

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(2)
�
State
and federal grants;

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(3)
�
Any
moneys collected pursuant to part XIII of chapter 286, except any fees
collected pursuant to
section 286-245(g)
; and

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(4)
�
All
interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited in the special fund.

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(b)
�
Moneys in the special fund shall be expended
exclusively for the purposes of administering the school bus driver recruitment
grant program.
"

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SECTION 2.
�

(a)
�
There is established a repayment
signing bonus program to be administered by the department of education.

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(b)
�

The repayment signing bonus program shall authorize and disperse:

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(1)
�
A
one-time signing bonus of $1,000 to an individual with a commercial driver's
license at the time the individual is hired as a school bus driver with the
department of education;

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(2)
�
$500
at the time that a school bus driver maintains a school bus driver position
contracted with the department for six months; and

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(3)
�
$1,000
at the time that a school bus driver maintains a school bus driver position
contracted with the department for one year.

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(c)
�
Any
school bus driver who leaves employment voluntarily or is terminated before
completing thirty-six months of employment shall repay the full money amount
that the school bus driver received from the repayment signing bonus program
pursuant to subsection (a)(1).

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(d)
�

All moneys collected from the repayment signing bonus program shall be
deposited into the general fund.

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(e)
�

The department shall adopt rules under chapter 91 to effectuate the
purposes of this section.

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SECTION 3.
�

(a)
�
The department of education
shall establish and administer a three-year prospective school bus driver
outreach and pathway program to increase the recruitment of school bus drivers and
address the ongoing chronic shortage of school bus drivers in the State.

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(b)
�

The department of education shall develop:

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(1)
�
Recruitment
campaigns;

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(2)
�
Informational
sessions regarding school bus driver recruitment;

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(3)
�
Partnerships
with public schools and community organizations within the State; and

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(4)
�
Workforce
development programs.

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SECTION
4
.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be
deposited into the school bus driver recruitment special fund.

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SECTION
5
.
�
There is appropriated out of the school
bus driver recruitment special fund the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to provide
grants for the school bus driver recruitment grant program.

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The
sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the
purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 6.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $ or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to provide signing
bonuses for the repayment signing bonus program.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 7.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $ or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the school bus
driver outreach and pathway program.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 8.
�

The department of education shall submit quarterly reports to the
legislature on its findings, including but not limited to:

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(1)
�
The
total school bus driver vacancies by county;

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(2)
�
The
total school bus driver hires and separations;

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(3)
�
The
number of canceled routes;

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(4)
�
The
average school bus driver hourly wage;

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(5)
�
The
amounts expended by the school bus driver recruitment special fund and the school
bus driver recruitment grant program; and

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(6)
�
An
assessment of the school bus driver recruitment grant program.

Each report
shall be posted to the department of education's website to be available for
public review.

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SECTION 9.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 10.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE; School
Bus Driver Recruitment Grant Program; School Bus Driver Recruitment Special
Fund;
Repayment Signing Bonus Program; School Bus Driver Outreach and
Pathway Program; Report; Appropriations

Description:

Requires
the Department of Education to establish a School Bus Driver Recruitment Grant Program.
�
Establishes a School Bus Driver Recruitment
Special Fund.
�
Establishes a
Repayment
Signing Bonus Program.
�
Establishes a
School Bus Driver Outreach and Pathway Program.
�

Requires a report to the Legislature.
�

Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.