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SB835
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
835
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to pupil transportation
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The
legislature finds that the State is currently experiencing a critical shortage
of school bus drivers, which has significantly impacted the State's ability to
provide reliable and efficient student transportation services, particularly in
rural areas and on the neighbor islands.
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The legislature further finds that the
office of the governor issued an emergency proclamation relating to school bus
services on August 2, 2024, to mitigate this pressing issue by enabling greater
flexibility in student transportation services.
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The proclamation temporarily suspends certain state laws to expedite the
hiring of qualified drivers, streamline the certification process, and allow
the use of alternative vehicles, including motorcoaches and smaller passenger
vans, to address the immediate transportation needs of students.
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These measures are designed to ensure that
schools can maintain safe and consistent transportation options for students
despite the ongoing driver shortage.
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Innovative solutions, such as those included in the governor's emergency
proclamation, are necessary to address the growing demand for student
transportation and ensure that all students have access to safe, timely, and
efficient methods of getting to school.
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The legislature also finds that while
emergency proclamations are essential for immediate action, legislation is
needed to codify sustainable, structured, and democratically validated
solutions to the State's pressing bus driver shortage.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
authorize individuals who possess a commercial driver's license with a
passenger "P" endorsement to provide pupil transportation student
services without also possessing a school bus "S" endorsement in
certain circumstances.
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SECTION
2
.
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Section
286-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read
as follows:
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"
(b)
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The department of transportation shall grant
exemptions for the use of vehicles other than school vehicles when the
department finds that compliance with this section is:
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(1)
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Impractical due to the unavailability
of school vehicles; [
or
]
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(2)
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Impractical due to economic factors[
.
]
;
or
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(3)
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Impractical due to the
unavailability of school bus drivers.
No
exemption shall be granted for the qualifications of individuals driving a bus
as defined in section 286-2 and [
such
]
these
individuals shall
meet school vehicle driver qualifications[
.
]
; provided that
commercial driver's license holders shall possess a passenger "P"
endorsement, but shall not be required to also hold a school bus "S"
endorsement.
"
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SECTION
3.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.
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SECTION
4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Department
of Transportation; Department of Education; Pupil Transportation; School Bus
Services
Description:
Authorizes
individuals who possess a commercial driver's license with a passenger "P"
endorsement to provide pupil transportation student services without also
possessing a school bus "S" endorsement in certain circumstances.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.