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.

SR27

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

27

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE 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
.

����
WHEREAS, reliable
school transportation is essential to ensuring equitable access to public
education for students across the State, particularly in rural and neighbor
island communities; and

����
WHEREAS,
persistent shortages of qualified school bus
drivers have resulted in route cancellations, service disruptions, and barriers
to consistent school attendance for many students
; and

����
WHEREAS, transportation
disruptions disproportionately affect students with disabilities, students
living in rural areas, and families with limited access to alternative
transportation; and

����
WHEREAS,
the Legislature has considered measures to
strengthen recruitment, training, and retention of school bus drivers,
including financial incentives and workforce development programs
; and

����
WHEREAS, testimony
submitted to the Legislature has identified structural limitations within the
current student transportation model that affect implementation of certain
workforce initiatives, including that school bus drivers are employees of
private transportation contractors rather than the State; and

����
WHEREAS, stakeholders
and community testimony have also identified barriers to entering the
profession, including challenges related to commercial driver's licensing
access, testing availability, training coordination, and geographic inequities
in licensing opportunities, particularly on neighbor islands; and

����
WHEREAS, the
licensing and credentialing of school bus drivers involves multiple agencies
and processes, including commercial driver's licensing requirements
administered through the Department of Transportation and workforce needs
identified by the Department of Education and private transportation providers;
and

����
WHEREAS, improved
interagency coordination and targeted policy reforms may help expand the pool
of qualified school bus drivers, reduce barriers to entry, and strengthen the
long-term workforce pipeline; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation, in coordination
with the Department of Education, is requested to evaluate and recommend
improvements to improve the licensing, training, and workforce pipeline for
school bus drivers in the State; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the evaluation is requested to include but not be limited to:

����
(1)
�
Access to commercial driver's licensing,
including geographic availability of testing, scheduling capacity, equipment
access, and barriers faced by neighbor island applicants;

����
(2)
�
Coordination between state agencies, counties,
and private transportation providers in supporting commercial driver's
licensing, training, and credentialing;

����
(3)
�
Opportunities to expand or decentralize
testing and training, including mobile testing units, regional testing
capacity, or partnerships with community colleges or workforce programs;

����
(4)
�
Administrative or statutory changes that may
improve efficiency, reduce delays, or remove unnecessary barriers in the
licensing process;

����
(5)
�
Strategies to align licensing pathways with
school transportation workforce needs, including targeted recruitment,
pre-licensing training support, and career pathway development;

����
(6)
�
Best practices from other states or
jurisdictions that have successfully expanded school bus driver licensing
pipelines; and

����
(7)
�
Any recommended legislative or administrative
actions necessary to improve coordination and expand the pool of qualified
school bus drivers; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation and Department of Education are
requested to consult with the Department of the Attorney General, Department of
Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Budget and Finance, county
governments, school bus transportation contractors, workforce development
partners, and other relevant stakeholders; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the
Department of Education, is requested to submit a report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Governor, Director of Transportation, Superintendent of Education, Chairperson
of the Board of Education, Attorney General, Director of Labor and Industrial
Relations, Director of Finance, and the Mayor of each county in the State.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

DOT;
DOE; School Bus Drivers; Commercial Driver's License; Workforce Pipeline