Bill Text: HI HB1656 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To School Bus Services.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 30-4)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-13 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kila, Takayama excused (2). [HB1656 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1656-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1656 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the nationwide shortage of bus drivers experienced by eighty per cent of school districts in the country has similarly affected Hawaii by causing route cancellations and other disruptions in transportation options for students attending K-12 schools in the State. The legislature further finds that while around thirty-three thousand students across the State depend on department of education funded school buses to commute to and from school, one hundred fifty out of seven hundred positions for school bus drivers were left vacant in September 2022, negatively impacting student attendance rates. The legislature also finds that lack of school bus drivers particularly affects schools located in rural and remote areas. The legislature recognizes the need for funding to hire additional school bus drivers to transport more students to and from schools. One way to accomplish this is by encouraging more people to obtain a commercial driver's license so they are then eligible to be school bus drivers.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of education to incentivize obtaining a commercial driver's license, thereby increasing the number of persons eligible to become school bus drivers.
SECTION 2. 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 2024-2025 for the department of education to incentivize obtaining a commercial driver's license.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:
(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and
(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Department of Education; School Bus Services; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling
Description:
Appropriates
funds to the Department of Education to assist individuals in obtaining
a commercial driver's license for the purpose of becoming school bus drivers.
Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
