Bill Text: HI HB2497 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Pupil Transportation Safety.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-26 - Referred to EDN, TRN, JHA, referral sheet 3 [HB2497 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2497-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2497 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
"(b) A person
operating the following category or combination of categories of motor vehicles
shall be examined as provided in section 286-108 and duly licensed by the
examiner of drivers:
(1) Mopeds;
(2) Motorcycles, except for autocycles as described in paragraph (2) of the definition of "motorcycle" in section 286-2, and motor scooters;
(3) Passenger cars of any gross vehicle weight rating, buses designed to transport fifteen or fewer occupants, trucks and vans having a gross vehicle weight rating of eighteen thousand pounds or less, and autocycles as described in paragraph (2) of the definition of "motorcycle" in section 286-2; and
(4) All of the motor vehicles in category (3) and any vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle.
A school bus [or], small bus, motorcoach, or van
operator shall be properly licensed to operate the category of vehicles that
the operator operates as a school bus, small bus, motorcoach, or van and
shall comply with the standards of the department of transportation as provided
by rules adopted pursuant to section 286-181."
SECTION 2. Section 286-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows:
"(b) The department of transportation shall grant exemptions for the use of vehicles other than school vehicles, such as motorcoaches, small buses, and vans, when the department finds that compliance with this section is:
(1) Impractical due to the unavailability of school vehicles; or
(2) Impractical due to economic factors.
No exemption shall be granted for the qualifications of individuals driving a bus as defined in section 286-2 and such individuals shall meet school vehicle driver qualifications.
(c) The exemptions in subsection (b) shall be granted:
(1) To the department of education to administer to public schools based on criteria developed by the departments of transportation and education; provided that the department of education shall submit a report to the department of transportation at the end of each school year on the extent to which these exemptions were utilized;
(2) To a board of independent schools, which is registered with the department of commerce and consumer affairs, to administer to private schools utilizing criteria developed by the departments of transportation and education; provided that the board shall submit a report to the department of transportation at the end of each school year on the extent to which these exemptions were utilized;
(3) [Only
for] For the transport of pupils to and from school functions or
school-related activities [but not] and for transportation to and
from a school;
(4) Only
when each pupil being transported has obtained a written statement from the
pupil's parent or legal guardian waiving the State's liability; and
(5) In
accordance with the procedures and criteria established by rules of the
department of transportation.
(d)
The department of transportation may grant exemptions for the use of
vehicles other than school vehicles [for the transportation of students
requiring special education and services], including the use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans that may
not meet school bus regulations but that shall otherwise meet vehicle
requirements and qualifications set forth in chapter 19-143, Hawaii
Administrative Rules, for school bus services, when the department of
education, by adult staff chaperone, escorts students being transported between
designated locations off-campus and designated locations on-campus when the department of
transportation finds that compliance with this section is impossible or
impractical; provided that no exemption shall be granted for the qualifications
of individuals driving a bus as defined in section 286-2 and such individuals
shall meet school vehicle driver qualifications.
(e) The department of transportation shall adopt safety rules and standards relating to school vehicles, equipment, and drivers, including but not limited to:
(1) School vehicle and school vehicle equipment design, construction, and identification;
(2) School vehicle driver qualification and training as required by law;
(3) School vehicle operation;
(4) School vehicle maintenance and maintenance records;
(5) Special school vehicle safety inspections;
(6) Criteria for passenger loading and unloading safety areas; and
(7) Procedures and criteria for the granting of exemptions permitted under subsections (b), (c), and (d);
provided
that the rules and standards shall permit the use of small buses [or],
vans [weighing less than ten thousand pounds], or motorcoaches
for the transportation of pupils of a day
care center, child care facility, headstart program, [and] preschool, kindergarten,
elementary, or secondary school, public or private, including any special
school for children in the State, with the department of education providing
adult staff chaperone escorts while students are being transported between
designated locations off-campus and designated locations on-campus or of
school pupils and school staffs to and from school-related activities."
SECTION 3. Section 286-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:
"(i) As used in subsection (b), a school vehicle is unavailable when it:
(1) Is being used during a specific time for contracted school-related transportation to and from school or related destinations;
(2) Fails that day's inspection and has not been repaired;
(3) Is already in transportation service; or
(4) Is
committed for transportation service[; or
(5) Does
not meet the requests of a school for a motorcoach with undercarriage storage
compartments and public address system; provided that the use of the motorcoach
shall be used solely for the transportation of middle intermediate or high
school student groups to and from school-related events or activities. As used in this paragraph, "motorcoach"
means a vehicle that carries more than twenty-five passengers, has a gross
vehicle weight rating of at least 26,000 pounds, and is no more than fifteen
years old]."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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BY REQUEST |
Report Title:
Pupil Transportation Safety
Description:
Amends sections 286-102 and 286-181, HRS, to allow the exemptions to include use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for the school bus services, which may not meet school bus regulations but which shall otherwise meet vehicle requirements and qualifications set forth in chapter 19-143, Hawaii Administrative Rules, to the extent required by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Education, with the Department of Education providing Department of Education adult staff chaperone escorts of students while students are being transported between designated locations off-campus and designated locations on-campus.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
