Bill Text: HI SB852 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 852 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Department of Education; Student Transportation Services ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-21 - Re-Referred to EDU/TRE, WAM. [SB852 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SB852-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	852
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Making an emergency appropriation for the department of education.

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

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. The department of education's student transportation services branch provides suitable transportation to and from school for general education children in grades kindergarten to twelve and all special education services, as mandated to be provided by federal law. Personnel are located in counties throughout the State. Services are delivered through private vendors to provide transportation services based on route agreements, with a focus on effectiveness, efficiency, and safety.

Student bus fare collections from general education student riders are minimal, accounting for only four to five per cent of the overall annual cost of school transportation services.

The current level of general fund appropriations for student transportation is not sufficient to support the cost of the provision of school transportation services at their current levels. The projected cost of school busing services for the 2014-2015 school year is $62,000,000 which is approximately $5,000,000 less than previous expenditure levels. School transportation cost is anticipated to continue to decrease as the department of education initiates efficiency savings in general education transportation services on the neighbor islands. However, all costs are subject to increases due to inflation. The general fund base budget for the transportation contract is $53,600,000 for the next biennium.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to meet the projected shortfall for student transportation services.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $9,300,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the projected shortfall for the provision of student transportation services so as to continue to meet student transportation needs.

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

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Education; Student Transportation Services

Description:

Provides an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2014-2015 for student transportation services.

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