Bill > SB868

This bill establishes a one-year School Bus Driver Certification Subsidy Pilot Program within the Hawaii Department of Education for the 2025-2026 school year to address the critical statewide shortage of school bus drivers. The program aims to subsidize the costs of training and certification for prospective bus drivers, with the department required to develop specific eligibility criteria, create a comprehensive training curriculum for obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL) with school bus endorsements, and establish pathways for existing school van drivers and bus aides to become certified school bus drivers. The department must submit an interim report before the 2026 legislative session and a final report before the 2027 legislative session, detailing the program's development, administration, and potential legislative recommendations. The pilot program is specifically designed to tackle the significant driver shortage, which has led to route cancellations, service disruptions, and transportation challenges for students, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The bill includes an appropriation of funds from the state's general revenues to support the program's implementation, with the program set to expire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year and become effective on July 1, 2025.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=868&year=2026