Bill > SB1198

This bill addresses significant challenges in Hawaii's student transportation system by designating student transportation as critical infrastructure and introducing comprehensive contract requirements for school bus services. The legislation responds to recent service disruptions, such as the cancellation of 147 bus routes affecting 3,730 students in the 2024-2025 school year, by mandating that school bus contracts include specific provisions to enhance reliability and accountability. These new contract requirements include developing detailed annual contingency plans, establishing performance metrics for driver availability and fleet capacity, implementing penalties for noncompliance, and creating emergency communication protocols that require contractors to notify the Department of Education about potential service interruptions at least 30 days before the school year starts. The bill also requires contractors to provide weekly updates during the pre-school year period, mandates that the department communicate service changes to families within five business days, and establishes protocols for real-time updates about unexpected service interruptions. Additionally, contractors must submit annual performance and service reliability reports to the legislature. By changing existing law, the bill shifts the department's transportation provision from a discretionary ("may") to a mandatory ("shall") responsibility and explicitly categorizes student transportation as a critical service, aiming to prevent future service disruptions and restore public confidence in the school transportation system.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1198&year=2025