HB 288 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS SERVICES.

Summary

Authorizes the Department of Education to use alternative vehicles for student transportation under certain conditions. Allows the Department of Education to institute a staggered school hours program in public schools. Appropriates funds for the purchase of alternative vehicles and individuals to obtain CDL licensure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB288 → HB288_HD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to address a bus driver shortage by expanding the Department of Education's ability to use alternative vehicles (motorcoaches, small buses, vans) and implement staggered school hours. The version changed the emergency proclamation expiration date from January 26, 2025 to March 25, 2025, and added new reporting requirements for private schools. It also modified the definition of when a school vehicle is unavailable and added a new requirement that motorcoaches used for student transport must have undercarriage storage compartments and public address systems.

Scope change

The bill now applies to private schools through a new reporting requirement for boards of independent schools, and expanded the definition of school vehicle unavailability to include vehicles committed for transportation service.

TIMELINE

Changed the emergency proclamation expiration date from January 26, 2025 to March 25, 2025

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirement that motorcoaches used for student transport must have undercarriage storage compartments and public address systems

Added new reporting requirement for boards of independent schools to submit reports on exemption utilization

Added new subsection (d) requiring adult staff chaperones for students transported in alternative vehicles between off-campus and on-campus locations

Added new subsection (3) limiting exemptions to specific transportation purposes including school functions and designated locations

DEFINITION

Expanded definition of unavailable school vehicles to include those committed for transportation service

ELIGIBILITY

Modified language around liability waivers for students transported in alternative vehicles

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 568) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors