HB 861 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Summary

Designates student transportation as critical infrastructure and a critical service for Hawaii's public education system. Requires all school bus contracts between the State and the contractor to include certain standards, performance metrics, and accountability requirements to prevent service disruptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB861 → HB861_HD1 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill designates student transportation as critical infrastructure and requires school bus contracts to include specific performance metrics, contingency planning, and accountability measures. The changes aim to prevent future service disruptions by mandating proactive planning, regular updates to families, and stricter oversight of transportation providers.

Scope change

The bill applies to all school bus contracts between the State of Hawaii and transportation contractors, requiring standardized provisions across all contracts.

REQUIREMENT

Added designation of student transportation as critical infrastructure and critical service in state law

Required contracts to include detailed annual contingency plans addressing driver shortages and fleet capacity issues

Mandated performance metrics on driver availability and fleet capacity to be reviewed 30 days before school year starts

Required contractors to notify department 30 days before school year of anticipated service disruptions

Required weekly updates from contractors during the 30 days before school year begins

Mandated department to communicate service changes to families within 5 business days

Required real-time updates to families during school year for unexpected service interruptions

Required annual audits and reports on contractor performance submitted to legislature 20 days before each regular session

ENFORCEMENT

Established penalties for noncompliance including payment withholding and contract termination for repeated violations

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from 'upon approval' to 'July 1, 3000'

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. 578) 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 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors