STAND. COM. REP. NO. 616

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1637
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Education, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1637 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL BUSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow the use of vehicles
other than school vehicles when transporting student groups to
and from school-related events and activities.

     Your Committees find that this bill will help schools to
coordinate their school-related functions more efficiently by
making it more convenient for schools to arrange their students'
transportation.  When in search of transportation to and from
school-related events, schools must call all school bus companies
and inquire about the availability of their vehicles before they
are permitted to employ the services of tour bus companies.  This
bill helps to eliminate such an inconvenience.

     This bill proposes to permit the use of tour buses when
transporting student groups, but excluding school athletes, to
and from school events and activities.

     Testimonies in support of this bill were received from
Prevent Child Abuse, Polynesian Hospitality, Public Schools of
Hawaii Foundation, and numerous private citizens, many of whom
are teachers and concerned parents.  Testimonies in opposition to
this bill were received from the Department of Transportation,
the Department of Education, Gomes School Bus Service, Ltd.,

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 616
                                 Page 2

 
Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, as well as numerous
private citizens, many of whom are teachers and concerned
parents.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by removing section
3, as the effective date has not been determined.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation and Education that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1637, as amended herein, and recommend that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B No.
1637, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Transportation
                                   and Education,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair
                                   Transportation Committee



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair
                                   Education Committee