Provides island-wide bus service for the only DOE public Hawaiian immersion school on Kauai. Makes appropriation.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaiian immersion schooling is a state educational priority. Yet, for students attending Kauai's only department of education public Hawaiian immersion school, Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawaii o Kapaa, those who live outside of the Kapaa district have no access to state-funded bus service. Many students have been forced to find alternative means of transportation to and from school, which can be unsafe. The transportation difficulties facing these students have resulted in a decline in enrollment and attendance.

The purpose of this Act is to prevent declining enrollment and attendance at Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawaii o Kapaa on Kauai by providing moneys to support an island-wide bus service for students attending the Hawaiian immersion school.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-406, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-406[]] Transportation of school children. (a) The department may provide suitable transportation to and from school and for educational field trips for all children in grades kindergarten to twelve and in special education classes. The department shall adopt such policy, procedure, and program as it deems necessary to provide suitable transportation. In formulating the policy, procedure, and program, the department shall consider the school district; the school attendance area in which a school child normally resides; the distance the school child lives from the school; the availability of public carriers or other means of transportation; the frequency, regularity, and availability of public transportation; and the grade level, physical handicap, or special learning disability of a school child, and it may also consider such conditions and circumstances unique or peculiar to a county or area.

(b) The department shall provide island-wide bus service to and from school on the island of Kauai for students attending the Hawaiian immersion school, Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawaii o Kapaa.

[(b)] (c) The department shall adopt rules under chapter 91 governing the supervision and administration of the transportation of school children under this section."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.