Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2452 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase safety in school buses by:

The Department of Transportation supported the intent of this bill. The Department of Education supported the intent of this bill but with serious concerns. The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii Transportation Association, Roberts Hawaii School Bus Inc., Hawaii School Bus Association, and Gomes School Bus Service, Ltd., opposed this bill.

While your Committee understands the need to protect the health and safety of Hawaii's children as they ride to and from school in school buses, your Committee is also aware that studies and crash test data have shown that seat belt use on a school bus may not offer added protection in a crash. This is mainly due to the fact that the structural design of school buses includes "compartmentalization design"--protocols in the interior of the bus that contain strong, closely-spaced seats with energy-absorbing backs, which form a protective envelope for a child. Although your Committee notes that the fatality rate for school buses is only .2 fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled as compared to 1.5 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for cars, the protection of our children is an important issue that deserves further consideration.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2452 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.