STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1061

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 983

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Housing and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 983, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Director of Transportation to conduct a statewide pupil travel evaluation to study how students get to school and use the information obtained from the evaluation to provide Safe Routes to School program funds for school-based workshops and community-based planning projects that will reduce vehicular travel and congestion, encourage walking and bicycling, and promote health and safety; and

     (2)  Require the Director to develop a streamlined process for the federal Safe Routes to School grant program.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by two private organizations and one individual.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one state agency.  One state agency submitted comments.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees have heard that the Department of Transportation supports the measure's objective to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety for Hawaii's school children and that the Department is already working towards this end through existing and new initiatives.  However, the Department also noted that this measure directly conflicts with the provisions of the federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program under the current federal authorization, and use of these SRTS funds for Hawaii is contingent on following the federal regulations and national criteria for this program.

     Your Committees wish to thank the Department of Transportation for working with supporters of this measure to amend the language to ensure that it does not conflict with federal requirements.

Your Committees have amended this measure accordingly, by:

     (1)  Removing all references to a pupil evaluation planning study and planning activities;

     (2)  Adding infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects for use of the SRTS program funds;

     (3)  Ensuring consideration of the establishment of a permanent, full-time position of Safe Routes to School Coordinator within the Department of Transportation to provide a central point of contact for the program;

     (4)  Ensuring consideration of the provision of training to potential grant requestors and stakeholder groups;

     (5)  Requiring the Director of Transportation to report on the status and progress of the SRTS programs;

     (6)  Making the effective date, upon approval; and

     (7)  Making technical amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Housing and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 983, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 983, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Housing and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair