CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 4

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2013

RE:    S.B. No. 1082

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1082, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to repeal statutory language specifying considerations and procedures the Department of Education must follow when contracting for student transportation.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that student transportation costs have escalated in recent years.  In November 2012, the Student Bus Transportation Study Final Report commissioned by the Department of Education found that, among other things, statutory requirements on contract terms hindered the Department's ability to maximize its resources and set contractual terms to help control escalating costs.  This measure will allow the Department of Education greater flexibility in setting contract terms and defining student transportation eligibility parameters to improve delivery of services and contain rising costs.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure to make it effective upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1082, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1082, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI, Co-Chair	____________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair
____________________________ KANIELA ING, Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Co-Chair
	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Co-Chair