STAND. COM. REP. NO. 242

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1082

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1082 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

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

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of the Auditor.

     Your Committees find 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.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Transportation and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1082 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair