THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2325

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO SCHOOL BUSES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 291-11.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  [The] Except as otherwise provided in section 302A‑407(b), passengers of the following motor vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this section:  emergency and mass transit vehicles.  Further exemptions from this section may be established by rules adopted by the department of transportation pursuant to chapter 91.

     As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

     "Emergency vehicle" means an ambulance, a firefighting or rescue vehicle, or a police vehicle while on duty.

     "Mass transit vehicle" means a bus, including a school bus (but excluding a charter or sightseeing service bus) with a gross vehicle weight rating that is over 10,000 pounds, whether publicly or privately owned, which provides service to the general public or provides special service on a regular or continuing basis."

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-407, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-407  School bus contracts.  (a)  Any school bus contract between the State and the contractor shall include a provision requiring the contractor to equip the contractor's vehicles with the signs and visual signals described in section 291C-95(d) and (g).  The contract shall also include other provisions as may be deemed necessary by the State for the safety of school bus passengers and shall include provisions requiring compliance with the rules and standards described in section 286-181.

     (b)  By July 1, 2050, all school bus contracts shall require all contractor's vehicles to be:

     (1)  Propelled by electric power or a non-fossil fuel; provided that any school bus contract entered into between the effective date of this Act and January 1, 2050, shall include a provision that requires the contractor to replace any contractor's vehicle that is disposed of, transferred, sold, or otherwise taken out of service by that contractor with a contractor's vehicle that is propelled by electric power or a non-fossil fuel; and

     (2)  Equipped with a seat belt assembly at each designated seating position as provided in section 291-11.6.

     [(b)] (c)  All moneys received from students and parents or guardians of students by public schools for state-provided school busing services, as authorized by section 302A-406, shall be deposited into the school bus fare revolving fund.  Except as otherwise provided by the legislature, expenditures for the operation of state-contracted school bus services, as authorized by section 302A-406, shall be made from this fund."

     SECTION 3.  The department of education shall submit a report of findings and recommendations regarding the potential costs, industry and technology trends, practical experiences of local stakeholders, and other matters that may affect the implementation of this measure, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

Report Title:

School Buses; School Bus Contracts; Electric Buses; Non-fossil Fuel; Seat Belts; Department of Education

 

Description:

Requires all school bus contracts to require contractor's vehicles to be propelled by electric power or a non-fossil fuel and to be equipped with seat belt assemblies by July 1, 2050. Requires a report from the Department of Education.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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