STAND. COM. REP. NO. 297

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 876

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 876 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require all public schools in the County of Hawaii to participate in the safe routes to school program; and

(2) Appropriate funds to support the safe routes to school program for schools in the County of Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Transportation, one member from the Hawai‘i County Council, Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and Hawaii Bicycling League.

Your Committees find that the purpose of the safe routes to school program in Hawaii is to promote walking and bicycling to and from school, encourage elementary and middle school aged children to be physically active, and prevent childhood obesity. Additionally, the program provides for community infrastructure improvements strategically designed to reduce vehicular traffic and congestion around schools. This measure will facilitate the growth of safer communities and ensure the safety of students by substantially improving the ability of primary and middle school students to bike and walk to and from school safely.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that all public elementary, intermediate, and middle schools in the County of Hawaii shall participate in the safe routes to school program; and

(2) Specifying the expending agency of the appropriation to the County of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Transportation that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 876, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 876, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair