SR 27: Requesting the department of transportation, in coordination with the department of education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and workforce pipeline for school bus drivers in the state.

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	27
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the department of transportation, in coordination with the department of education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and workforce pipeline for school bus drivers in the state.

 

 

     WHEREAS, reliable school transportation is essential to ensuring equitable access to public education for students across the State, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, persistent shortages of qualified school bus drivers have resulted in route cancellations, service disruptions, and barriers to consistent school attendance for many students; and

 

     WHEREAS, transportation disruptions disproportionately affect students with disabilities, students living in rural areas, and families with limited access to alternative transportation; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature has considered measures to strengthen recruitment, training, and retention of school bus drivers, including financial incentives and workforce development programs; and

 

     WHEREAS, testimony submitted to the Legislature has identified structural limitations within the current student transportation model that affect implementation of certain workforce initiatives, including that school bus drivers are employees of private transportation contractors rather than the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, stakeholders and community testimony have also identified barriers to entering the profession, including challenges related to commercial driver's licensing access, testing availability, training coordination, and geographic inequities in licensing opportunities, particularly on neighbor islands; and

 

     WHEREAS, the licensing and credentialing of school bus drivers involves multiple agencies and processes, including commercial driver's licensing requirements administered through the Department of Transportation and workforce needs identified by the Department of Education and private transportation providers; and

 

     WHEREAS, improved interagency coordination and targeted policy reforms may help expand the pool of qualified school bus drivers, reduce barriers to entry, and strengthen the long-term workforce pipeline; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Department of Education, is requested to evaluate and recommend improvements to improve the licensing, training, and workforce pipeline for school bus drivers in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the evaluation is requested to include but not be limited to:

 

     (1)  Access to commercial driver's licensing, including geographic availability of testing, scheduling capacity, equipment access, and barriers faced by neighbor island applicants;

 

     (2)  Coordination between state agencies, counties, and private transportation providers in supporting commercial driver's licensing, training, and credentialing;

 

     (3)  Opportunities to expand or decentralize testing and training, including mobile testing units, regional testing capacity, or partnerships with community colleges or workforce programs;

 

     (4)  Administrative or statutory changes that may improve efficiency, reduce delays, or remove unnecessary barriers in the licensing process;

 

     (5)  Strategies to align licensing pathways with school transportation workforce needs, including targeted recruitment, pre-licensing training support, and career pathway development;

 

     (6)  Best practices from other states or jurisdictions that have successfully expanded school bus driver licensing pipelines; and

 

     (7)  Any recommended legislative or administrative actions necessary to improve coordination and expand the pool of qualified school bus drivers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation and Department of Education are requested to consult with the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Budget and Finance, county governments, school bus transportation contractors, workforce development partners, and other relevant stakeholders; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Department of Education, is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Transportation, Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Education, Attorney General, Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, Director of Finance, and the Mayor of each county in the State.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

DOT; DOE; School Bus Drivers; Commercial Driver's License; Workforce Pipeline