Bill

SCR 117

URGING THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII TO CONDUCT AN INVENTORY OF BUS STOPS ON HAWAII ISLAND UTILIZED BY CHILDREN TO TRAVEL TO SCHOOL AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT EACH LOCATION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stanley Chang and 7 co-sponsors

Urges an island-wide, interagency inventory and safety plan for Hawaiʻi school bus stops to identify hazards, propose prioritized improvements (infrastructure, routing, outreach), and report before 2026 session.

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 792).

#busstops #countyofhawaii #doe #dot #transportationinfrastructure

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Bill Summary · SCR 117

Summary — SCR 117 (2025)

Urging a coordinated inventory and safety-improvement plan for school bus stops on Hawaiʻi island

Purpose / Intent

SCR 117 is a concurrent resolution urging a coordinated review of bus stops used by school-aged children on Hawaiʻi island to identify safety deficiencies and propose prioritized strategies to improve safety. The resolution seeks collaboration among state and county agencies and the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee to produce actionable recommendations for infrastructure, routing, and community-based solutions.

Key provisions

Urges the following entities to collaborate on an island‑wide inventory and safety plan:
- Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee (HD1 version) or Department of Education (earlier versions),
- Hawaiʻi Department of Education (DOE),
- Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (DOT),
- County of Hawaiʻi (Hele‑On public transportation coordination).
Inventory must assess, at minimum:
1. Presence and condition of sidewalks and crosswalks
2. Adequate lighting and visibility
3. Traffic patterns and congestion
4. Proximity to high‑speed roadways
5. Availability of shelters and seating
6. Adequacy of current bus routes to meet student needs
7. Any other potential hazards affecting student safety
Request to develop recommendations and strategies, including:
- Infrastructure improvements (sidewalks, shelters, lighting, crossings)
- Traffic‑calming measures
- Additional or revised bus routes to better meet needs
- Community engagement initiatives
HD1 includes a request that the County of Hawaiʻi use funding from its Safe Routes to School program to support the Committee’s inventory and planning efforts.
Reporting requirement: submit findings and recommendations — including a prioritized list of bus stops needing immediate attention — to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2026.
Certified copies to be transmitted to the Governor, Board of Education Chair, Superintendent of Education, DOT Director, Chair of Safe Routes Advisory Committee, and Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi.

Who is affected

Primary: school‑age children and their families on Hawaiʻi island who rely on school buses and public transit to reach school.
Agencies: DOE, DOT, County of Hawaiʻi (Hele‑On), Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee.
Local communities in rural/underserved areas that may require infrastructure or route changes.

Impact and limitations

Intended outcome: improved safety at bus stops, better prioritized investments, and potential expansions/adjustments to bus routing to reduce hazardous walking conditions for students.
Legal effect: as a concurrent resolution, SCR 117 expresses legislative intent/urges action but does not create binding law or appropriate state funds. Any infrastructure projects or route changes would require separate funding and implementation actions by the relevant agencies and county government.

Legislative status & timeline

Introduced: June 25, 2025 (Senate).
Senate passage: Passed (21 YES) on June 25, 2025.
House passage: Passed by voice vote on June 26, 2025.
Committee activity: referred to and amended in multiple committees (EDU, TCA, TRN); versions SD1 and HD1 reflect evolving language and the addition of the Safe Routes Advisory Committee and County funding request.
Report due to Legislature: 20 days before the 2026 Regular Session (per the resolution).