By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawaii, to provide relief for disaster damages, losses, and suffering, which shall include providing relief for Department of Education (DOE) school bus service shortages, and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people, I, JOSH GREEN, M.D., Governor of the State of Hawaii, hereby determine, designate and proclaim as follows:

WHEREAS, there is currently a shortage of school bus drivers able to provide services to the DOE and certain independent schools. Among bus service contractors statewide, an estimated 179 additional drivers are needed to fully staff school bus routes. Over the last school year, 175 school bus drivers have vacated their positions, along with an additional 112 during the summer months;

WHEREAS, the shortage has resulted in the DOE and certain independent schools reducing school bus services for qualified students needing transportation to and/or from school, and forced the suspension of service for 138 school bus routes on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island serving approximately 3,720 students during the 2024-25 school year;

WHEREAS, suspensions of additional school bus routes across the State are also possible;

WHEREAS, school bus services are an instrumental in fulfilling the State’s compulsory education laws which require school attendance for children between the ages of five and eighteen years;

WHEREAS, the suspension, and potential suspension, of school bus services due to the shortage of school bus drivers, are resulting, or will result in, lack of needed and timely access to and/or from school for a certain portion of students in the State;

WHEREAS, the lack of needed and timely access to school for that portion of students in the State is likely resulting in the students failing to attend school as required and resulting insubstantial harm to the health and welfare of that portion of the population to constitute an emergency under chapter 127A, HRS;

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