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) schoo[bus service shortages, and to protect the health, safety, and walfare ofthe 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 I 79 additional drivers are needed to fully staffschool bus routes. Over the last school year, I 75 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 andlor from school, and forced the suspension of service for I 38 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, ofschool bus services due to the shortage of school bus drivers, are resulting, or will result in, lack of needed and timely access to andlor from school for a certain portion ofstudents 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 in substantial harm to the health and welfare of that portion of the population to constitute an emergency under chapter 127A, HRS;

Click here to Read More About "Third Proclamation Relating To School Bus Services"