Bill Text: HI HB245 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Student Heat Exposure Safety.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-2)
Status: (N/A) 2025-01-16 - Pending introduction. [HB245 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2025-HB245-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
245 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to student heat exposure safety.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has experienced rising air temperatures, with annual peak averages consistently breaking record highs. These increases, along with Hawaii's high average annual relative humidity, pose significant challenges for human thermoregulation.
The legislature further finds that exercising in hot and humid weather can be dangerous, as the body's ability to cool itself through sweating becomes less effective under humid conditions. When sweat cannot evaporate efficiently due to high moisture levels in the air, the risk of heat-related illnesses increases.
The legislature also finds that children and younger athletes are particularly vulnerable to exertional heat illness due to slower heat acclimatization, reduced thermoregulation capabilities compared to adults, and external pressures from coaches and parents to exceed their physical limits. Additionally, children often lack control over the timing and conditions of outdoor activities, such as recess and sports practices, and may have limited access to hydration during these activities.
The legislature further finds that shade can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses by providing cooler spaces for students to exercise, train, and play. Expanding shaded areas on school campuses and properties is critical for creating safer environments during outdoor activities. Additionally, identifying and developing areas on campuses to increase shade access is an essential strategy for protecting children from dangerous levels of heat.
The legislature also finds that wet-bulb globe temperature measurements are the gold standard for assessing heat stress, as adopted by organizations such as the United States military, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and professional sports leagues. Wet-bulb globe thermometers are also relatively affordable for schools and athletic departments to acquire and use, making them a practical tool for ensuring safer outdoor activities.
Despite these known challenges and expected increasing temperatures, Hawaii currently lacks statewide guidelines for managing extreme heat during outdoor recreational activities, leaving children at risk of preventable heat-related illnesses. Therefore, purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Require and appropriate funds for the department of education, in collaboration with the department of health, to develop statewide guidelines related to managing heat exposure to protect students' health during outdoor activities; and
(2) Appropriate funds for wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers for all public and charter schools statewide.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Guidelines
for outdoor activities during extreme heat. (a) The department, in collaboration with the
department of health, shall develop statewide guidelines for managing heat
exposure to protect students' health during outdoor activities. These guidelines shall:
(1) Apply to all
public and charter schools in the State;
(2) Be utilized for
sports practices, conditioning workouts, recess, marching band practice, junior
reserve officers' training corps activities, and other outdoor activities;
(3) Be based on
wet-bulb globe temperature as the standard for measuring heat stress; and
(4) Include
recommendations for expanding shaded areas on campuses to provide cooler
environments for exercise, training, and play.
(b) The guidelines shall include:
(1) Thresholds for
modifying, postponing, or canceling outdoor activities based on wet-bulb glob
temperature measurements;
(2) Protocols for
ensuring adequate hydration during outdoor activities;
(3) Training for
school staff on recognizing and responding to symptoms of exertional heat
illness;
(4) Measures to
safeguard students with medical conditions or medications that impair
thermoregulation;
(5) Recommendations
for acclimatizing or reacclimatizing students returning to outdoor activities
after a period of absence; and
(6) Recommendations
for schools to identify and develop areas on campuses to expand shade access as
a strategy to improve outdoor safety and reduce heat exposure."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $20,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of education to develop the recommendations for the guidelines pursuant to this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $20,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of education to provide wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers to all public and charter schools statewide.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Department of Education; Heat Exposure; Guidelines; Appropriation
Description:
Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to develop statewide guidelines related to managing heat exposure to protect students' health during outdoor activities. Appropriates funds for wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers for all public and charter schools statewide.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
