THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2521
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
H.D. 2
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that requiring first responders to obtain commercial driver's licenses to operate authorized commercial vehicles used for emergency response is not in the best interest of public safety because first responders receive training provided by federal, state, and county government agencies that would satisfy this requirement. Imposing this requirement would only serve to create an administrative hurdle for first responders and hinder the performance of their vital public safety functions.
The legislature additionally finds that although emergency medical services personnel, who may be assigned to operate vehicles that are classified as commercial motor vehicles were performing essential public safety functions, receive the same levels of rigorous training as others authorized to operate commercial vehicles, they are still required to obtain commercial driver's licenses, which slows down hiring, raises costs, and creates administrative hurdles for emergency medical services departments across the State.
The legislature further finds that exempting qualified emergency medical services personnel from commercial driver's license requirements may help to alleviate barriers to recruitment and retention and streamline essential functions, while maintaining public safety standards.
The legislature also finds that the current definition for "authorized emergency vehicle" in existing law is insufficient, in that it does not include alternative emergency service vehicles utilized by emergency medical services departments in the State.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Exempt emergency medical services personnel from commercial driver's license requirements, similar to other licensed first responders operating in the State; and
(2) Amend the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" under the statewide traffic code to clarify that additional emergency services vehicles beyond ambulances are included in the definition.
SECTION 2. Section 286-235.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§286-235.5 Persons exempt from licensure. The following persons shall be exempt from licensure under this part:
(1) Individuals who operate commercial motor vehicles for military purposes. This exception [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall be] limited to active-duty military personnel, members of the military reserves, members of the national guard on active duty, including personnel on full-time national guard duty, personnel on part-time national guard training, and national guard military technicians (civilians who are required to wear military uniforms), and active-duty United States Coast Guard personnel. This exception [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall] not [Underlined: be] applicable to United States reserve technicians; and
(2) Federal, state, and county firefighters, [Underlined: emergency medical services personnel,] and law enforcement officers who [[Struck through: drive]] [Underlined: operate] federal, state, or county fire trucks, including fire pumpers, aerial ladder trucks, and elevated platform trucks, or authorized [Underlined: disaster response and recovery vehicles and] emergency vehicles; provided that [[Struck through: they]] [Underlined: the individuals] are trained by the federal, state, or county government and the commercial motor vehicles are equipped with audible and visual signals and are not subject to normal traffic regulation[[Struck through: .]][Underlined: ; provided further that federal, state, and county firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and law enforcement officers shall maintain proof of successful completion of agency-approved or other state-approved training on authorized emergency vehicles.] For purposes of this paragraph, "authorized emergency vehicle" [[Struck through: shall have]] [Underlined: has] the same meaning as in section 291C-1."
SECTION 3. Section 291C-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" to read as follows:
""Authorized emergency vehicle" includes fire department vehicles, [[Struck through: police vehicles, ambulances,]] [Underlined: emergency medical services vehicles, disaster response and recovery vehicles,] ocean safety vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, conservation and resources enforcement vehicles, [[Struck through: and]] office of the state fire marshal vehicles [[Struck through: authorized and approved pursuant to section 291-31.5]][Underlined: , and department of health vehicles] that are publicly owned and other publicly or privately owned vehicles designated as [[Struck through: such by a]] [Underlined: an authorized emergency vehicle by the State, appropriate] county council[Underlined: , or emergency management agency]."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
City and County of Honolulu Mayor's Package; DOH; Commercial Driver's License Exemption; Emergency Medical Services Personnel; Authorized Emergency Vehicle
Description:
Exempts emergency medical services personnel from commercial driver's license requirements. Requires federal, state, and county firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and law enforcement officers to maintain proof of successful completion of agency-approved or other state-approved training on authorized emergency vehicles. Amends the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" under the State Traffic Code to replace ambulances with emergency medical services vehicles. Expands the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" to include disaster response and recovery vehicles and Department of Health vehicles. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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